🟠 Advanced Grammar: -도록, -게 하다 – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

Are you ready to express **causation** and **purpose** in Korean at an intermediate level? In this post, we will explore two essential grammar points: –도록 and –게 하다, with detailed explanations and practical examples.

🎯 How to Use -도록

The expression –도록 is used to indicate purpose, result, or extent. It's often translated as "so that," "in order to," or "until."

• 늦지 않도록 일찍 출발했어요.
  Neutji anh-dorok iljjik chulbalhaesseoyo.
  I left early so that I wouldn't be late.
• 감기에 걸리지 않도록 옷을 따뜻하게 입으세요.
  Gamgie geolliji anh-dorok oseul ttatteut-hage ibeuseyo.
  Wear warm clothes so you don't catch a cold.
• 모두 이해하도록 설명해 주세요.
  Modu ihae-hadorok seolmyeonghae juseyo.
  Please explain so that everyone can understand.

🛠 How to Use -게 하다

The expression –게 하다 is used to indicate that **someone makes another person do something**. It implies a sense of causing or allowing an action to happen.

• 엄마가 동생을 울게 했어요.
  Eommaga dongsaeng-eul ulge haesseoyo.
  Mom made my younger sibling cry.
• 선생님이 학생들에게 많이 읽게 했어요.
  Seonsaengnimi haksaeng-deurege mani ilgge haesseoyo.
  The teacher made the students read a lot.
• 그 뉴스는 저를 슬프게 했어요.
  Geu nyuseuneun jeo-reul seulpeuge haesseoyo.
  That news made me sad.

🗣 Practice Dialogue

A: 왜 그렇게 일찍 출발했어요?
A: Wae geureoke iljjik chulbalhaesseoyo?
A: Why did you leave so early?

B: 늦지 않도록 하려고요.
B: Neutji anh-dorok haryeogoyo.
B: So that I wouldn't be late.

A: 선생님이 숙제를 많이 하게 했어요?
A: Seonsaengnimi sukjereul mani hage haesseoyo?
A: Did the teacher make you do a lot of homework?

B: 네, 저를 열심히 공부하게 하셨어요.
B: Ne, jeo-reul yeolsimhi gongbu-hage hasyeosseoyo.
B: Yes, she made me study hard.

🧠 Did You Know?

South Korea ranks 4th in the world for average daily study time among high school students, with many spending over 12 hours a day in school and private academies. This intense environment leads to widespread use of expressions like "공부하게 하다" (make someone study) in daily life!

📚 Summary

• -도록: expresses purpose or result (so that, in order to)
• -게 하다: expresses causation (make someone do something)

These grammar points will help you express more complex thoughts and improve your Korean fluency in both writing and conversation.

💬 Practice Korean with Me on italki!

If you want to master intermediate Korean grammar like this, book a lesson with me on italki. We’ll practice expressions in realistic conversations tailored to your level.

👉 Book a lesson on italki

💌 Final Thoughts:
Learning to express cause and purpose adds depth to your Korean. The more you practice using -도록 and -게 하다, the more natural your sentences will become. Keep pushing forward! 💪🇰🇷

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