Excessively: -도록

This grammar connects two parts of a sentence. The first part is the "limit" or "result." The second part is the "action" you are taking. For example, in "I worked until I was tired," "being tired" is the limit. "Working" is the action. You attach -도록 directly to the verb stem of the limit. It does not matter if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. It is very consistent and friendly to learners. You do not need to worry about complex batchim rules here. Just find the verb stem and slap -도록 on it. It acts like a bridge between the goal and the effort. It tells the listener exactly how far you went. It is like a grammar traffic light that stays green until you hit the limit.

1. 1Identify the verb that describes the result or limit.
2. 2Remove the 다 from the dictionary form to get the stem.
3. 3Add -도록 to the end of that stem.
4. 4Follow it with the main action verb.
5. 5Example: 배가 터지다 (Stomach bursts) + 먹다 (To eat) = 배가 터지도록 먹었어요 (I ate until my stomach [almost] burst).
6. 6Example: 밤을 새우다 (Stay up all night) + 공부하다 (To study) = 밤을 새우도록 공부했어요 (I studied until I stayed up all night).
7. 7Note: You do not add past tense markers like 았/었 before -도록.

Use this when you want to sound more descriptive about your efforts. It is great for physical sensations. If your legs hurt from walking, use it. If your eyes are red from crying, use it. It is also common in workplace scenarios. You might say you prepared "so that there are no mistakes." It is very common in emotional contexts too. Use it when you love someone "to the point of death" (very dramatic, right?). You will hear this in K-dramas all the time. It is also used for time limits. "Please finish this by tomorrow" can use a variation of this. It adds a sense of "reaching a point" that other endings lack. It makes you sound like a more fluent, expressive speaker.

Do not use this for simple, everyday goals without intensity. If you are just going to the store to buy milk, -도록 is too heavy. It implies a significant degree or a specific result. Also, avoid using it with past tense markers in the first clause. You cannot say 아팠도록. It must always be the base stem. Do not use it if the result is not actually related to the action. The two parts must have a logical connection. If you use it for very minor things, you might sound like a drama queen. Use it when the intensity actually matters to the story.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, but usually in different ways! The biggest mistake for you will be the past tense. Remember: 먹었도록 is a big no-no. Always use 먹도록. Another mistake is confusing it with -게. While they are similar, -도록 feels more like a "limit" or "deadline." If you use -도록 when you just mean "in a way that," it might sound slightly stiff. Also, watch out for the subject. Usually, the person doing the action is the same throughout. If the subjects change, the sentence can get messy. Keep it simple and focused on the intensity. Think of it like a spicy sauce; use it where it fits, not on everything.

How is this different from -게? Both can mean "so that." However, -게 is more about the manner or purpose. -도록 is more about the extent or the result. Think of -게 as "how" and -도록 as "how much." Another similar one is -(으)ㄹ 정도로. This literally means "to the extent of." They are often interchangeable. But -도록 feels more like a connective link in a story. -(으)ㄹ 정도로 feels more like a direct comparison. If you want to sound more natural in conversation, -도록 is often the punchier choice. It flows better into the next verb. It is the difference between saying "to an extent" and "until."