#으면서

anon asked: what’s the difference between -는 동안 and -(으)면서? I’m so confused

This is a great question! I am assuming you’re asking because they can be translated as the same thing into English. I understand why there will be confusion because, under context, these grammar points aren’t really distinguishable in English as they are in Korean. 

-는 동안; while, during [goherefor more]

Use this when:

1. You’re not talking about the same doer of the action [엄마가 설거지를 하는 동안 아빠는 화장실을 청소했어요 - Mom cleaned the dishes while dad cleaned the bathroom]
2. You are talking about the same doer of the action [어제 공부하는 동안 문제가 생겼어요 - I found a problem while studying yesterday]
3. The doer of the action is inanimate [비가 많이 오는 동안 구름이 어두워졌어요 - the clouds darkened while it poured]

Try to remember that 동안 is used for a period of time; “-는 동안”은 일정 기간 동안 사용되다. Consider the example in the first rule. Think of the context of this sentence as: during the time it took for my mom to do the dishes, my dad cleaned the bathroom. Yes, you can switch it around because contextually it means the same thing, “아빠가 화장실을 청소하는 동안 엄마는 설거지를 했어요.”

NOTE:Because “-는” attaches to the dependent clause [엄마가 설거지를 하는 동안], the verb before it does not take tense and underlyingly takes the tense of the independent clause’s verb [아빠는 화장실을 청소했어요]. I used the past tense [과거] in my examples, but you can use the present tense [현재] or future tense [미래], obviously, depending on what you want to say. 

More Examples:

1. 한국에서 사는 동안 한국어를 빨리 배웠어요 - While I lived in Korea, I learned Korean quickly.
2. 대학교 디니는 동안 어디에서 살 거예요? - Where are you going to live while attending University?
3. 아빠가 저녁을 준비하는 동안 저는 보통 숙제를 해요 - I usually do my homework while my dad makes dinner.
4. 희주가 세수하는 동안 혜민은 이를 닦았어요 - While Heeju washed her face, Hyemin brushed her teeth.
5. 제가 자는 동안 고양이는 제 식물을 먹었어요 - While I slept, my cat ate my plants.

-(으)면서; while

Use this when:

1. The doer of the action is the same [희주는 먹으면서 유튜브를 봐요 - Heeju watches YouTube while eating]
2. The action is happening simultaneously [지하철을 기다리면서 친구하고 전화했어요 - I waited for the metro while I called my friend]
3. Contrasting two actions [대현은 한국에서 일하고 싶다고 하면서 한국어를 못해요 - Daehyun said they wanted to work in Korea, but they don’t speak Korean]

NOTE: You can only use -(으)면서 when talking about the same doer of the action or state. For example, 희주는 일하는 동안 음악을 들었어요 and 희주는 일하면서 음악을 들었어요. BOTH work and are grammatically correct. The working and listening to music is being done by 희주, whether at the same time, or during work. However, a sentence like “희주는 일하면서 혜민은 음악을 들었어요” is grammatically incorrect. Even if 희주 and 혜민 are doing this at the same time, you must use -는 동안. 

More Examples:

1. 샤워하면서 노래를 불렀어요 - While showering, I sang
2. 요리하면서 요리법을 봐요 - While cooking, I read a recipe
3. 수업을 들으면서 메모를 해요 - I take notes while in class
4. 운전하면서 문자를 보내지 마세요 - Don’t text while driving
5. 희주는 숙제를 하면서 음악을 들어요 - While Heeju does her homework, she listens to music

Differences between the two:

1. You can use 동안 with nouns [명사], you cannot use (으)면서 with nouns. However, you can use (이)면서 with nouns in conjunction with 이다 [저는 대학생이면서 선생님이에요 - I am a university student and a teacher]. This expresses two states of being that happen at the same time. 
2. You can not use -는 동안 to contrast actions
3. You MUST use the same doer of action with (으)면서
4. -는 동안 expresses an action that occurs during a period of time; -(으)면서 does not necessarily take place at a specific time

Similarities between the two:

1. You attach tense at the end of the sentence, you cannot attach tense to the dependent verb
2. They are, most of the time, interchangeable; just remember the rules above

BONUS! -(을/ㄹ) 때; when

The closest origin of “때” I could find in 한자 is “時”. “때” refers to an event/time/period of action (another translation of 時 can be 시). 

Things to remember:

• You can use -때 with nouns and -(을/ㄹ) 때 with verbs.
• Because it refers to a specific moment, you can attach tense to -(을/ㄹ) 때
• You can use this with adjectives!
• Can be used with -까지 and -부터! [때 + 부터 = since// 때 + 까지 = until]

Examples:

1. 비행기를 도착할 때 엄마하고 전화할게요 - When my plane lands, I’ll call my mom
2. 대학생[이였을] 때 돈이 없었잖아요 - When I was a uni student, I didn’t have money, as you know
3. 한국 친구에게 한국말로 하기 시작했을 때 마이클은 깜짝 놀랐어요 - When I started speaking Korean to my Korean friend, Michael was surprised!
4. 공부할 때 음악을 들어요 - When I study, I listen to music
5. 시간이 있을 때 알려주세요 - Let me know when you have time
6. 16살 때부터 한국어를 배웠어요 - I’ve been learning Korean since I was 16
7. 이렇게 될 때까지 더 씻어야 해요 - You have to wash it more until it’s like this
8. 한국에 갈 때 홍대하고 제주도 방문하고 싶어요 - When I go Korea, I want to visit Jeju and Hongdae
9. 혜민 언니는 한국에 들어갔을 때 제가 너무 슬펐어요 - I was so sad when Hyemin when back to Korea
10. 어렸을 때 그림을 그리기 시작했어요 - I started drawing when I was a kid

Hope this helps! If there’s any more confusion, please, don’t hesitate to send another message or ask! 

Happy Learning :) 

~ SK101

How To Say “If” In Korean

Today we’ll go over (으)면, (으)면서, (으)며, (으)려면, & ㄴ다면

(으)면 - If; When

Usage:

- Express a supposition (an uncertain belief) or a condition about a fact or something that occurred repeatedly = if, when

- Past tense can’t come before -(으)면

- When expressing a supposition, 혹시, 만약 and 만일 can also be used to emphasize the supposition

- When the subjects of the 1st and 2nd clauses are different, the particle following the subject of the 1st clause changes from 은/는 to 이/가.

Consonant - 으면

Vowel - 면

Examples:

컴퓨터를 많이 하면 눈이 아파요.

If you send too much time on computer, you will hurt your eyes.

나는 기분이 좋으면 춤을 춰요.

When I am in a good mood, I dance.

주말에 날씨가 좋으면 바다에 가자.

If the weather is nice on the weekend, let’s go to the sea.

(으)면서, (으)며 - While

Usage:

 -(으)면서 grammar pattern is used describe two actions being performed at the same time.

- It is used by adding (으)면서 to the verb of the first action (first sentence) and then following up with the second action.

- tense markers don’t come before(으)면서, if it’s past tense then the last verb is only conjugated

- the subjects in the sentence must be the same

-~(으)며 is a shortened form of ~(으)면서. In theory, ~(으)며 can replace all of the example sentences above that show two actions occurring at the same time.

Consonant - Verb stem + 으면서

Vowel - Verb stem + 면서 (if word ends with a ㄹ, this formed will also be used

듣다 is a ㄷ-irregular verb and conjugates differently than other verbs that ends with a consonant. (들으면서)

Examples:

밥을 먹으면서 드라마를 봐요.

= I eat while I watch a drama.

음악을 들으면서 운전을 해요.

= I listen to music while driving.

(으)려면 - If you want/intend to…then you should

Usage:

- It is the shortened form of V-(으)려고 하면, which is used to express a plan or intention to do something in the 1st clause and the condition to fulfill the plan or intention in the 2nd clause = if you want/ intend to… then you should…

- The 2nd clause is often ended in suggestive forms such as V-아/어야 해요, V-(으)면 돼요, V-(으)세요, 이/가 필요해요, and -는 게 좋아요.

End In Vowel or ㄹ - 려면

End In Consonant- 으려면

Examples:

한국어를 잘하려면 연습을 많이 해야 해요.

If you want to speak Korean well, you have to practice a lot.

감기가 걸리지 않으려면 코트를 입으세요.

If you don’t want to get a cold, then please wear a coat.

ㄴ다면 - If this/that happens..

Usage:

- Hypothesize a situation contrary to the past or happening in present or not yet occurred  = If this happens, one will/ would…

- This expression is often used with -겠어요, -(으)ㄹ 거예요, and -(으)ㄹ 텐데.

- In present tense: -ㄴ/는다면 can be exchanged with -(으)면 without meaning change

- In past tense: -ㄴ/는다면 can be exchanged with -았/었으면 or -았/었더라면 without meaning change

- A/V/N-(으)면 is used to refer to events that have a high chance to occur while A/V/N-(느)ㄴ다면 refers to events which have little or no chance to occur.

Present tense:

Adjective + -다면

Verb + ㄴ/는다면

Noun + (이)라면

Past tense:

Adjective + 았/었다면

Verb + -았/었다면:

Noun + 였다면 / 이었다면:

Mini-Practice:Translate these sentences in Korean (answers at the bottom)

1.) If I Drink Milk, My Stomach Will Hurt.

2.) We Ate Popcorn, While Watching A Movie.

3.) If You Want To Leave Early, Please Finish Your Work Quickly.

4) If He Were Taller, He Could Play Basketball.

__________________

More Examples:

(으)면

심심하면 치킨을 드세요
Eat fried chicken if (you) are bored

티켓 사시려면 저기 가시면 돼요
Go there if you want buy tickets.

핸드폰 있으면 잠시 꺼주세요
Turn off your cellphone if (you) have it

날씨가 좋으면 사진 찍으러 가요.

If the weather is nice, we are going to take some pictures.

질문이 있으면 언제든지 물어보세요.

If you have a question, ask me anytime.

(으)면서 | (으)며

그녀가 케익을 만들면서 버터를 다 써버렸다.

She ran out of butter while making the cake.

음악을 들으면서 공부 해요.

I study while listening to music.

점심을 먹으면서 텔레비전을 봤어요.

l ate lunch while watching television.

신문을 읽으면서 TV를 봅시다.

Let’s watch TV while reading the newspaper. 

1운전을하면서 담배를 피우면 안 돼요.

You should not drive while smoking.

(으)려면

빨리 부산에 가려면 KTX를 타세요.

If you want to go to Busan quickly, then take the KTX.

우리 어머님을 만나려면 주말에 우리 집에 가세요.

If you want to meet my mother, then come to my home on weekend.

이 식당에서 식사하시려면 예약을 하셔야 합니다.

If you intend to have a meal in this restaurant, you have to book in advance.

ㄴ다면

이번에도 졸업을 못한다면 부모님이 정말 실말하실 거예요.

If I don’t graduate this time, my parents will be really disappointed.

내가 부자라면 가난한 사람들을 도와줄 수 있을 텐데.

If I were rich, I would be able to help the poor.

10개 사신다면 1개 더 무료 드리겠습니다.

If you buy 10, I will give you 1 free.

지금부터 열심히 공부한다면 대학교에 갈 수 있을 거예요.

If you study hard from now, you should be able to enter the university.

❗️Practice Answers:

1.) 우유를 마시면 배가 아플 거예요.

2.) 우리는 영화를 보면서 팝콘을 먹었어요.

3.) 일찍 퇴근하려면, 일을 빨리 끝내세요.

4.) (만약) 그가 키가 더 크다면, 그는 농구를 할 수 있을 거예요.

That’s the end of this post! Hope it helped Check It Out ~ A Place You Can Find Free Korean Practices & Lessons