면/으면 (conditional) - If/When

At its heart, 면/으면 connects two ideas. The first part is the condition. The second part is the result. It acts like a logical bridge. In English, we use "if" or "when" separately. In Korean, this single pattern often covers both. The context tells you which one fits best. If the condition is likely to happen, it feels like "when." If the condition is just a guess, it feels like "if." It attaches directly to the stem of verbs and adjectives. It doesn't care if you are being formal or informal. The ending of the sentence handles the politeness level. This grammar is like a Swiss Army knife. It fits into almost any conversation you have. Just remember to attach it to the action or state that comes first.

1. 1Learning to build this is like following a simple recipe. You only need to look at the bottom of your verb or adjective stem.
2. 2Check for a final consonant (batchim).
3. 3If there is no batchim, add 면. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 가면.
4. 4If the stem ends in the letter ㄹ, just add 면. This is a special rule. 살다 (to live) becomes 살면, not 살으면.
5. 5If there is a batchim (other than ㄹ), add 으면. For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹으면.
6. 6For nouns, you use 이라면 or 라면. Use 이라면 if the noun ends in a consonant. Use 라면 if it ends in a vowel.
7. 7It is like a grammar traffic light. If the path is clear (no consonant), just slide in 면. If there is an obstacle (consonant), use 으면 to smooth things over.

Use this grammar when one thing depends on another. It is perfect for real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You want to say, "If it's spicy, please give me water." You would say 매우면 물 좀 주세요.

Maybe you are in a job interview. You want to sound professional. "If I work at this company, I will work hard." That is 이 회사에서 일하면 열심히 하겠습니다.

It also works for general truths. "When it rains, the ground gets wet." 비가 오면 땅이 젖어요.

Use it when you give directions to a friend. "If you turn left here, you'll see the station." 여기서 왼쪽으로 가면 역이 보여요.

It is also great for making plans. "If you have time this weekend, let's meet." 이번 주말에 시간이 있으면 만나요.

You can even use it for hypothetical dreams. "If I win the lottery..." 복권에 당첨되면....

This grammar is not for the past tense. Many learners trip up here. Do not use 면/으면 to mean "When I did something" in the past. For that, you need 었을 때.

For example, don't say "If I was a child" using this pattern for a past memory. Use it only for conditions that haven't happened yet.

Also, avoid using it for things that are 100% guaranteed by time. If you mean "When 5 o'clock comes," and it definitely will, ㄹ 때 is sometimes a better fit for a simple time marker. However, 면/으면 is often acceptable there too.

Just remember: if the event already happened, this grammar is off-limits. It's looking toward the future or a general rule. Think of it as a "forward-looking" grammar point.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! The biggest trap is the ㄹ irregular. People often try to add 으면 to words like 만들다. They say 만들으면. That sounds a bit clunky. Always remember: ㄹ is a friendly consonant. It doesn't need the extra 으. Just say 만들면.

Another mistake is the ㅂ irregular. Words like 춥다 (to be cold) change. The ㅂ turns into 우. So it becomes 추우면. If you say 춥면, people will still understand you, but it will sound a bit robotic.

Lastly, don't forget the ㄷ irregular. 듣다 (to listen) becomes 들으면. The ㄷ turns into ㄹ. It’s like a grammar magic trick. Keep an eye on these irregulars, and you will be a pro in no time.

You might have heard of 다면. They look similar, right? But 다면 is for very unlikely things. Use 면/으면 for everyday stuff. Use 다면 for winning the lottery or becoming a cat.

There is also 거든. This is used mostly when the second part is a command or a suggestion. "If you arrive, call me!" 도착하거든 전화해!.

Then there is ㄹ 때. This means "at the time of." 면/으면 is the condition that starts the action. ㄹ 때 is the window of time while it's happening.

Think of 면 as the "trigger." Think of ㄹ 때 as the "background music." They both have their places, but don't mix them up!