Korean Grammar Guide
TOPIK 4 Grammar: The Complete Guide to All 59 Patterns
Date: October 19, 2026
Introduction
TOPIK 4 is where intermediate Korean turns fluent-sounding. The patterns here carry nuance: blaming a cause versus thanking it, reporting what someone said versus what you only heard, expecting one thing and finding another. They dominate essays, news commentary, and natural adult conversation.
This guide lists all 59 TOPIK 4 grammar patterns taught on Learn Korean Today, grouped by function in a study-friendly order. Every pattern links to its own lesson with a full explanation and real example sentences from Korean news articles.
If you have not covered the intermediate basics yet, start with the TOPIK 3 Grammar guide. Ready? Begin with Part 1 — the formal written connectors appear in nearly every TOPIK 4 reading passage.
This guide lists all 59 TOPIK 4 grammar patterns taught on Learn Korean Today, grouped by function in a study-friendly order. Every pattern links to its own lesson with a full explanation and real example sentences from Korean news articles.
If you have not covered the intermediate basics yet, start with the TOPIK 3 Grammar guide. Ready? Begin with Part 1 — the formal written connectors appear in nearly every TOPIK 4 reading passage.
Part 1. Formal and Written Style
The connectors of reports, essays, and announcements — compact, formal, and everywhere in TOPIK reading tests.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㅁ으로써 | by means of / by ~ing | 그는 열심히 일함으로써 성공했어요.He succeeded by working hard. |
| -(으)므로 | because / since (formal) | 시간이 없으므로 서둘러야 해요.Since there is no time, we must hurry. |
| -(으)로서 | as (a role/status) | 학생으로서 열심히 공부해야 해요.As a student, you must study hard. |
| -에 의해(서) | by (passive agent) | 이 건물은 유명한 건축가에 의해 설계됐어요.This building was designed by a famous architect. |
| -기에(는) | for (purpose) / (too...) to | 혼자 하기에는 너무 어려워요.It's too difficult to do alone. |
| -다시피 | as (you know / can see) | 보시다시피 여기가 제일 넓어요.As you can see, this is the largest place. |
Part 2. Contrast, Addition, and Degree
Comparing two sides of a situation, stacking facts on top of each other, and measuring how far something goes.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 반면(에) | whereas / on the other hand | 형은 조용한 반면에 동생은 활발해요.The older brother is quiet, whereas the younger sibling is lively. |
| -는 한편 | on the one hand / also | 그는 사업가인 한편, 작가이기도 해요.He is a businessman and also a writer. |
| -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 | not only | 그녀는 노래뿐만 아니라 춤도 잘해요.She not only sings well but dances well too. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 데다(가) | on top of / in addition | 비가 오는 데다가 바람도 불어요.On top of the rain, it's windy too. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 만큼 | as much as / to the extent | 노력한 만큼 결과가 나올 거예요.You'll get results to the extent you worked. |
| -듯이 | like / as if | 마치 아는 듯이 말했어요.He spoke as if he knew. |
Part 3. Causes with Nuance — Blame, Thanks, and Chance
Korean separates 'because of' into flavors: a cause to blame, an accident that ruined plans, a favor to thank, and a reason that moved you to act.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에 | because of (negative cause) | 밤을 새운 탓에 하루 종일 피곤했어요.Because I stayed up all night, I was tired all day. |
| -는 바람에 | because of (unexpected result) | 갑자기 손님이 오는 바람에 청소를 못 했어요.Unexpected guests came, so I couldn't clean. |
| -는 덕분에 | thanks to | 선생님 덕분에 합격했어요.Thanks to my teacher, I passed. |
| -길래 | since / because (reason for action) | 날씨가 좋길래 산책하러 나갔어요.The weather was nice, so I went out for a walk. |
| -아/어서 그런지 | maybe because | 피곤해서 그런지 자꾸 졸려요.Maybe because I'm tired, I keep feeling sleepy. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 김에 | while (taking the opportunity) | 시장에 간 김에 과일도 샀어요.While I was at the market, I bought fruit too. |
Part 4. Hearsay and Reported Speech — Advanced
TOPIK 4 expands quoting into a full system: what they said, what I heard, what I heard but doubt, and what I'm telling you for the last time.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ㄴ/는다더니 | said ~ but (and then) | 비가 온다더니 정말 왔어요.You said it would rain, and it really did. |
| -ㄴ/는다더라 | I heard that | 그 집 음식이 맛있다더라.I heard that restaurant's food is delicious. |
| -ㄴ/는다던데 | I heard that (but) | 내일 눈이 온다던데 정말일까요?I heard it will snow tomorrow — is it true? |
| -ㄴ/는다면서(요)? | I heard ~ right? | 요즘 바쁘다면서요?I hear you're busy these days? |
| -ㄴ/는다니까 | I'm telling you | 내가 분명히 말했다니까.I'm telling you, I definitely said it. |
| -ㄴ/는다고 해도 | even if (one says) | 바쁘다고 해도 연락은 해야지요.Even if you're busy, you should still call. |
| -ㄴ/는다거나 | or (listing actions) | 주말에는 운동을 한다거나 책을 읽어요.On weekends I exercise or read books. |
| -ㄴ/는다니 | (surprise) that | 벌써 졸업한다니 믿기지 않아요.I can't believe you're already graduating. |
Part 5. Guessing, Expectation, and Regret
What you assumed, what you expected, what almost happened, and what you should have done — a whole toolkit for talking about the gap between expectation and reality.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 모양이다 | it seems / looks like | 비가 올 모양이에요.It looks like it will rain. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 줄 알았다 | thought that | 나는 네가 벌써 간 줄 알았어요.I thought you had already left. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다 | didn't know that | 이렇게 비쌀 줄 몰랐어요.I didn't know it would be this expensive. |
| -(으)ㄴ가 보다 | I assume / it seems | 그는 아직 자는가 봐요.He must still be sleeping. |
| -(으)ㄹ 텐데 | should be (but) / I expect | 혼자 가면 외로울 텐데 같이 가요.You'd be lonely going alone, so let's go together. |
| -(으)ㄹ 테니(까) | I will, so | 내가 할 테니까 걱정 마세요.I'll do it, so don't worry. |
| -(으)ㄹ걸 (그랬다) | should have | 우산을 가져올걸 그랬어요.I should have brought an umbrella. |
| -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 | almost did | 하마터면 넘어질 뻔했어요.I almost fell. |
| -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 | there is no way that | 그가 거짓말할 리가 없어요.There's no way he would lie. |
Part 6. Realizations While Doing — the 다가 Family
Patterns for the moment understanding arrives mid-action: keep doing something, and you find out what it really is.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -다(가) 보니(까) | while doing (came to realize) | 요리하다가 보니까 시간이 훌쩍 지났어요.While I was cooking, time flew by. |
| -다(가) 보면 | if you keep doing | 꾸준히 하다 보면 언젠가 성공해요.If you keep at it steadily, you'll succeed someday. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는 걸 보니(까) | judging from / since | 짐이 많은 걸 보니 여행을 가나 봐요.Judging by all the luggage, he must be going on a trip. |
| -고 보면 | once you ~ (you find) | 살고 보면 별일 아니에요.Once you live through it, it's no big deal. |
| -더군(요) | I noticed / recall (that) | 어제 가게에 가니까 벌써 문을 닫았더군요.When I went to the store yesterday, it had already closed. |
| -던가(요)? | was it? (recalling question) | 그 영화 제목이 뭐던가요?What was that movie's title again? |
Part 7. No Choice, Conditions, and Intentions
When there's exactly one option left, when one condition is enough, and when an intention quietly becomes a fact.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 (없다) | no choice but to | 비가 와서 집에 있을 수밖에 없었어요.It rained, so I had no choice but to stay home. |
| -는 수밖에 (없다) | no choice but to | 늦었으니 택시를 타는 수밖에 없어요.We're late, so there's no choice but to take a taxi. |
| -는 수(가) 있다 | it can happen that | 바쁘면 연락이 늦을 수도 있어요.If he's busy, his reply might be late. |
| -기만 하면 (되다) | as long as / just need to | 이 서류만 제출하면 돼요.You just need to submit this document. |
| -는 한 | as long as / as far as | 제가 아는 한, 그는 정직한 사람이에요.As far as I know, he's an honest person. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 셈이다 | intend to / it amounts to | 내년에 졸업할 셈이에요.I intend to graduate next year. |
| -(으)ㄹ 겸 (해서) | in order to also / and also | 산책도 할 겸 공원에 갔어요.I went to the park, also to take a walk. |
| -(으)ㄹ까 말까 | whether or not to | 갈까 말까 고민 중이에요.I'm debating whether to go or not. |
Part 8. Everyday Spoken Nuances
Small patterns with big social meaning — pretending, ending up, modest denials, and the counterfactual 'if only I had.'
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ㄴ/는 척하다 | pretend to | 아는 척하지 마세요.Don't pretend to know. |
| -고 말다 | end up (regrettably) | 결국 울고 말았어요.She ended up crying. |
| -(으)려다가 | was about to but | 나가려다가 비가 와서 그만뒀어요.I was about to go out, but it rained so I stopped. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는걸(요) | though (sentence-final) | 저는 벌써 먹은걸요.But I already ate. |
| -기는(요) | not at all (modest denial) | 잘하기는요, 아직 멀었어요.Me, good at it? Not at all — I still have far to go. |
| -고 말고(요) | of course | 믿고 말고요.Of course I trust you. |
| -는 사이에 | while / during | 제가 잠든 사이에 눈이 왔어요.While I was asleep, it snowed. |
| -에다(가) | onto / at / in addition to | 여기에다가 이름을 쓰세요.Write your name right here. |
| -았/었더라면 | if (counterfactual past) | 그때 알았더라면 도와줬을 거예요.If I had known then, I would have helped. |
| -았/었으면 하다 | wish / hope (that) | 내일은 비가 안 왔으면 해요.I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. |
Common Confusions at TOPIK 4
탓에 vs 바람에 vs 덕분에
All three translate as "because of," but the attitude differs. 탓에 blames a cause — the result is bad and someone or something is at fault. 바람에 blames an unexpected event that blew in and wrecked the plan. 덕분에 is the opposite: a cause you are grateful for. Using 덕분에 for a bad result sounds sarcastic.
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 vs -는 수(가) 있다
수밖에 없다 says there is no other option at all — you must. 수(가) 있다 says something is possible — it can happen that. 늦을 수밖에 없어요 = "I have no choice but to be late." 늦을 수도 있어요 = "I might be late."
줄 알았다 vs 줄 몰랐다
Both reveal a wrong expectation, from opposite sides. 줄 알았다 means you assumed something that turned out false (간 줄 알았어요 — "I thought you'd left" — but you hadn't). 줄 몰랐다 means it never even occurred to you (비쌀 줄 몰랐어요 — "I had no idea it would be this expensive").
-(으)ㄹ 테니(까) vs -(으)ㄹ 텐데
테니(까) looks forward from your own intention: "I will do X, so you do Y" (내가 할 테니까 걱정 마세요). 텐데 looks at an expectation rubbing against reality — worry, an invitation, or a gentle warning (외로울 텐데 같이 가요 — "you'd be lonely, so let's go together").
How to Study These 59 Patterns
1. Group the cause patterns (Part 3) into one drill. 탓에/바람에/덕분에 are rarely taught as a set, but choosing between them is a classic TOPIK 4 writing question.
2. Treat Part 4 hearsay as one paradigm. 는다더니/더라/던데/면서요 differ by one syllable and one attitude — learn the attitude, not just the form.
3. Write with them. TOPIK 4 patterns score in the writing section precisely because they sound formal and precise; use advanced reading lessons to see them in real articles.
4. Start from the highest-yield patterns. -(으)ㅁ으로써, 반면, and -(으)로서 have the most examples on this site — formal writing runs on them.
2. Treat Part 4 hearsay as one paradigm. 는다더니/더라/던데/면서요 differ by one syllable and one attitude — learn the attitude, not just the form.
3. Write with them. TOPIK 4 patterns score in the writing section precisely because they sound formal and precise; use advanced reading lessons to see them in real articles.
4. Start from the highest-yield patterns. -(으)ㅁ으로써, 반면, and -(으)로서 have the most examples on this site — formal writing runs on them.
What to Learn Next
Ready for the advanced levels? Continue with the TOPIK 5 Grammar guide, or review the full grammar library by TOPIK level. For a step back, the TOPIK 3 Grammar guide covers the intermediate foundation this level builds on.
All 59 patterns above are from the TOPIK 4 grammar list on Learn Korean Today. Each linked lesson includes a full explanation and example sentences from real Korean articles.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *