TOPIK II Levels 3-4 test intermediate Korean grammar for everyday life and professional contexts. This guide covers essential grammar patterns commonly tested at this level.
Overview
Level 3-4 Requirements:
- Level 3: Handle everyday situations, use public facilities, maintain social relationships
- Level 4: Discuss news, abstract topics, understand Korean culture and social issues
Grammar Focus:
- Complex sentence structures
- Advanced connectives
- Nuanced expressions
- Formal/written styles
- Indirect speech
Conjunctions & Connectives
Background Information: -(으)ㄴ/는데
Setting context or mild contrast:
- 비가 오는데 우산이 없어요 (It's raining, but I don't have an umbrella)
- 어제 만났는데 기억 안 나요? (We met yesterday, don't you remember?)
- 날씨가 좋은데 산책할까요? (The weather is nice, shall we take a walk?)
Usage: More subtle than -지만, provides background information
In Order To: -기 위해(서)
Purpose (more formal than -(으)러):
- 합격하기 위해 열심히 공부해요 (Study hard in order to pass)
- 건강을 위해 운동해요 (Exercise for health)
- 성공하기 위해서 노력합니다 (Make effort in order to succeed)
While: -는 동안
Duration or simultaneous period:
- 방학 동안 여행했어요 (Traveled during vacation)
- 공부하는 동안 전화하지 마세요 (Don't call while I'm studying)
- 한국에 있는 동안 한국어를 배웠어요 (Learned Korean while in Korea)
As Soon As: -자마자
Immediate succession:
- 집에 도착하자마자 전화할게요 (I'll call as soon as I arrive home)
- 일어나자마자 샤워해요 (Shower as soon as I wake up)
- 소식을 듣자마자 달려갔어요 (Rushed there as soon as I heard the news)
Even Though: -아/어도
Concession:
- 비가 와도 갈 거예요 (Will go even though it rains)
- 힘들어도 포기하지 마세요 (Don't give up even though it's hard)
- 비싸도 살 거예요 (Will buy it even though it's expensive)
As Much As: -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼
Degree or extent:
- 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요 (Results come out as much as you put in effort)
- 공부한 만큼 실력이 늘어요 (Skills improve as much as you study)
- 아는 만큼 보여요 (You see as much as you know)
Reasons & Causes
Because (Formal): -기 때문에
Formal reason:
- 비가 오기 때문에 취소됐어요 (Cancelled because it's raining)
- 바쁘기 때문에 못 가요 (Can't go because I'm busy)
- 중요하기 때문에 꼭 하세요 (Please do it because it's important)
Since/Because: -(으)니까
Strong reason or cause:
- 비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요 (Take an umbrella because it's raining)
- 늦었으니까 택시를 타요 (Let's take a taxi since we're late)
- 피곤하니까 쉬세요 (Rest since you're tired)
Note: Can be used for commands/suggestions (stronger than -아/어서)
So/Therefore: -아/어서
Informal reason:
- 날씨가 좋아서 산책했어요 (The weather was nice, so I took a walk)
- 피곤해서 일찍 잤어요 (Was tired, so went to bed early)
Note: Cannot be used with commands/requests
Advanced Expressions
Must/Should: -아/어야 되다/하다
Obligation or necessity:
- 내일까지 끝내야 해요 (Must finish by tomorrow)
- 약속 시간을 지켜야 돼요 (Should keep appointment time)
- 규칙을 따라야 합니다 (Must follow the rules)
Had Better: -(으)ㄴ/는 게 좋다
Advice or recommendation:
- 일찍 자는 게 좋아요 (Had better sleep early)
- 병원에 가는 게 좋겠어요 (Had better go to the hospital)
- 미리 준비하는 게 좋습니다 (It's good to prepare in advance)
It Seems: -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다
Conjecture or opinion:
- 비가 올 것 같아요 (It seems like it will rain)
- 그 사람이 학생인 것 같아요 (That person seems to be a student)
- 좋아하는 것 같아요 (Seems to like it)
Looks Like: -아/어 보이다
Appearance:
- 맛있어 보여요 (Looks delicious)
- 피곤해 보여요 (Look tired)
- 어려워 보입니다 (Looks difficult)
Possibilities & Abilities
Might/Could: -(으)ㄹ 수도 있다
Possibility:
- 내일 비가 올 수도 있어요 (It might rain tomorrow)
- 늦을 수도 있어요 (Might be late)
- 틀릴 수도 있습니다 (Could be wrong)
Is Likely To: -(으)ㄹ 것이다
Prediction or probability:
- 내년에 결혼할 것입니다 (Will likely marry next year)
- 곧 도착할 것 같아요 (Will probably arrive soon)
- 성공할 것이라고 믿어요 (Believe will succeed)
Cannot Help But: -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
No choice but to:
- 포기할 수밖에 없었어요 (Had no choice but to give up)
- 받아들일 수밖에 없어요 (Cannot help but accept)
- 그렇게 할 수밖에 없어요 (Have no choice but to do so)
Experiences & Habits
Used To: -곤 했다
Habitual past action:
- 어렸을 때 자주 놀러 가곤 했어요 (Used to often go play when young)
- 매일 운동하곤 했어요 (Used to exercise every day)
- 그 식당에 가곤 했어요 (Used to go to that restaurant)
Pretend To: -(으)ㄴ/는 척하다
Acting as if:
- 모르는 척했어요 (Pretended not to know)
- 자는 척해요 (Pretend to sleep)
- 안 들은 척했어요 (Pretended not to hear)
Tend To: -는 편이다
General tendency:
- 일찍 자는 편이에요 (Tend to sleep early)
- 책을 많이 읽는 편입니다 (Tend to read books a lot)
- 조용한 편이에요 (Tend to be quiet)
Conditions & Assumptions
If/When: -(으)면
Condition or time:
- 시간이 있으면 연락하세요 (Contact me if you have time)
- 봄이 오면 꽃이 피어요 (When spring comes, flowers bloom)
- 열심히 하면 성공할 수 있어요 (If you work hard, you can succeed)
Even If: -아/어도
Concession:
- 어려워도 할 수 있어요 (Can do it even if it's difficult)
- 바빠도 연락할게요 (Will contact you even if busy)
- 비가 와도 나가야 해요 (Must go out even if it rains)
Unless: -지 않으면
Negative condition:
- 열심히 하지 않으면 안 돼요 (Must work hard / Won't do if don't work hard)
- 지금 가지 않으면 늦어요 (Will be late unless we go now)
Nominalizations
-기 (Doing)
Verb nominalization:
- 한국어 배우기가 재미있어요 (Learning Korean is fun)
- 운동하기가 힘들어요 (Exercising is hard)
- 일찍 일어나기가 어려워요 (Waking up early is difficult)
-(으)ㄴ/는 것 (The Fact That)
Clause nominalization:
- 한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요 (Learning Korean is fun)
- 일찍 일어나는 것이 좋아요 (Waking up early is good)
- 건강한 것이 중요해요 (Being healthy is important)
Intentions & Attempts
Try To: -(으)려고 하다
Intention or attempt:
- 운동하려고 해요 (Try to exercise / Intend to exercise)
- 한국어를 배우려고 합니다 (Trying to learn Korean)
- 일찍 자려고 해요 (Try to sleep early)
Was About To: -(으)려던 참이다
Just about to do:
- 전화하려던 참이었어요 (Was just about to call)
- 나가려던 참이에요 (Was just about to leave)
- 말하려던 참이었어요 (Was just about to say)
Keep Doing: -아/어 오다/가다
Continuation:
- 계속 공부해 왔어요 (Have been studying continuously)
- 앞으로도 노력해 갈 거예요 (Will continue to try hard)
- 지금까지 일해 왔어요 (Have been working until now)
Changes & Results
Become: -게 되다
Change or result:
- 한국어를 할 수 있게 됐어요 (Became able to speak Korean)
- 친구가 되게 됐어요 (Became friends)
- 알게 됐어요 (Came to know)
Make/Cause: -게 하다
Causative:
- 아이를 웃게 했어요 (Made the child laugh)
- 생각하게 했어요 (Made me think)
- 공부하게 했어요 (Made study)
After Doing: -고 나서
Sequential action:
- 밥 먹고 나서 커피를 마셔요 (After eating, drink coffee)
- 숙제하고 나서 놀아요 (After doing homework, play)
- 생각하고 나서 결정하세요 (Decide after thinking)
Passive & Causative
Passive: -이/히/리/기-
Passive voice:
- 문이 열려요 (The door opens / is opened)
- 책이 팔려요 (The book sells / is sold)
- 이름이 불려요 (Name is called)
Passive: -아/어지다
Become passive state:
- 문제가 해결됐어요 (The problem was solved)
- 회의가 취소됐어요 (The meeting was cancelled)
- 계획이 바뀌었어요 (The plan was changed)
Indirect Speech
Statement: -다고 하다
Quoting statement:
- 간다고 했어요 (Said they're going)
- 좋다고 했어요 (Said it's good)
- 학생이라고 했어요 (Said they're a student)
Question: -(으)냐고 하다
Quoting question:
- 가냐고 물었어요 (Asked if going)
- 뭐 하냐고 물었어요 (Asked what I'm doing)
- 누구냐고 물었어요 (Asked who it is)
Command: -(으)라고 하다
Quoting command:
- 가라고 했어요 (Told to go)
- 먹으라고 했어요 (Told to eat)
- 하지 말라고 했어요 (Told not to do)
Request: -아/어 달라고 하다
Quoting request:
- 도와달라고 했어요 (Asked to help)
- 기다려 달라고 했어요 (Asked to wait)
- 가르쳐 달라고 했어요 (Asked to teach)
Suggestion: -자고 하다
Quoting suggestion:
- 같이 가자고 했어요 (Suggested to go together)
- 영화 보자고 했어요 (Suggested to watch a movie)
Advanced Particles
Emphasis: -만
Only:
- 이것만 주세요 (Give me only this)
- 한 번만 더 (Just one more time)
- 저만 몰랐어요 (Only I didn't know)
Even: -도
Including/also:
- 그것도 좋아요 (That's good too / Even that is good)
- 한 번도 안 갔어요 (Haven't gone even once)
- 하나도 없어요 (There isn't even one)
At Least: -라도
Minimum expectation:
- 물라도 마시세요 (At least drink some water)
- 전화라도 하세요 (At least call)
- 조금이라도 도와주세요 (Help even a little bit)
Either: -나/-든지
Choice or alternative:
- 이것이나 저것 (This or that)
- 차나 버스 (Car or bus)
- 언제든지 오세요 (Come anytime)
- 뭐든지 먹어요 (Eat anything)
Grammar for Writing
Formal Endings: -(으)ㅁ/기
Written style nominalization:
- 공부함 (studying - formal)
- 중요함 (being important)
- 필요함 (being necessary)
Written Connective: -며
And (formal):
- 경제적이며 효율적입니다 (Economical and efficient)
- 빠르며 정확합니다 (Fast and accurate)
Therefore: -므로
Formal reason:
- 비가 오므로 우산이 필요합니다 (Since it's raining, an umbrella is needed)
- 중요하므로 꼭 하십시오 (Since it's important, please do it)
Comparison & Degree
As...As: 만큼
Equal comparison:
- 저만큼 잘해요 (Do as well as me)
- 예상만큼 좋아요 (As good as expected)
- 생각만큼 어렵지 않아요 (Not as difficult as thought)
Rather Than: -보다
Comparison:
- 이것이 저것보다 좋아요 (This is better than that)
- 어제보다 따뜻해요 (Warmer than yesterday)
The More...The More: -(으)ㄹ수록
Proportional relationship:
- 공부할수록 재미있어요 (The more I study, the more fun it is)
- 생각할수록 좋아요 (The more I think about it, the better it is)
- 알수록 어려워요 (The more I know, the more difficult it is)
Time & Sequence
Before: -기 전에
Prior to action:
- 자기 전에 양치해요 (Brush teeth before sleeping)
- 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요 (Wash hands before eating)
- 가기 전에 전화하세요 (Call before going)
After: -(으)ㄴ 후에
After completion:
- 밥 먹은 후에 설거지해요 (Wash dishes after eating)
- 졸업한 후에 취직했어요 (Got a job after graduating)
- 생각한 후에 결정하세요 (Decide after thinking)
Since: -(으)ㄴ 지
Time elapsed:
- 한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요 (It's been 1 year since I came to Korea)
- 공부한 지 오래됐어요 (It's been long since I studied)
- 만난 지 얼마나 됐어요? (How long has it been since we met?)
Study Tips for Level 3-4
Key Focus Areas
Grammar priorities:
- Master indirect speech (all forms)
- Understand formal/written connectives
- Practice complex sentence structures
- Learn nuanced expressions (것 같다, 편이다, etc.)
- Know passive and causative forms
Reading Section
Common patterns:
- -기 때문에 (because)
- -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (seems)
- -는 편이다 (tend to)
- -게 되다 (came to/became)
- -(으)므로 (therefore)
Listening Section
Frequently tested:
- -는데 (background/contrast)
- -(으)니까 (reason)
- -아/어도 (even though)
- Indirect speech
- -아/어 보이다 (looks like)
Writing Section
Essential patterns:
- -기 때문에 (formal reason)
- -(으)므로 (therefore)
- -는 반면에 (whereas)
- -에 따르면 (according to)
- -게 되다 (came to be)
Grammar Checklist
Level 3 Core
- ✅ -는데 (background/contrast)
- ✅ -기 때문에 (because)
- ✅ -(으)니까 (since/because)
- ✅ -게 되다 (become)
- ✅ -아/어 보이다 (looks like)
- ✅ -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (seems)
- ✅ -는 편이다 (tend to)
- ✅ -자마자 (as soon as)
- ✅ Basic indirect speech
Level 4 Core
- ✅ All indirect speech forms
- ✅ -기 위해(서) (in order to)
- ✅ -(으)ㄹ수록 (the more...the more)
- ✅ Passive forms
- ✅ Causative forms
- ✅ -는 만큼 (as much as)
- ✅ -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (cannot help but)
- ✅ Written style: -므로, -며
- ✅ -던 (retrospective modifier)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Complex structures: Combine multiple grammar points naturally
- ✅ Formal expressions: Know written vs spoken differences
- ✅ Indirect speech: Master all quote types (statement, question, command)
- ✅ Nuanced meanings: Understand subtle differences (것 같다 vs 보이다)
- ✅ Context awareness: Choose appropriate formality level
- ✅ Practice integration: Use multiple patterns in single sentences
Level 3-4 requires understanding how to combine grammar patterns naturally and choosing appropriate expressions for different contexts. Focus on mastering indirect speech, formal connectives, and nuanced expressions to handle everyday and professional situations effectively.