더니 (observed then) - I Saw... Then
Use `더니` to link a past observation of someone or something to its current result or contrast.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Used to describe a result or contrast based on a past observation.
- Typically used for 2nd or 3rd person subjects, not 'I'.
- Connects a witnessed action/state to a subsequent change or outcome.
- Do not add past tense markers like -았/었- to the first clause.
Quick Reference
| Subject Type | Clause 1 (Observation) | Clause 2 (Result/Contrast) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Others/3rd Person | Action or state | Result or change | 제니가 열심히 하더니 성공했어요. |
| Weather/Situation | Past state | Current state | 날씨가 춥더니 따뜻해졌어요. |
| First Person (State) | Past feeling/state | Current feeling/state | 어제는 피곤하더니 오늘은 괜찮아요. |
| Others (Sequential) | First action | Second action | 우산을 챙기더니 밖으로 나갔어요. |
Ejemplos clave
3 de 9아이가 우유를 마시더니 키가 훌쩍 컸어요.
The child drank milk, and then grew quite tall.
어제는 덥더니 오늘은 좀 시원하네요.
It was hot yesterday, but it's a bit cool today.
아침에는 배가 아프더니 이제는 다 나았어요.
My stomach hurt this morning, but now it's all better.
The 'Hidden Past' Rule
Never use -았- before 더니. The '더' already tells everyone it's a past memory. Adding -았- is like wearing two hats at the same time—confusing and unnecessary!
The 'I' Exception
You can use 더니 for yourself ONLY for things you can't fully control, like your health (아프더니) or feelings (슬프더니). For things you do on purpose, stick to -았더니.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Used to describe a result or contrast based on a past observation.
- Typically used for 2nd or 3rd person subjects, not 'I'.
- Connects a witnessed action/state to a subsequent change or outcome.
- Do not add past tense markers like -았/었- to the first clause.
Overview
Ever watched a movie where the first scene shows a tiny seed and the next shows a giant beanstalk? That transition is exactly what 더니 captures. It is a retrospective connector. You use it when you personally saw something happen in the past and now you are reporting the result or a contrast. Think of yourself as a documentary narrator. You observed a situation (더니) and now you're showing us what happened next. It’s like saying, "I saw that happen, and then..." or "I noticed X, and now Y."
How This Grammar Works
더니 connects two sentences. The first part is something you witnessed or experienced. The second part is the consequence, result, or a surprising change from that first observation. It’s a way to link the past to the present (or a later past) based on your own eyes. You aren't just guessing; you are a witness. Most of the time, the subject of the first clause is someone else or a situation like the weather. If you want to talk about your own actions, you’ll usually need a slightly different version, but we’ll get to that. For now, think of it as the "Observer's Grammar."
Formation Pattern
- 1Take the verb or adjective stem.
- 2Add
더니directly to the stem. - 3Do not add past tense markers like
았/었to the first clause when using더니. The "pastness" is already built into the더part of the connector. It's like a built-in time machine. - 4
가다(to go) →가더니 - 5
먹다(to eat) →먹더니 - 6
춥다(to be cold) →춥더니 - 7
공부하다(to study) →공부하더니
When To Use It
- Cause and Effect: Use it when you saw someone do something and now they have a result. "Minsu studied like a beast (
공부하더니), and now he's a genius." It’s great for bragging about friends or gossiping (nicely!) about coworkers. - Change of State: Use it for the weather or general situations. "It was cloudy this morning (
흐리더니), and now it’s pouring." It's like a grammar weather report. - Contrast: Use it when something was one way, but now it's totally different. "That restaurant was empty last week (
비었더니), but now there's a huge line." It highlights the "before and after" vibe. - Sequential Actions: Use it when someone does one thing and then immediately does another. "He opened the fridge (
열더니), and then just walked away." We've all been there.
When Not To Use It
- First Person Actions: Avoid using
더니for your own actions. You can’t say "I studied hard더니I got an A." Use았/었더니for that. Why? Because you don't "observe" yourself in the same way you observe others. It's like trying to watch yourself sleep—it's just weird. - Future Tense: This is strictly for things that have already started or happened. No crystal balls allowed here.
- Guessing: If you didn't see it yourself, don't use it. If you heard a rumor, stick to
대요or other connectors.더니requires you to be the primary witness.
Common Mistakes
- Adding Past Tense: Learners often try to say
갔더니when they mean가더니. Remember,더니implies you saw the action *happening*.았더니is for when *you* did the action. It's a tiny difference that changes the whole meaning. - Subject Mismatch: If the first clause is about your friend and the second is suddenly about the price of eggs in China, it won't work. The two clauses must be logically linked by your observation.
- Wrong Subject: Using it for "I" when describing an action. Unless you are describing a change in your health or mood (which is an exception), keep "I" out of the first part.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
더니vs.았/었더니: This is the big one.더니is for observing others or situations.았/었더니is for things you did yourself. Think of더니as "I saw them..." and았/었더니as "I did... and found out."더니vs.아서/어서:아서/어서is a general cause and effect.더니is more specific—it's a cause and effect based on a *specific past observation*. It adds a layer of "I saw this happen."더니vs.는데:는데just provides background.더니provides a past observation that *leads* to something.더니is much more focused on the timeline and the result.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I use 더니 for my own feelings?
A. Yes! If you felt sick earlier and now you're better, you can say 아프더니. You are observing your own state change.
Q. Is it formal or informal?
A. You can use it in both! Just change the ending of the second sentence to 요 or 습니다. The 더니 part stays the same.
Q. Does it have to be a bad result?
A. Not at all! It can be a promotion, a sunny day, or finally finding your keys. It’s a neutral observer.
Q. Can I use it in writing?
A. Absolutely. It’s very common in novels to describe character actions and their consequences. It makes the writing feel more descriptive and alive.
Reference Table
| Subject Type | Clause 1 (Observation) | Clause 2 (Result/Contrast) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Others/3rd Person | Action or state | Result or change | 제니가 열심히 하더니 성공했어요. |
| Weather/Situation | Past state | Current state | 날씨가 춥더니 따뜻해졌어요. |
| First Person (State) | Past feeling/state | Current feeling/state | 어제는 피곤하더니 오늘은 괜찮아요. |
| Others (Sequential) | First action | Second action | 우산을 챙기더니 밖으로 나갔어요. |
The 'Hidden Past' Rule
Never use -았- before 더니. The '더' already tells everyone it's a past memory. Adding -았- is like wearing two hats at the same time—confusing and unnecessary!
The 'I' Exception
You can use 더니 for yourself ONLY for things you can't fully control, like your health (아프더니) or feelings (슬프더니). For things you do on purpose, stick to -았더니.
Gossip with Grace
Native speakers use this a lot to describe changes in others. 'He used to be shy (수줍어하더니) but now he's a star!' It adds a touch of personal testimony to your story.
Eye-witness Trust
Using 더니 implies you actually saw the process. It's much more convincing than just stating a fact. It's like saying, 'I was there, I saw it with my own eyes.'
Ejemplos
9아이가 우유를 마시더니 키가 훌쩍 컸어요.
Focus: 마시더니
The child drank milk, and then grew quite tall.
A clear cause and effect based on observation over time.
어제는 덥더니 오늘은 좀 시원하네요.
Focus: 덥더니
It was hot yesterday, but it's a bit cool today.
Contrasting two different weather states observed by the speaker.
아침에는 배가 아프더니 이제는 다 나았어요.
Focus: 아프더니
My stomach hurt this morning, but now it's all better.
Allowed for 1st person because it describes a change in state/health.
그가 가방을 메더니 인사도 없이 나갔어요.
Focus: 메더니
He put on his bag and then left without even saying goodbye.
Describes a sequence of observed actions by someone else.
신입 사원이 노력을 많이 하더니 승진을 했습니다.
Focus: 하더니
The new employee put in a lot of effort and then got promoted.
Used in a formal context to report a positive outcome.
✗ 내가 열심히 공부하더니 시험에 합격했어요. → ✓ 내가 열심히 공부했더니 시험에 합격했어요.
Focus: 공부했더니
I studied hard and passed the exam.
For your own actions, use -았더니, not -더니.
✗ 어제 비가 왔더니 오늘은 맑아요. → ✓ 어제 비가 오더니 오늘은 맑아요.
Focus: 오더니
It rained yesterday, and today it's clear.
Do not combine -았- and -더니 in the first clause.
그 배우가 예전에는 인기가 많더니 요즘은 조용하네요.
Focus: 많더니
That actor used to be very popular, but he's been quiet lately.
Observing a long-term change in someone's status.
동생이 컴퓨터만 하더니 결국 눈이 나빠졌어요.
Focus: 하더니
My younger sibling did nothing but play on the computer, and eventually their eyesight got worse.
Expresses a negative result stemming from an observed habit.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence based on the observation of a friend.
지수가 매일 운동을 ___ 살이 많이 빠졌어요.
Since the speaker is observing Jisu (a 3rd person) and reporting a result, '하더니' is the correct choice.
Complete the weather contrast sentence.
아침에는 바람이 많이 ___ 지금은 조용하네요.
When contrasting past and present weather states observed by the speaker, '불더니' (from 불다) is used without the past tense marker.
Identify the correct sequence for an observed action.
그가 갑자기 울음을 ___ 밖으로 뛰어 나갔어요.
The speaker observed someone else suddenly burst into tears and then run out. '터뜨리더니' fits this sequential observation.
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Ayudas visuales
Observer vs. Doer
Should I Use 더니?
Did YOU personally witness/feel the first part?
Is the subject 'I' (doing an action)?
Is it a change in state, result, or sequence?
Typical더 니 Scenarios
People
- • Work habits
- • Sudden mood changes
- • Growth
Nature
- • Weather shifts
- • Seasons changing
- • Flower blooming
Health
- • Recovery
- • Getting sick
- • Tiredness
Preguntas frecuentes
21 preguntasIt doesn't have one single translation, but it usually means 'I saw X, and now Y' or 'X was happening, and then Y occurred.' It's all about connecting an observed past to a later result.
No, 더니 is strictly for things you personally experienced or saw. If you heard it from someone else, you should use 다면서요 or 대요.
No, you cannot. It's based on past observation, so the first part must have already happened. You can't observe the future (unless you're a wizard)!
Because 더니 is for observing others. To talk about your own actions and their results, you must use -았/었더니, like 내가 공부했더니.
For weather, you almost always use 더니. Using 았더니 would imply you were the one who made the weather happen, which is impossible!
Yes! It works perfectly with adjectives to show a change in state, like 날씨가 춥더니 (It was cold and then...).
The connector itself is neutral. The politeness depends on how you end the sentence, like using ~습니다 or ~어요 at the very end.
는데 just gives background info. 더니 specifically points to a result or a contrast that you witnessed. 더니 is much more 'dramatic' and focused on change.
Yes, it's very common for negative results, like 술을 많이 마시더니 건강이 나빠졌어요 (He drank a lot and his health got worse).
Absolutely! It's great for things like 열심히 연습하더니 우승했어요 (She practiced hard and won first place).
It is 가더니. Never use the past tense 았/었 with the 더니 pattern when the subject is someone else.
Yes, like 코트를 입더니 나갔어요 (He put on his coat and then left). It shows one action following another.
That's fine! 아버지가 오시더니 우리가 다 같이 밥을 먹었어요 (Father arrived, and then we all ate together).
Sometimes it can feel like 'since,' but it's more about the observation of the cause. 'Since I saw him study, he succeeded' is the vibe.
It's rare. Usually, it's used to state observations. You wouldn't normally ask someone else about your own observation using 더니.
It's a connector, so it's always used in the middle to link two clauses.
That's deep! But grammatically, even then, we usually stick to the state-change rule for 'I'.
Not at all. It can be as small as someone blinking or a light flickering.
It's very common in both. In speaking, it's great for storytelling and relaying news.
Think of the '더' as 'Discovery.' You Discovered something in the past, and now you're reporting it!
Not really. It could be an observation of a few seconds or a few years of someone's behavior.
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