Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it before dinner | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared space, one person borrows a screwdriver for a shelf repair and agrees to return it clean before dinner..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it before dinner to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

작은 수리를 하려고 드라이버를 빌려도 될까요?

JAH-geun soo-REE-reul ha-RYUH-go deu-RAI-buh-reul BIL-lyuh-do DWEL-kkah-yoh? Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?
B

파란 공구함 안에 있어요.

PAH-ran GONG-goo-ham AH-neh ee-SUH-yoh. It is in the blue toolbox.
A

선반 받침대를 조여야 해요.

suhn-BAHN baht-CHIM-dae-reul joh-YUH-ya HAE-yoh. I need to tighten the shelf brackets.
B

중간 크기의 드라이버를 사용하세요.

JOONG-gan keu-GI-e deu-RAI-buh-reul sa-YONG-ha-seh-yo. Use the medium screwdriver.
B

그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요.

geu baht-CHIM-dae-eh duh jal MAH-jah-yoh. It fits those brackets better.
A

언제 돌려드리면 돼요?

uhn-JEH dohl-lyuh-deu-ree-myun DWAE-yoh? When should I return it?
B

저녁 식사 전에 돌려주세요.

juh-NYUHk SHIK-ssa juh-neh dohl-lyuh-JOO-seh-yo. Please bring it back before dinner.
A

먼지가 묻으면 먼저 닦을게요.

MEHN-jee-ga moo-DEU-myun MEHN-juh DAH-geul-KKEH-yoh. If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.
B

그러면 공구를 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요.

geu-ruh-myun GONG-goo-reul JOH-eun sang-TAE-ro yoo-JEE-ha-neun deh DOH-oo-mee DWAE-yoh. That helps keep the tools in good shape.

Word by Word

작은 작은 means “small” here and describes the repair in 작은 수리를 하려고. It is used before a noun, as in 작은 + noun. You can use 작은 to describe something whose size is limited or modest.
수리를 수리를 means “a repair” as the object of the action in 작은 수리를 하려고. The 를 ending marks what the speaker plans to do. A reusable pattern is noun을/를 하다 for doing an activity.
하려고 하려고 expresses the purpose “in order to do” in 수리를 하려고 드라이버를 빌려도 될까요? It connects the planned action with the reason for borrowing the screwdriver. Use it before another action when explaining a purpose or intention.
드라이버를 드라이버를 means “the screwdriver” as the object being borrowed in 드라이버를 빌려도 될까요? The 를 ending marks the thing affected by 빌리다, “to borrow.” You can use the same object pattern with other items you want to borrow.
빌려도 빌려도 is used in 빌려도 될까요? to ask politely, “May I borrow it?” Together with 되다, it asks whether borrowing is acceptable. A reusable pattern is 물건을 빌려도 돼요? for asking permission to borrow something.
될까요 될까요 means “would it be okay?” in 빌려도 될까요? It makes the request tentative and polite rather than direct. This form is useful when asking whether an action is allowed or acceptable.
파란 파란 means “blue” and describes the toolbox in 파란 공구함 안에 있어요. It appears directly before the noun it describes. You can use 파란 + noun when identifying something by its blue color.
공구함 공구함 means “toolbox” in 파란 공구함 안에 있어요. It names the container where the screwdriver is located. Use it with 안에 when saying that a tool is inside the toolbox.
안에 안에 means “inside” or “in” and indicates the location in 공구함 안에 있어요. Here it shows that the screwdriver is inside the toolbox. A reusable pattern is container 안에 있다 for saying that something is inside a container.
있어요 있어요 says that something is located somewhere in 공구함 안에 있어요. In this dialogue, it means “is there” or “is located.” Use it after a place phrase when describing where an object is.
선반 선반 means “shelf” in 선반 받침대를 조여야 해요. It identifies the shelf connected with the brackets being tightened. You can place 선반 before another noun to specify that something belongs to or is used with a shelf.
받침대를 받침대를 means “the brackets” as the object of tightening in 선반 받침대를 조여야 해요. The 를 ending marks the brackets as the thing being tightened. Use the same object-marking pattern when naming what an action affects.
조여야 조여야 expresses “must tighten” in 받침대를 조여야 해요. It presents tightening the brackets as necessary. A reusable pattern is [action]해야 해요 for saying that someone has to do something.
해요 해요 completes 조여야 해요 and makes the necessity statement polite: “I have to tighten it.” In this construction, 조여야 gives the required action and 해요 makes the sentence polite. Use 해야 해요 after an action when stating an obligation.
중간 중간 means “middle” and contributes the meaning “medium” in 중간 크기의 드라이버. It helps specify the screwdriver’s size. You can use 중간 before a noun such as 중간 크기의 + noun when identifying a medium-sized item.
크기의 크기의 means “of size” in 중간 크기의 드라이버, giving the screwdriver a size description. It links 크기, “size,” to the noun that follows. The reusable pattern is [size] 크기의 + noun, such as 중간 크기의 드라이버.
사용하세요 사용하세요 means “please use” in 중간 크기의 드라이버를 사용하세요. It is a polite instruction to use the specified screwdriver. Use it after an object when politely telling someone to use that object.
그 그 refers to the brackets in 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요, meaning “those” or “that.” It points to something already identifiable in the conversation. Use 그 before a noun when referring to a previously mentioned or known item.
받침대에 받침대에 means “for the brackets” in 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요. Here 에 marks the brackets as the target with which the screwdriver fits. A reusable pattern is 물건이 대상에 맞다 for saying that an item fits a particular target.
더 더 means “more” in 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요. It makes the comparison that this screwdriver fits better than another option. Use 더 before an adjective or adverb when describing a greater degree.
잘 잘 means “well” in 더 잘 맞아요, describing how well the screwdriver fits the brackets. Together, 더 잘 맞아요 means “fits better.” You can use 잘 before an action or descriptive expression to show that it happens successfully or effectively.
맞아요 맞아요 means “fits” in 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요. The subject is the medium screwdriver, and the brackets are the target it fits. Use 대상에 맞아요 when saying that something fits or suits a particular target.
언제 언제 means “when” in 언제 돌려드리면 돼요? It asks for the appropriate return time. Use 언제 at the beginning of a question about when an action should happen.
돌려드리면 돌려드리면 means “if I return it to you” in 언제 돌려드리면 돼요? It describes returning the borrowed screwdriver to the listener and places that action inside the question about what is acceptable. A reusable pattern is 언제 [action]드리면 돼요? when asking when to do something for the listener.
돼요 돼요 means “is okay” or “should” in 돌려드리면 돼요? The full question asks when returning the screwdriver would be acceptable. Use it after a condition or action when asking what is sufficient or appropriate.
저녁 저녁 means “dinner” in 저녁 식사 전에 돌려주세요. It specifies the evening meal when combined with 식사. You can use 저녁 before a related noun to refer to the evening or an evening activity.
식사 식사 means “meal” in 저녁 식사, which refers here to dinner. Together, 저녁 식사 identifies the meal that marks the return deadline. Use it after a time word such as 저녁 to name a particular meal.
전에 전에 means “before” in 저녁 식사 전에 돌려주세요. It places the return before the dinner meal. A reusable pattern is noun 전에 for saying that something happens before a particular time or event.
돌려주세요 돌려주세요 means “please return it” in 저녁 식사 전에 돌려주세요. It is a polite request to give the borrowed item back. Use object을/를 돌려주세요 when politely asking someone to return something.
먼지가 먼지가 means “dust” as the subject of the condition in 먼지가 묻으면. The 이 ending marks dust as what may get onto the screwdriver. Use the same subject pattern when describing what causes a condition or event.
묻으면 묻으면 means “if dust gets on it” in 먼지가 묻으면 먼저 닦을게요. It introduces the condition that the screwdriver becomes dusty. Use [thing]이/가 묻으면 before an action that will happen if something gets onto an object.
먼저 먼저 means “first” in 먼저 닦을게요. It shows that wiping the screwdriver will happen before returning it. Use 먼저 before an action when indicating its order in a sequence.
닦을게요 닦을게요 means “I’ll wipe it” in 먼지가 묻으면 먼저 닦을게요. It presents the speaker’s willingness or promise to wipe the screwdriver first. Use it when committing yourself politely to an action, with the object understood from context when appropriate.
그러면 그러면 means “then” or “in that case” in 그러면 공구를 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. It connects the previous cleaning action with its helpful result. Use 그러면 when drawing a consequence from what was just said.
공구를 공구를 means “the tools” as the object being kept in good condition in 공구를 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. The 를 ending marks the tools as the object of 유지하다. Use object을/를 유지하다 when saying that something is maintained.
좋은 좋은 means “good” and describes the condition in 좋은 상태로. It gives a positive quality to 상태. Use 좋은 before a noun when describing something favorably.
상태로 상태로 means “in a condition” or “in a state” in 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. Together with 좋은, it means keeping the tools in good condition. Use [quality] 상태로 유지하다 when describing the condition in which something is maintained.
유지하는 유지하는 means “maintaining” in 공구를 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. It describes the ongoing action of keeping the tools in good condition. Use 유지하는 before 데 when referring to the activity of maintaining something.
데 데 helps turn 유지하는 into the activity “maintaining” in 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. The whole expression means that something helps with maintaining the tools in good condition. A reusable pattern is action하는 데 도움이 되다 for saying that something helps with an activity.
도움이 도움이 means “help” in 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요. It is the subject of the expression 도움이 되다, “to be helpful.” Use action하는 데 도움이 되다 when saying that something helps with a particular task.

Grammar Points

동사 + -아/어야 하다

받침대를 조여야 해요.

baht-CHIM-dae-reul joh-YUH-ya HAE-yoh.

You have to tighten the bracket.

-아/어야 하다 expresses necessity or obligation: something must be done.

동사 + -(으)면

먼지가 묻으면 닦을게요.

MEHN-jee-ga moo-DEU-myun DAH-geul-KKEH-yoh.

If dust gets on it, I’ll wipe it.

-(으)면 introduces a condition, meaning “if” or “when.”

Korean Vocabulary

공구함 noun
GONG-goo-ham toolbox
드라이버 noun
deu-RAI-buh screwdriver 드라이버를
받침대 noun
baht-CHIM-dae bracket; support 받침대를
빌리다 verb
BIL-lee-dah to borrow 빌려도
사용하다 verb
sa-YONG-ha-dah to use 사용하세요
선반 noun
SUHN-bahn shelf
수리 noun
SOO-ree repair 수리를
안 noun
AHN inside 안에
작다 adj
JAHK-ttah small 작은
조이다 verb
JOH-ee-dah to tighten 조여야
중간 크기 phrase
JOONG-gan keu-GI medium size 중간 크기의
파랗다 adj
pah-RAH-tah blue 파란

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?

Show Answer작은 수리를 하려고 드라이버를 빌려도 될까요?

It is in the blue toolbox.

Show Answer파란 공구함 안에 있어요.

I need to tighten the shelf brackets.

Show Answer선반 받침대를 조여야 해요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

screwdriver

Show Answer드라이버를

to use

Show Answer사용하세요

bracket; support

Show Answer받침대를

small

Show Answer작은