Making plans together: -(으)ㄹ까요?, -(으)면, 약속

Everything explained in this lesson, on one page.

Shall we?

같이 영화 볼까요? — shall we watch a film together? 뭐 먹을까요? — what shall we eat? 주말에 뭐 할까요? — what shall we do at the weekend?

Each one proposes something for you and the listener together and leaves the decision to them. The stem takes ㄹ까요? after a vowel (보다 → 볼까요?, 하다 → 할까요?) and 을까요? after a consonant (먹다 → 먹을까요?). It is the same ㄹ / 을 choice as in 볼 거예요 and 먹을 거예요. The pattern is written -(으)ㄹ까요?

Yes, no, or something else

To accept: 네, 좋아요. To decline, give an apology and a reason: 미안해요, 약속이 있어요 — sorry, I have plans. 약속 is any arrangement with someone. A bare 아니요 would sound abrupt.

When the proposal is a question like 뭐 먹을까요?, answer with what you would like: 같이 비빔밥 먹어요 — let’s have bibimbap. Korean needs no special word for “let’s” here. The ordinary 해요 form does the job, as in 그럼 같이 가요.

Two words for “sorry”

미안해요 is the “sorry” for people you are on friendly terms with: polite, but warm. 죄송합니다, which you already know, is the formal one for strangers, customers and anyone older. English makes do with one word; Korean makes you choose. When in doubt, take 죄송합니다.

A reason goes in front with 서: 늦어서 미안해요 — sorry I’m late.

How about Saturday?

To suggest a day or a time, put 어때요? straight after it: 토요일 어때요? — how about Saturday? 세 시 어때요? — how about three o’clock? No particle comes between.

Once it is agreed: 그럼 그때 봐요 — see you then. 그때 means “at that time” and points back to the time you have just settled.

If and when: -(으)면

시간이 있으면 같이 가요 — if you have time, let’s go together. 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요 — if it rains, I’ll stay at home. 바쁘면 내일 만나요 — if you’re busy, let’s meet tomorrow.

The stem takes 면 after a vowel (오면, 바쁘면) and 으면 after a final consonant (있으면). The condition always comes first. English separates “if” from “when”; -(으)면 covers both. You have in fact used it already, inside -(으)면 안 돼요: “if you do that, it’s not OK”.

Inviting someone

초대해요 (초대하다) is “invite”: 생일 파티에 친구를 초대해요 — I’m inviting friends to my birthday party.

The invitation itself can be made with what you have just learned. 시간이 있으면 오세요 — do come if you have time. The condition softens the polite instruction 오세요, so the other person can easily say no.

An appointment, part 1

Minsu wants to see a film with Jia. He first checks that she is free: 시간 있어요?, “do you have time?”, with the particle dropped as it often is in speech. Jia’s 왜요? means “why do you ask?”.

Then comes the proposal, and Jia’s reply: 몇 시에 만날까요? A question word with -(으)ㄹ까요? hands the choice to the other person: what time shall we meet?

An appointment, part 2

Minsu proposes a time, Jia agrees and asks where, and the last line closes the conversation: 네, 그때 봐요.

Look at 영화관 앞에서 만나요. It is 에서, not 에, because meeting is something you do there. In the last lesson 앞에 있어요 only said where something was. An appointment needs three things, and the two of them have now fixed all three: the day, the time and the place.

What to remember

Shall we …? = stem + ㄹ까요? / 을까요?: 볼까요?, 먹을까요?, 몇 시에 만날까요?
Accept with 네, 좋아요; decline with 미안해요 and a reason; “let’s” is the plain 해요 form: 같이 먹어요.
N 어때요? proposes a day or time: 토요일 어때요? Then 그때 봐요.
If / when = stem + 면 / 으면, condition first: 시간이 있으면 같이 가요.

Easy to mix up

미안해요 is for people you know; 죄송합니다 for strangers and anyone older. When in doubt, 죄송합니다.
면 goes on the dictionary stem: 있으면, 오면. Not 있어면.
영화관 앞에서 만나요 (an action there), but 영화관 앞에 있어요 (being there).