Learn Korean: Verb + 약속

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Verb + 약속. The word 약속 means promise but it can also be translated as appointment, plan, or meeting. For example, when someone asks 오늘밤 시간 있어? (Are you free tonight?), we can say 약속 있어 if we are not free because of we’ve got some plans. We use this pattern in imperative case to tell someone to keep a promise. We say Promise me you will come back. The main verb is 돌아오다 (to come back). We take the verb stem (돌아오) and attach ㄴ다고. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use 는다고. Then, we add 약속하다. The actual sentence is 돌아온다고 약속해(요). To add the nuance do-it-for-my-sake, we add 주다 to the 아/어/여 form of 약속하다. It becomes 약속해 주다. We say 돌아온다고 약속해 줘(요). We can also use the high polite form (주세요) and low casual form (주라). Here's another example. Let's say Promise me you will not tell it (to anyone).  The main verb is 말하다 (to tell). It has two negative forms: one is 말하지 않다 and the other is 말 안 하다. If we use 하지 않다, we get rid of 다 and replace it with 는다고 as in 말하지 않는다고. We can also use 겠다고 as in 말하지 않겠다고. Then, we add 약속하다 (약속해 주다). The actual sentence is 말하지 않는다고 약속해(요)/약속해 줘(요) or 말하지 않겠다고 약속해(요)/약속해 줘(요). If the we use 안, we take the verb stem (하) and attach ㄴ다고 because it ends in a vowel. Then, we add 약속하다 (약속해 주다). The actual sentence is 말 안 한다고 약속해(요)/약속해 줘(요).

우리 딸 잘 키운다고 약속해.

Promise you will raise (my daughter) well.

이 비밀 말하지 않는다고 약속해.

Promise me you will not tell this secret.

마스크 없이 안 나간다고 약속해.

Promise me you won’t go out without a mask.