2-2. Adverb(부사)

The concept of adverbs is quite similar to that in English, so they are easy to understand. 

In Korean Language, adverbs modify verbs(동사), adjectives(형용사), determiners(관형사), other adverbs(다른 부사), or a whole sentence(문장 전체).

 

• 빨리 가자. Let's go in a hurry. (modifies a verb)
• 꽃이 정말 예쁘다. This flower is so beautiful. (modifies an adjective)
• 너무 헌 물건은 좀 버려라. Throw away things that are too old. (modifies a determiner)
• 만약 네가 나를 이긴다면 5천 원을 주겠다. If you beat me, I'll give you 5,000 won. (modifies a whole sentence)

 

In the last sentence, 만약 alone does not correspond to the word 'if'. Together with the connective ending -면, it can form a conditional sentence.

 

There are two categories of adverbs: constituent adverbs and sentence adverbs. Among the examples above, the first to third sentences include constituent adverbs 빨리, 정말, and 너무 while the last one contains the sentence adverb 만약.

 

 

 

Subclasses of Adverbs

1. Constituent adverbs(성분부사)

 1) Demonstrative adverbs(지시부사)

 

Demonstrative adverbs indicate a particular place or time, or they designate a certain fact that was mentioned ahead.

 

이리 와! Come here!

나를 그리 쳐다보지 마. Don't look at me like that.

저리 가! Go away!

오늘 나랑 같이 놀러갈래? Will you go on an excursion with me today?

오늘은 휴일 아냐? 네가 그리 말했잖아. Today is a holiday, isn't it? You have told me that.

 

In the first four sentences, 이리, 그리, and 저리 indicate somewhere while the fourth one refers to someday.

In the last sentence, 그리 does not stand for somewhere but the fact in the previous sentence.

 

 

 

 2) Adjective adverbs(성상부사)

 

Adjective adverbs are the most common among all types of adverbs. Like adjective determiners, they express states, qualities, or shapes of the following word. Here are some examples.

 

재킷이 너무 크다. This jacket is too big.

그녀는 춤을 잘 춘다. She dances well.그는 자주 운다. He often cries.

 

 

 3) Negative adverbs(부정부사)

 

The words for denial are often formed by adding negative adverbs in front of verbs or adjectives. There are two negative adverbs: 안 and 못.

 

안 expresses the will of the speaker or some simple negative situation. 

 

비가 안 온다. It doesn't rain.

그는 안 온다. He will/does not come.

 

When it doesn't rain, there is no will for a particular subject. This type of sentence is called a Simple Negative Sentence(단순부정문). However, when we say he will not come, his intention or will is involved in. This is called a 

Denial of Intention(의도부정).

 

못 shows some lack of ability. 

 

나는 도서관에 못 간다. I can't go to the library.

 

There can be some reasons for my not being able to go to the library except for my intention. Maybe I am sick, I have other works to do, or I don't have an ID card. On the contrary, if someone says "나는 도서관에 안 간다(I will not go to the library).", then it will show the speaker's intention.

 

 

 4) Symbolic adverbs(상징부사)

 

Symbolic adverbs are one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Korean Language. They are words for imitating the sound, shape, or movement of something. In English, they are the closest to Onomatopoeia.

 

• 의태부사: imitates shapes or movements. e.g. 살랑살랑(a shape of blowing gently)
• 의성부사: imitates sounds. e.g. 멍멍(bow-wow), 꼬끼오(cock-a-doodle-doo)

 

 

2. Sentence adverbs(문장부사)

 1) Conjunctive adverbs(접속부사)

 

There is no conjunction as a part of speech in Korean; instead, there are conjunctive adverbs. 

 

• 그리고: and
• 그러나: but, however
• 하지만: however
• 또는: or
• 및: and, besides, or
• 그러므로, 따라서: therefore, hence

 

 

 2) Aspect adverbs(양태부사)

 

 Aspect adverbs express the speaker's aspects or manners. Here are some examples.

 

• 과연 그녀가 돌아올까? Will she ever come back?
• 설마 그가 도둑은 아니겠지? He is not a thief, is he?

 

과연 is similar to indeed/really/ever in English. 설마 means it can't be. It shows the speaker's negative assumption.