-(으)면 Grammar in Korean: Meaning and How to Use It

What you'll learn

• Attach -(으)면 to any verb, adjective or 이다.
• Choose between 면 and 으면, and handle ㄹ stems and irregular stems.
• Use past -았/었으면 and the set frames -(으)면 되다 and -(으)면 안 되다.
• Choose between -(으)면, -(으)ㄹ 때 and -아/어야.

Prerequisites: the polite ending -아요/어요 and the future ending -(으)ㄹ 거예요. Time: about 15 minutes.

Key facts

• -(으)면 states a condition. The first clause is the "if" part, and the second clause is the result.
• The form depends on the last sound of the stem: 면 after a vowel or ㄹ, 으면 after any other consonant.
• The result clause can be a statement, a question, a command or a suggestion.
• A tense marker goes before it only when the condition itself is finished: 먹었으면.
• It works in speech and writing, in polite, casual and formal styles.

Listen to two model sentences.

The next section defines the pattern.

What Does -(으)면 Grammar Mean?

-(으)면 means "if" or "when". A connective ending is a word ending that joins one clause to the next. -(으)면 is a connective ending that tells the listener, "Whenever the first thing is true, the second thing follows."

Think of a gate. The first clause is the gate, and the second clause is what happens when the gate opens. The speaker does not say that the gate is open. The speaker only says what follows if it opens. For this reason -(으)면 fits events that may or may not happen, and it also fits things that happen again and again.

Here are two glossed examples.

The English word changes between "if" and "when", but the Korean ending does not. Choose the English word that sounds natural. The Korean ending only says "this is a condition".

A third example shows the habit meaning: 봄이 오면 꽃이 피어요 means "When spring comes, flowers bloom." The condition is certain to happen, but it is still a condition, not a time. The next section shows how to build the form.

How Do You Form -(으)면?

Remove 다 from the dictionary form to get the stem. The stem is the verb or adjective without its dictionary ending -다. For 먹다 the stem is 먹. Then look at the last sound of the stem.

The rule has two halves. After a vowel, add 면. After a final consonant, add 으면. The 으 is a helping vowel. It lets the consonant at the end of the stem join the 면 smoothly. Because of this vowel, the final consonant moves to the next syllable when you speak. That is why 먹으면 sounds like [머그면], and the ㄱ sits at the start of the second syllable.

There is one special group. A stem that ends in ㄹ takes 면 directly, with no 으, and the ㄹ stays. So 살다 becomes 살면, and 만들다 becomes 만들면. Learners often add 으 by mistake, as in 살으면. That is wrong.

Stems Ending in a Vowel

Vowel stems take 면 directly: 가면, 오면, 하면, 예쁘면. No contraction happens. Compare this with -아/어서, where 가 + 아서 becomes 가서. Here nothing is merged, because 면 begins with a consonant.

For verbs made with 하다, add 면 to 하: 공부하면, 피곤하면. You do not need to change 하 to 해.

Stems Ending in a Consonant

Consonant stems take 으면: 먹으면, 읽으면, 좋으면, 많으면. Say the sentence 많이 먹으면 배가 아파요 ("If you eat a lot, your stomach hurts") slowly. You will hear [마니 머그면], with the ㄱ of 먹 moving into the next syllable.

Irregular Stems and Nouns

Irregular stems change before 으면 in the same way they do before other endings that start with 으. An irregular stem is one that changes its shape before an ending. Because 으면 starts with a vowel sound, the changes appear.

Notice the last three rows. Because -(으)면 does not start with 아 or 어, the 르 and ㅡ changes do not occur. The stem of 모르다 is 모르, and the stem of 바쁘다 is 바쁘, so you get 모르면 and 바쁘면.

For nouns, use 이다, which means "to be". After a consonant, use 이면. After a vowel, 이 usually drops: 학생이면 [학쌩이면], 의사면. The full form 의사이면 is also correct, but the short form is more natural. The negative 아니다 becomes 아니면, which also works as "or" (see the edge cases).

The next section builds a full sentence.

Worked Example: Building 시간이 있으면 같이 가요

Say "If you have time, let's go together." Follow five steps.

1. Write the condition. "You have time" is 시간이 있어요 in the polite style.
2. Find the stem. The dictionary form is 있다, so the stem is 있.
3. Choose the ending. 있 ends in a consonant, so it takes 으면: 있으면. Remove the polite ending 어요, because the ending belongs to the last verb only.
4. Write the result. A suggestion is 같이 가요. The adverb 같이 means "together".
5. Join the two parts. 시간이 있으면 같이 가요.

You'll know it worked when the first verb ends in 으면 with nothing after it, and the polite ending 요 appears only once, at the end. Try the same steps with "If you are tired, rest": 피곤하다 gives 피곤하면, and 쉬세요 follows.

The next section covers tense and sentence types.

Which Tenses and Sentence Types Work with -(으)면?

In Korean, tense is shown on the verb before the ending. For -(으)면, the first clause usually uses the plain stem even when the idea is about the future. You do not say 비가 오겠으면. You say 비가 오면, and the last verb of the sentence carries the future: 집에 있을 거예요.

Unlike -아/어서, -(으)면 allows every sentence type after it. You can follow it with a statement, a question, a command or a suggestion. That is because it only states a condition and does not give a reason.

The past form -았/었으면 has two jobs. First, it shows that the condition is already complete: 숙제를 다 했으면 놀아도 돼요 means "If you have finished your homework, you may play." Second, it imagines a different past or a wish: 한국어를 잘했으면 좋겠어요 means "I wish I spoke Korean well."

Yes/no questions end with a rise: 비가 오면 안 갈 거예요? A wh-question puts the stress on the question word and often ends with a fall or a rise-fall, rather than a sharp rise: 비가 오면 어떻게 해요? means "What do you do if it rains?"

The next section compares -(으)면 with its neighbours.

How Is -(으)면 Different from -(으)ㄹ 때 and -아/어야?

All three can be translated with "when" or "if", and that is why learners mix them up. The difference is what the first clause does.

The key test is whether the first clause is a condition or a time. 한국에 갈 때 means "at the time I go to Korea". 한국에 가면 means "if I go to Korea" or "once I go there". Compare these two.

• 어릴 때 시골에서 살았어요. ("I lived in the countryside when I was young.") The time is fixed and finished, so 때 is right. -(으)면 would be wrong.
• 시간이 있으면 연락하세요. ("Contact me if you have time.") The time is not fixed. It depends on the condition, so -(으)면 is right.

Now the second pair. -(으)면 says that the result follows when the condition is met. -아/어야 says that the condition is the only way to reach the result. 열심히 공부하면 합격할 거예요 means "If you study hard, you will pass", and it hints that this is a good way. 열심히 공부해야 합격해요 means "Only if you study hard will you pass", and it says that no other way works.

For a detailed side-by-side with practice, see -(으)ㄹ 때 vs -(으)면. The next section covers set phrases and edge cases.

Variations and Edge Cases of -(으)면

"All You Need to Do Is": -(으)면 되다

Add 되다 after -(으)면 and the meaning becomes "it is enough if". 이 버튼을 누르면 돼요 means "You just press this button." The full lesson is -(으)면 되다. Do not mix it up with -아/어도 되다, which means "may". That one has its own page: -아/어도 되다.

"You Must Not": -(으)면 안 되다

Put 안 되다 after -(으)면 and the meaning becomes "you must not". 여기서 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요 means "You must not take photos here." The pattern is covered in -(으)면 안 되다.

Wishes with -았/었으면 좋겠다

The past form followed by 좋겠다 shows a wish: 비가 그쳤으면 좋겠어요 means "I hope the rain stops." The first clause is not a fact. It is a picture of how you would like things to be.

The Short Form 그럼

The word 그러면 means "if that is so, then". It is a connecting adverb that contains -(으)면. In speech it is often shortened to 그럼. A: 오늘 시간이 없어요. B: 그럼 내일 만날까요? means "A: I have no time today. B: Then shall we meet tomorrow?" The word 안 그러면 means "if not, otherwise".

아니면 as "Or"

The negative 아니다 plus -(으)면 gives 아니면. It works as the word "or" between two choices: 커피 아니면 차를 마실래요 means "I'll have coffee or tea." It is also used in a question: 이거 아니면 저거예요? means "Is it this one or that one?"

Repeated Actions and Habits

When the condition is something that happens again and again, -(으)면 means "whenever". 주말이 되면 공원에 가요 means "When the weekend comes, I go to the park." Here 되다 means "become", and 주말이 되면 means "once it becomes the weekend".

Joining with 은/는

A topic particle 은/는 often appears in front of a -(으)면 clause to set up a contrast: 한국에서는 이렇게 하면 안 돼요 means "In Korea, you must not do it like this." The particle 은/는 stresses the place.

The next section lists the mistakes that appear most often.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with -(으)면?

Learners make six predictable mistakes. Each has a reason and a fix.

Learners often use -(으)면 for a finished fact. Actually -(으)면 needs a condition, not a known past event. Wrong: 어제 집에 가면 친구를 만났어요. Right: 어제 집에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요. Fix: if the time is fixed and finished, use -(으)ㄹ 때 or -아/어서, not -(으)면.

Learners often add 으 after a vowel or ㄹ. Actually 면 follows these stems directly. Wrong: 가으면 and 살으면. Right: 가면 and 살면. Fix: add 으 only after a final consonant that is not ㄹ.

Learners often forget the irregular change. Actually 으면 starts with a vowel sound, so ㅂ, ㄷ and ㅅ stems change. Wrong: 덥으면, 듣으면 and 낫으면. Right: 더우면, 들으면 and 나으면. Fix: treat -(으)면 like other 으 endings.

Learners often put -겠- before it. Actually the first clause stays plain. Wrong: 비가 오겠으면 집에 있을 거예요. Right: 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요. Fix: put the future on the last verb.

Learners often forget 이 after a consonant noun. Actually a noun needs 이다 to take the ending. Wrong: 학생면 할인을 받을 수 있어요. Right: 학생이면 할인을 받을 수 있어요. Fix: say the noun, then 이면 after a consonant and 면 after a vowel. After a vowel, 이 can drop: 의사면.

Learners often use -(으)면 for a reason. Actually -(으)면 does not give a cause. Wrong: 비가 오면 우산을 샀어요 (for "Because it rained, I bought an umbrella"). Right: 비가 와서 우산을 샀어요. Fix: if the first clause is a real, finished cause, use -아/어서.

The next section gives you practice.

Practice and Answers

Do the four tasks, then compare with the key.

Task 1: join the sentences with -(으)면. Write one sentence for each pair.

1. 날씨가 좋아요. / 산책해요.
2. 배가 고파요. / 이걸 드세요.
3. 한국에 가요. / 불고기를 먹을 거예요.
4. 모르겠어요. / 물어보세요.

Task 2: fix the error. Each sentence has one mistake. Rewrite it correctly.

1. 날씨가 덥으면 창문을 열어요.
2. 시간이 있겠으면 전화하세요.
3. 한국에서 살으면 한국어가 늘어요.

Task 3: translate. Write in Korean: "If you drink coffee, you can't sleep." and "If it is a weekday, I work."

Task 4: write your own. Write one sentence about what you do if it rains, and one about what you do when the weekend comes.

Answer key

1. (1) 날씨가 좋으면 산책해요. (2) 배가 고프면 이걸 드세요. (3) 한국에 가면 불고기를 먹을 거예요. (4) 모르면 물어보세요.
2. (1) 날씨가 더우면 창문을 열어요. (2) 시간이 있으면 전화하세요. (3) 한국에서 살면 한국어가 늘어요.
3. 커피를 마시면 잠을 못 자요. 평일이면 일해요. Other correct versions exist, for example 평일이면 일을 해요.
4. Sample answers: 비가 오면 집에서 영화를 봐요. 주말이 되면 친구를 만나요. Any pair is correct if the first verb ends in the right form of -(으)면.

If task 1 was correct, you have the formation rule. If task 2 was hard, check whether you added 으 after a vowel or ㄹ, put -겠- inside, or forgot the irregular change. The next section points you to what comes after this lesson.

What Should You Learn after -(으)면 Grammar?

After -(으)면, learn -(으)ㄹ 때 to talk about moments in time. Then read -아/어야 for "only if", and -(ㄴ/는)다면 for imagined conditions. Future forms are also useful here: see future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요 and future guess -겠-.

For a wider view, the parent page Conditions (If) lists every condition connector. To plan by level, use Beginner Grammar.

This lesson covers -(으)면 in the polite, casual and formal styles. It does not cover every written variation. About this page. Last updated 2026-10-09. Revised Romanization follows the national rules and is shown only as a learning aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does -(으)면 Mean?

-(으)면 means "if" or "when". It joins two clauses and says that the second one follows once the first one is true. 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요 means "If it rains, I will stay home." It states a condition that may or may not happen, and the result clause can be any sentence type.

How Do I Attach -(으)면 to a Verb or Adjective?

Take the stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. After a vowel or ㄹ, add 면: 가면, 살면. After any other final consonant, add 으면: 먹으면, 좋으면. Irregular stems change as they do before other 으 endings: 덥다 becomes 더우면, and 듣다 becomes 들으면.

Can -(으)면 Be Used in the past Tense?

Yes, with 았/었 before it: 먹었으면, 갔으면. This means "if you have already eaten" or an imagined past, as in 숙제를 다 했으면 놀아도 돼요. Do not put -겠- before -(으)면. The first clause usually keeps the plain present form even when the idea is about the future.

Is -(으)면 Used in Speech or Only in Writing?

Both. It is a neutral, everyday ending in polite, casual and formal speech, in messages, news and textbooks. Speakers often shorten the phrase 그러면 to 그럼 in conversation. Nothing about the ending itself sounds written or stiff, so beginners can use it freely in any style.

What Is the Difference between -(으)면 and -(으)ㄹ 때?

-(으)ㄹ 때 means "at the time when", and it points to a moment. -(으)면 means "if" or "whenever", and it points to a condition. 어릴 때 means "when I was a child". 시간이 있으면 means "if you have time". If a time is fixed, choose 때. If it depends on a condition, choose -(으)면.

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