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

Sentence explanations

1. 작은 수리를 하려고 드라이버를 빌려도 될까요?

   Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?

   작은

   small

   수리

   repair

   하려고

   in order to do

   드라이버

   screwdriver

   빌려

   borrow

   도 될까요?

   would it be okay?

   More detail

   작은 means “small” here and modifies the following noun. It is the attributive form of 작다 (“to be small”): 작다 → 작은 before a noun. For example, 작은 방 means “a small room.” 수리 means “repair.” It is a noun and commonly combines with 하다 to make the verb 수리하다, “to repair.” In this sentence, 작은 수리 is “a small repair.” 하려고 comes from 하다 plus -(으)려고: 하다 → 하려고. This form presents an intention or purpose, often translated “to do” or “in order to do.” Here it connects the repair with the purpose of borrowing: “in order to do a small repair.” A reusable pattern is V-(으)려고: 공부하려고 도서관에 갔어요 means “I went to the library to study.” 드라이버 means “screwdriver.” It is a noun used for the tool being requested in this sentence. The Korean word does not itself mark possession; the fixed translation identifies the intended tool as the listener’s screwdriver. 빌려 is the form of 빌리다 (“to borrow”) used before the following construction: 빌리다 → 빌려. Do not confuse it with 빌려주다, “to lend”: the borrower uses 빌리다, while the person providing the item uses 빌려주다.” For example, 책을 빌려요` means “I borrow a book” or, depending on context, “I rent a book.” 도 될까요? is part of the permission pattern V-아/어도 되다, literally built around “is it okay even if one does V?” With a question ending, V-아/어도 될까요? politely asks, “May I V?” or “Would it be okay if I V?” Here 빌려도 될까요? means “May I borrow it?” 될까요 comes from 되다 plus -(으)ㄹ까요?, which makes a polite tentative question. For example, 여기 앉아도 될까요? means “May I sit here?” Together, 작은 수리를 하려고 gives the purpose “to do a small repair,” 드라이버를 marks the screwdriver as the object of borrowing, and 빌려도 될까요? politely asks for permission to borrow it. The whole utterance therefore means, “Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?”

2. 파란 공구함 안에 있어요.

   It is in the blue toolbox.

   파란

   blue

   공구함

   toolbox

   안에 있어요

   is inside

   More detail

   파란 means “blue” here and comes before the noun it describes. It is the attributive form of 파랗다 (“to be blue”): 파랗다 → 파란 before a noun. For example, 파란 책 means “a blue book.” 공구함 means “toolbox.” It is a noun that can be modified directly by a descriptive form such as 파란: 파란 공구함 means “the blue toolbox” in this sentence. 안에 있어요 expresses being inside a place or container. 안 means “inside,” -에 marks the location, and 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다, “to exist / be located.” For example, 가방 안에 있어요 means “It is inside the bag.” The subject is not stated in the Korean sentence; the fixed translation identifies it as “it.” Together, 파란 공구함 identifies the container, and 안에 있어요 says that the understood item is located inside it. The complete meaning is “It is in the blue toolbox.”

3. 선반 받침대를 조여야 해요.

   I need to tighten the shelf brackets.

   선반

   shelf

   받침대

   bracket

   조여야 해요

   need to tighten

   More detail

   선반 means “shelf.” It is a noun that can be used before another noun to specify its relation: 선반 받침대 means a support or bracket for a shelf. Example: 선반이 있어요. — “There is a shelf.” 받침대 means “bracket” or “support.” It is a noun for something that supports another object. Korean does not require a plural ending here, so the form itself does not specify how many brackets are meant. Example: 받침대가 튼튼해요. — “The support is sturdy.” 조여야 해요 expresses “need to tighten” or “have to tighten.” The lexical verb is 조이다, “to tighten.” In this sentence, it appears as 조여- before -야 해요; 조여야 해요 is the polite 해요-style form of the necessity pattern -아/어야 하다. This pattern says that an action is required. 조이다 becomes 조여요 in the polite present form, and 조여야 해요 uses the same contracted stem before the necessity ending. Example: 나사를 조여야 해요. — “I need to tighten the screw.” Together, 선반 받침대를 marks the shelf bracket(s) as the object of 조여야 해요, using 를 as the object marker. The complete utterance means “I need to tighten the shelf brackets.” The subject is omitted in Korean; the fixed translation identifies that intended subject as “I.”

4. 중간 크기의 드라이버를 사용하세요.

   Use the medium screwdriver.

   중간 크기의

   medium-sized

   드라이버

   screwdriver

   사용하세요

   use

   More detail

   중간 크기의 describes the size of the noun that follows it: “medium-sized” or “of medium size.” 크기 means “size,” and 의 links this noun phrase to the following noun. A reusable pattern is [description]의 [noun]; for example, 중간 크기의 상자 means “a medium-sized box.” Here, 중간 크기의 modifies 드라이버. 드라이버 is the Korean loanword for “screwdriver.” In this sentence it is followed by the object particle 를, forming 드라이버를, which marks the screwdriver as the object of the action. Example: 드라이버를 준비하세요. — “Prepare a screwdriver.” 사용하세요 comes from 사용하다, “to use.” The ending -세요 makes this a polite directive or request, so 사용하세요 means “please use” or “use” in an instruction. The form is built from the verb stem 사용하- plus -세요, rather than using the dictionary form 사용하다. Example: 이 도구를 사용하세요. — “Please use this tool.” Together, 중간 크기의 드라이버 means “the medium-sized screwdriver,” and 사용하세요 instructs the listener to use it. Korean places the descriptive phrase before the noun and the verb at the end. With the object marker included, 중간 크기의 드라이버를 사용하세요 means “Use the medium screwdriver.”

5. 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요.

   It fits those brackets better.

   그

   those

   받침대

   brackets

   더 잘

   better

   맞아요

   fits

   More detail

   그 points to a specific referent that is known from the situation and is relatively distant from the speaker or already mentioned. It is used before a noun: 그 + noun. In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies the referent as “those,” so 그 받침대 means “those brackets.” 받침대 is a noun meaning a support, stand, or bracket; here the intended meaning is “brackets.” Korean nouns do not change form for singular or plural in the way English nouns often do, so the surrounding context and translation determine the number intended. Example: 받침대가 필요해요. — “I need a stand.” 더 잘 combines 더 (“more”) with 잘 (“well”). Together they mean “better” when comparing how well something fits or works. 잘 can also mean “well” without 더, while 더 잘 explicitly adds comparison. Example: 이 방법이 더 잘 돼요. — “This method works better.” 맞아요 comes from the verb 맞다, whose relevant meaning here is “to fit” or “to be suitable.” -아요 is the polite present-style ending, so 맞아요 is a polite form used for a present fact or assessment. The subject is understood from context: the sentence says that the relevant item fits those brackets better, without repeating that item. Example: 이 뚜껑은 병에 맞아요. — “This lid fits the bottle.” The sentence builds as 그 받침대에 (“those brackets,” marked as the place or object that something fits) + 더 잘 (“better”) + 맞아요 (“fits”). The particle -에 marks the brackets as the target of the fitting relation. Altogether, 그 받침대에 더 잘 맞아요. means “It fits those brackets better.”

6. 언제 돌려드리면 돼요?

   When should I return it?

   언제

   when

   돌려드리면

   return it to you

   돼요

   is okay

   More detail

   언제 means “when” and asks about a time. It can introduce a time question, as in 언제 와요? — “When are you coming?” 돌려드리면 is from 돌려드리다, “to return or give something back to someone” in a respectful way. The form -면 makes a conditional or time-setting clause: 돌려드리면 means “if/when I return it to you.” The subject and object are omitted here because the context makes them understood; the form itself does not identify the object. 돌려드리다 combines 돌리다 (“return”) with 드리다, a humble/respectful giving form used toward the recipient. Example: 책을 돌려드리면 돼요. — “It’s okay if I return the book to you.” 돼요 is the polite present form of 되다, “to be okay” or “to work.” In this construction, 돌려드리면 돼요? asks whether that timing or action is acceptable, rather than simply stating that something exists or happens. A useful pattern is V-(으)면 돼요? — “Is it okay if I V?” or “Should I V?” Together, 언제 + 돌려드리면 + 돼요? asks, “When is it okay for me to return it to you?” The fixed translation naturally expresses this as “When should I return it?” The wording is polite and suitable for asking the other person about the appropriate return time.

7. 저녁 식사 전에 돌려주세요.

   Please bring it back before dinner.

   저녁 식사

   dinner

   전에

   before

   돌려주세요

   please bring it back

   More detail

   저녁 식사 means “dinner.” 저녁 is “evening” or “dinner,” while 식사 is “a meal”; together here they refer to the evening meal. Example: 저녁 식사 후에 만나요. — “Let’s meet after dinner.” 전에 means “before.” It follows a time expression or event to form the pattern [time/event] 전에 — “before [time/event].” The form 전 means “before,” and -에 marks the relevant time point. Example: 잠자기 전에 이를 닦아요. — “I brush my teeth before going to bed.” 돌려주세요 is a polite request meaning “please bring it back” or “please return it.” It consists of 돌리다 (“to turn” or, in a return context, “to return something”) plus -어 주세요, a polite request pattern meaning “please do [it] for me.” The object is omitted here because it is understood from the context. Example: 책을 돌려주세요. — “Please return the book.” Together, 저녁 식사 전에 means “before dinner,” and 돌려주세요 makes the request “please bring it back.” The whole utterance is therefore: “Please bring it back before dinner.”

8. 먼지가 묻으면 먼저 닦을게요.

   If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.

   먼지

   dust

   묻으면

   if it gets on something

   먼저

   first

   닦을게요

   I’ll wipe it off

   More detail

   먼지 means “dust” here. It is a noun, and the following 가 marks it as the subject of the condition: 먼지가 means “dust …” as the thing that gets onto something. Korean commonly uses 먼지가 묻다 for dust becoming attached to or getting on a surface. Example: 옷에 먼지가 묻었어요. means “Dust got on the clothes.” 묻으면 comes from 묻다 in the sense “to get on, be attached to,” plus -(으)면, the conditional form meaning “if/when.” Because the stem ends in a consonant, this form is 묻으면. The condition is that dust gets on the relevant item; the sentence does not itself specify a new object. Compare 비가 오면 (“if it rains”), where 오다 takes the same conditional pattern. 먼저 means “first” or “before doing something else.” It sets the order of the speaker’s action. Example: 먼저 손을 씻을게요. means “I’ll wash my hands first.” 닦을게요 is based on 닦다, “to wipe” or “to clean by wiping,” with -을게요. Since 닦다 ends in a consonant, the form is 닦을게요. -을게요 commonly presents the speaker’s intended action or commitment, often with the sense “I’ll …” in response to the situation. The object is understood from the context and is expressed as “it” in the fixed translation; 닦다 itself does not encode that object. Example: 제가 창문을 닦을게요. means “I’ll wipe the window.” Together, 먼지가 묻으면 sets the condition, 먼저 orders the action, and 닦을게요 gives the speaker’s intended response. The whole utterance means: “If it gets dusty, I’ll wipe it off first.”

9. 그러면 공구를 좋은 상태로 유지하는 데 도움이 돼요.

   That helps keep the tools in good shape.

   그러면

   then; in that case

   공구

   tools

   좋은

   good

   상태

   condition; state

   유지하는 데

   in maintaining

   도움이 돼요

   helps; is helpful

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It links this utterance to the situation already being discussed. Example: 비가 오면 안 갈게요. 그러면 집에 있을게요. — “If it rains, I won’t go. Then I’ll stay home.” 공구 means “tool” or “tools.” Korean commonly leaves number unmarked when context makes singular or plural clear. Example: 공구를 정리해요. — “I organize the tools.” 좋은 is the form of 좋다, “to be good,” used before a noun. The ending -은 makes it a noun-modifying descriptive form: 좋은 상태 means “good condition.” Example: 좋은 방법이에요. — “It is a good method.” 상태 means “condition” or “state.” In this sentence, 좋은 상태 is the condition in which the tools are kept. The following -로 marks that state as the manner or state maintained: 좋은 상태로 유지하다 means “keep in good condition.” Example: 기계의 상태가 좋아요. — “The machine is in good condition.” 유지하는 데 contains 유지하다, “to maintain” or “keep,” in the form 유지하는, followed by 데. The pattern -는 데 도움이 되다 means “help with doing” something. Here, 유지하는 데 is “in maintaining” or “for maintaining.” Example: 건강을 유지하는 데 운동이 도움이 돼요. — “Exercise helps maintain health.” 도움이 돼요 is the polite present form of 도움이 되다, naturally meaning “helps” or “is helpful.” 도움 means “help,” and 돼요 is the polite present form of 되다 in this expression. It says that something contributes to the activity’s success, rather than directly saying that a person helps someone. Example: 이 정보가 도움이 돼요. — “This information is helpful.” Together, 그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” 공구를 marks the tools as the object, 좋은 상태로 gives the state in which they are maintained, and 유지하는 데 identifies maintaining them as the relevant activity. 도움이 돼요 says that the relevant action or method helps with that activity. The whole utterance means: “That helps keep the tools in good shape.”