Periods, invitations and uncertainty

Common duration phrases use 하루, 이틀, 한 주, 세 달 and 일 년. Days and months often use native forms, while years with 년 use Sino-Korean numbers. Learn these useful combinations instead of applying one number system everywhere.

To describe how long you lived somewhere, put the duration before the past verb: 한빛에서 세 달 살았어요. This is a simple past account; there is no need to import an English present-perfect tense.

아직 몰라요 means I do not know yet. 아직 안 … says not yet; 벌써 says already. Give an invitation as a clear time plus 오세요, then a short reason or plan.

• 한빛에서 세 달 살았어요.I lived in Hanbit for three months.

• 함부르크에서 십 년 살았어요.I lived in Hamburg for ten years.

• 아직 몰라요.I do not know yet.

• 벌써 알아요.I already know.

• 토요일 저녁에 오세요.Please come on Saturday evening.

• 국을 만들 거예요.I will make soup.