Learn Korean: Active Verb + 걸 알다

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Active Verb + 걸 알다. We use this to express that we know something. The that-clause contains an active verb.

Example #1: I know that you live here. The main verb is 살다 (to live) and it is in present tense. We take the verb stem and attach 는 걸. But 살다 is an irregular verb which means that ㄹ omits itself when followed by ㄴ. It becomes 사는 걸. After that, we add 알다. The actual sentence is 여기에 사는 걸(거) 알아(요). 걸 is simplified into 거 when speaking.

Example #2: I know that you lied. The main verb is 거짓말하다 (to lie) and it is in past tense. We take the verb stem and attach ㄴ 걸 if it ends in a vowel and 은 걸 if it ends in a consonant. Then, we add 알다. The actual sentence is 거짓말한 걸(거) 알아(요).

나 좋아하는 거 알아.

I know that you like me.

 

밤에 나간 거 알아.

I know that you went out last night.

문 뒤에 숨는 거 알아.

I know that you are hiding my money.