Part 33.1 - ~(으)ㄹ 때 — When, At the Time of Doing Something
Basic Information
Use ~(으)ㄹ 때 to express **"when"** something happens or happened.
It connects a **time clause** to the main sentence.
It is often translated as:
- When...
- At the time (of)...
- While...
Grammar Rule
- Verb stem ending with consonant → ~을 때
- Verb stem ending with vowel → ~ㄹ 때
Usage
Use **~(으)ㄹ 때** to:
- Talk about the time when an action happens or happened.
- Describe background events or conditions.
- Connect two events in time.
Example Sentences
| Korean |
English |
| 학교에 갈 때 비가 왔어요. |
It rained when I went to school. |
| 밥을 먹을 때 TV를 봐요. |
I watch TV when I eat. |
| 어렸을 때 한국에 살았어요. |
I lived in Korea when I was young. |
| 운전할 때 조심하세요. |
Be careful when you drive. |
| 시간이 있을 때 책을 읽어요. |
I read books when I have time. |
Important Notes
- ~(으)ㄹ 때 can be used for both **present** and **past** contexts.
- It can also express "while" something is happening, but it's not the same as using ~면서 for simultaneous actions.
- **때** means "time", and the verb form before it indicates the time frame.
Summary
Use ~(으)ㄹ 때 to:
- Say when something happens
- Describe conditions or background
- Connect two time-related ideas
This is an essential grammar pattern for talking about time and events in Korean.
Common TOPIK I Patterns
- Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 때 → when (Verb) happens / at the time of (Verb)
- 어렸을 때 → when (I) was young
- 시간이 있을 때 → when (I) have time
End of Lesson
Now you know how to use **~(으)ㄹ 때** to talk about time and events in Korean.
Practice connecting time clauses in your sentences — it will make your Korean sound more natural and fluent! 🎉