더니

Format

• The basic format for this grammar pattern is: [ (first clause) + (A/V + 더니) ] [ (second clause) ]
  • The first clause always presents a past experience (usually an action or state)

	First clause	Second clause
Format:	(Sentence) + (A/V + 더니)	(sentence)
Korean:	미선은 아까 약을 먹더니	지금은 졸려졌어요.
English:	Mi-sun took some medicine earlier	and (as a result) she is sleepy now.
Notes:	Something in the past directly observed or experienced	Can either be (A)The result, consequence of clause 1 or (B) A contrast between what happened in clause 1

Description

Adjective/Verb + 더니: This grammar is a combination of the retrospective marker A/V + 더 and A/V + (으)니. In general, this pattern is used to describe something personally observed or experienced in the past and the result, consequence, or state that follows. More specifically:

1. This pattern is used for when the speaker has personally observed or experienced something (a state or action) in the past that contrasts with the present. It can either express that the contrast is surprising or that they are just connected sequentially.

or triggers the state or consequence for what happens the final clause.

2. This pattern is used to talk about the situation or person the first clause has changed in the second clause due to time passing by.

Notes

• This pattern is used in the second and third person only. If you want to use this in the first person, use A/V + 았/었 + 더니.
• This pattern has a different meaning when attached to the past tense form, see A/V + 았/었 + 더니.
• The future tense cannot be used because you haven't observed it yet.
• The form 더니만 can be used for extra emphasis. It is a combination of -더니 and -만.

Conjugation Rule

Conjugation Rule

	Pattern	Case	Example
Rule 1:		If there is no 받침 or if the adjective/verb stem has ㄹ as a 받침
Rule 2:		If there is a 받침 at the end of the adjective/verb stem

Sentence Examples

Korean	English	Notes
약속을 지키겠다더니 또 어겼네" "미안해. 이번엔 정말 사정이 생겨서 그래

Meaning: to show contrast between the past and the present.

Korean	English	Notes
아침에는 춥더니 낮에는 덥네요.	It was cold in this morning and now it's hot in the day time.
작년에는 내 생일이 금요일이더니 올해는 토요일이네요.	Last year my birthday was on a Friday, but this year it's on a Saturday.
어제는 비가 오더니 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.	It was raining yesterday, but today the weather is nice.
작년에 는 걔가 일본말을- 못 하더니 지금은 완전 잘 하네요.	Last year he/she couldn't speak Japanese, but now he/she is really good.
전에는 뚱뚱하더니 지금은 날씬해졌어요.	He/she used to be fat, but now he/she is slim.

See Also

• N + (이)더니
• A/V + 았/었 + 더니

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