How To Say 'To End Up' Doing Something In Korean 게 되다

In Korean, the grammar structure V + 게 되다 combines 게 (‘in a way’) and 되다 (‘to become’) to convey the idea of ‘to end up V-ing’ or ‘to gradually do.’

This versatile construction is used to discuss events that have occurred in the past, are happening in the present, or will occur in the future.

The form of 게 되다 changes according to the tense of the sentence.

1. 과거 (past) - I ended up doing: 게 됐다

Here’s how 게 됐다 is used in past tense sentences:

처음에 김치를 별로 좋아하지 않았지만 좋아하게 됐어요.
At first I wasn't keen on kimchi but I ended up liking it.
한국에 떠난 후에 고향에 돌아가서 부모님과 살게 됐어요.
After leaving Korea I ended up going home and living with my parents.

2. 현재 (present) - I end up doing: 게 되다

Explore the use of 게 되다 in present tense sentences:

다시 서울에서 오게 되면 같이 놀라러 연락 하세요.
If you end up in Seoul again, please contact me and we'll hang out.
Uptown Funk를 너무 좋아해서 생각 없이 곡을 노래하게 돼요.
Uptown Funk is such a good song that I end up singing it without thinking about it.

3. 미래 (future) - I will end up doing: 게 될 것이다

Discover how 게 될 것이다 is used in future tense sentences:

제가 오늘은 시험 접수를 알고싶었는데 선생님께 다음주에 알게 될 것이라고 말했어요.
I wanted to know the test results today but my teacher said I will find out tomorrow.
문현이 지은은 스타일이 아니라고 말하지만 제가 데이트를 신청하게 될 것이라고 생각해요.
Mun-hyeon says Ji-eun is not his type but I think he'll end up asking her out on a date.

Conclusion

The Korean grammar structure 게 되다 offers a versatile way to express ‘to end up V-ing’ and is used in various tenses to discuss past, present, and future events.

Mastering this construction adds depth to your Korean language skills, allowing you to convey nuanced ideas effectively.

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