~게 되다 (grammar)
*to end up being*
used when the subject has no control over the situation
— can also humble a sentence.
for example “getting a job” if used with 게 되다 makes it sound like you were lucky to get the job. without 게 되다 it can sound like bragging
전 그 회사에 취직했어요
-i got a job at that company (sounds braggy, like you had control over the outcome… from your awesomeness or something)
전 그 회사에 취직하게 되었어요
– I ended up getting a job at that company (sounds like you had no control, so more humble)
tense conjugation (informal)
add 요 to make it formal
과거(past): 게 되었어 (됐어 contracted form)
현재(present): 게 되어 (게 돼 contracted form)
미래(future): 게 될 거야 (거예요= formal)
.
예시문- example sentences
어떻게 알게 됐어요?
how did you end up knowing?
.
어떻게 그거에 대해서 듣게 되었어요?
how did you end up hearing about that
(while correct, my friend said 어디에서 들었어요? where did you hear? is more natural. it is also more natural to just say 그거 when speaking)
.
다시 부모님이랑 살게 됐어요
i ended up living with my parents again
(maybe you lost your job or your roommate moved out, so you can no long afford to live on your own)
.
어떻게 그 여자를 좋아하게 되었어요?
how did you end up coming to like her?
.
제 가장 친한 친구랑 사랑에 빠지게 됐어요
i ended up falling in love with my best friend
.
월마트에서 제 친구를 만나게 되었어요
i ended up meeting my friend at walmart
(you didnt plan to meet. you bumped into eachother. yay!)
.
티비 보면서 잠 들게 됐어요
i ended up falling asleep while watching tv
(while correct, my friend said 티비 보면서 잠들었어요 is more natural)
.
오늘은 제 친구가 입원하게 되었어요
my friend ended up being hospitalized today
어휘 (vocab)
전- short for 저는- I
그-that
회사- company
에서- from/where an event occurs
취직하다- to be hired/to get a job
어떻게- how
알다- to know
어디- where
그거- short for 그것- that
에 대해서- grammar- about~ can also be 에 대해
듣다- to hear/listen
다시- again
부모님- parents
살다- to live
여자- woman
좋아하다- to like
제- my
가장- most
친한- close (from 친하다- to be close to)
친구- friend
사랑에 빠지다- to fall in love
월마트- walmart
만나다- to meet
티비- TV
보다- to watch
~면서- grammar- while~
오늘- today
입원하다- to be hospitalized
SOURCE
I read the lecture from “Korean Grammar in Use for Intermediate” to get an idea of how it’s used. Then I created sentences and had my language partner correct them. Once I had a handle on the grammar I summarized it into this post.
The parts colored like this are from https://www.howtostudykorean.com/upper-intermediate-korean-grammar/unit-4-lessons-92-100/lesson-94/
Satyanghae Korean 