Borrowing a laptop adapter before a presentation | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 내 노트북 어댑터가 없는데, 발표가 곧 시작해요.

   My laptop adapter is missing, and my presentation starts soon.

   내

   my

   노트북

   laptop

   어댑터

   adapter

   없는데

   is missing, and

   발표

   presentation

   곧

   soon

   시작해요

   starts

   More detail

   내 means “my” here. It is the contracted form of 나의, used before a noun: 내 책 means “my book.” In more polite speech, 제 is commonly used instead: 제 책 (“my book”). 노트북 is the noun “laptop.” It is a useful loanword; the noun itself does not show possession or number. Example: 노트북을 사용해요. — “I use a laptop.” 어댑터 means “adapter.” As with 노트북, it is a noun and does not change form for singular or plural. Example: 어댑터가 필요해요. — “I need an adapter.” 없는데 combines 없다 (“to be absent; not to have”) with -는데. In this sentence, 없다 describes the adapter as unavailable or missing, while -는데 connects that situation to the following information: “the adapter is missing, and…” or “the adapter is missing, but…,” depending on context. The ending also presents the first clause as background for what follows. Example: 시간이 없는데 빨리 가요. — “There isn’t much time, so let’s go quickly.” 발표 means “presentation” or “talk.” The noun itself does not encode the possessor; the fixed translation identifies the intended meaning here as “my presentation.” Example: 발표를 준비해요. — “I prepare a presentation.” 곧 means “soon” or “shortly.” It normally comes before the event or action that will happen soon: 곧 도착해요. — “I’ll arrive soon.” 시작해요 comes from 시작하다, “to start” or “to begin.” -해요 is the polite everyday ending, and in this context the present form describes a scheduled or imminent event: “starts.” Compare 시작해요 (“start(s)”) with the more formal 시작합니다 (“start(s)” in formal polite speech). Example: 수업이 곧 시작해요. — “The class starts soon.” Together, 내 노트북 어댑터가 없는데 says that the speaker’s laptop adapter is missing or unavailable. 발표가 곧 시작해요 says that the presentation starts soon. Thus the complete utterance means: “My laptop adapter is missing, and my presentation starts soon.”

2. 사용할 수 있는 어댑터가 하나 있어요.

   I have one you can use.

   사용할

   to use

   수 있는

   can; be able to

   어댑터

   adapter

   하나

   one

   있어요

   have; there is

   More detail

   사용할: This comes from 사용하다 (“to use”). In 사용할 수 있다, the form 사용할 is the modifier before the bound noun 수; together they express ability or possibility, rather than a standalone future meaning. In the larger phrase 사용할 수 있는 어댑터, the whole construction modifies 어댑터: “an adapter that you can use.” 수 있는: -ㄹ/을 수 있다 is a pattern meaning “can” or “be able to.” Here, 사용할 수 있는 modifies the following noun, so it means “that you can use.” 있는 is the modifier form of 있다 in this pattern; it is not the main “have” meaning of the final 있어요. Reusable pattern: 동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있는 + noun = “a noun that can be [verb]ed.” Example: 읽을 수 있는 책 means “a book that you can read.” 어댑터: This is the noun “adapter.” In this sentence, it is the item being offered. 어댑터 is a loanword written in Hangul and does not carry a special noun ending here. 하나: This means “one” here and identifies the offered item as a single adapter. It is a native counting word that can stand alone when the counted noun is clear. The fixed translation explicitly supports the quantity “one.” 있어요: This is the polite present form of 있다, “to exist” or “to be present.” With an item and a possessor understood from the sentence’s intended meaning, an existential statement can naturally express possession: “I have [it].” The form 있어요 itself does not specify the possessor; the English “I” is supplied by the fixed translation. Putting the parts together, 사용할 수 있는 describes 어댑터: it is an adapter that can be used by the addressee. 하나 says there is one such item, and 있어요 presents it as possessed or available to the speaker. The whole utterance therefore means, “I have one you can use.”

3. 하지만 네 노트북에서 작동하는지 확인해 봐요.

   But let's check that it works with your laptop.

   하지만

   but

   네

   your

   노트북

   laptop

   작동하는지

   whether it works

   확인해 봐요

   let’s check

   More detail

   하지만 means “but” here and links this check to what was said before. It is a conjunction placed at the beginning of this utterance; it does not itself express the checking action. 네 is the possessive form meaning “your” before 노트북. It is traditionally related to 너 “you” plus the possessive marker 의, but the observed form is 네, not the full form 너의. Korean possessive forms do not change for the gender or number of the possessed noun. 노트북 is a noun meaning “laptop.” It is a Korean loanword commonly used for a portable computer. In this utterance, 네 노트북 is the equipment context for the compatibility check: “your laptop.” 작동하는지 comes from 작동하다, “to work” or “to operate,” followed by -는지, which turns a clause into an indirect yes-or-no question or uncertainty: “whether it works.” The form is 작동하- + -는지; -는지 is attached to the present form of this action verb. Here, the understood subject of 작동하는지 is the adapter from the preceding context, so the meaning is “whether it works with your laptop.” Example: 이 기기가 작동하는지 확인해요. — “I check whether this device works.” This uses the same -는지 pattern, while the device in the example is a new referent. 확인해 봐요 combines 확인하다, “to check or verify,” with 보다 in the auxiliary pattern -아/어 보다. In 해 봐요, 하다 becomes 해 before 보다, and 봐요 is the polite form of 보다. This pattern presents checking as something to try or undertake: “let’s check” in this context. The polite -요 ending marks a polite conversational style; the “let’s” reading comes from the suggestion context and the fixed translation, not from -요 alone. Together, 작동하는지 확인해 봐요 means “let’s check whether it works.” The initial 하지만 adds “but,” and 네 노트북에서 identifies the laptop as the setting or system with which the operation is being checked. Thus the whole utterance means: “But let’s check that it works with your laptop.”

4. 포트에 잘 맞아요. 그래도 프로젝터를 테스트해야 해요.

   It fits the port. I still need to test the projector.

   포트

   port

   잘 맞아요

   fits well

   그래도

   still

   프로젝터

   projector

   테스트

   test

   해야 해요

   need to

   More detail

   포트 means “port,” the connector that the item fits into here. It is a noun. A useful pattern is 명사 + 에 for the place or connection point involved: 포트에 means “into/with the port” in this context. 잘 맞아요 says that something fits well. The lexical verb is 맞다; its polite present form is 맞아요. Here 맞다 describes physical compatibility, not agreement with an opinion. 잘 means “well” and strengthens the description. Korean often leaves the subject unstated when the context makes it clear; the fixed translation identifies that unstated subject as “it.” 그래도 means “still” or “nevertheless.” It marks a contrast with the preceding situation: the fit is satisfactory, but the next action is nevertheless necessary. It is a connective adverb, so it can link two statements without changing the form of the following verb. 프로젝터 means “projector.” It is a noun, and 프로젝터를 uses 를, the object marker, because the projector is the thing being tested. The marker is not included in the selected quote. 테스트 means “test.” This is a loanword noun, and Korean commonly forms the verb 테스트하다, “to test.” In the sentence, it appears within the connected form 테스트해야, rather than as a separate standalone noun. 해야 해요 expresses “need to” or “have to.” The obligation pattern is 동사 어간 + 아/어야 하다; with 하다, the relevant form is 해야 하다, and polite present speech gives 해야 해요. In 테스트해야 해요, the meaning is “need to test.” This pattern expresses necessity; it does not by itself specify who must act, and here the first-person subject is supplied by the fixed translation. Together, 포트에 잘 맞아요 means “It fits the port well.” 그래도 then contrasts that satisfactory result with the required next action, and 프로젝터를 테스트해야 해요 means “I still need to test the projector.” The complete utterance is therefore: “It fits the port. I still need to test the projector.”

5. 지금 하세요. 작은 문제도 압박을 받으면 해결하기 더 어려워져요.

   Do it now; small problems get harder under pressure.

   지금

   now

   하세요

   please do

   작은

   small

   문제

   problem

   도

   even

   압박을 받으면

   under pressure

   해결하기

   solving

   더

   more

   어려워져요

   become difficult

   More detail

   지금 means “now” and places the action at the present time. It is a useful time adverb: 지금 해요 means “I do it now” or, depending on context, “Do it now” with a suitable ending. 하세요 is the polite request or command form of 하다 (“to do”): 하다 → 하세요. Here it means “do it,” with the object understood from the situation. The ending -세요 makes the request polite; it does not itself specify what the object is. 작은 is the noun-modifying form of the adjective 작다 (“to be small”). 작다 → 작은 before a noun, as in 작은 문제 (“a small problem”). This form describes size or degree here; it does not mark the noun as plural. 문제 means “problem.” Together, 작은 문제 means “a small problem.” 도 is attached to a noun or noun phrase and adds an “even” or “also” meaning. In 작은 문제도, it emphasizes that even a small problem is included: “even small problems.” 압박을 받으면 expresses the condition “when [someone] is under pressure.” 압박 means “pressure,” 을 marks it as the object of 받다 (“to receive”), and 받으면 is the conditional form 받다 + -으면, “if/when [one] receives.” Korean commonly uses 압박을 받다 for “be under pressure”; the phrase does not identify a particular source of the pressure. 해결하기 is the noun-like -기 form of 해결하다 (“to solve”): 해결하다 → 해결하기, “solving” or “to solve.” Here it is used with 더 어려워져요 to describe solving a problem becoming more difficult. 더 means “more.” It compares the resulting difficulty with a less difficult state or situation. It modifies 어려워져요 in this sentence. 어려워져요 comes from 어렵다 (“to be difficult”) plus -어지다, which expresses a change into a state: 어렵다 → 어려워지다 (“become difficult”) → polite present 어려워져요. This differs from 어려워요, “is difficult”: 어려워져요 focuses on becoming more difficult. Together, 압박을 받으면 해결하기 더 어려워져요 means “when under pressure, solving [them] becomes more difficult.” The first sentence, 지금 하세요, says “Do it now.” The next sentence generalizes that even small problems become harder to solve under pressure. As a whole: “Do it now; small problems get harder under pressure.”

6. 화면이 제대로 나오니까, 이제 준비됐어요.

   The screen is showing correctly, so we're set.

   화면

   screen

   제대로

   properly; correctly

   나오니까

   shows, so

   이제

   now

   준비됐어요

   we’re set; is ready

   More detail

   화면 means “screen” here. It is a noun and can be reused in compounds or simple descriptions, for example: 화면이 작아요. — “The screen is small.” The particle 이 marks 화면 as the subject in this sentence. 제대로 means “properly” or “correctly.” It is an adverb, so it describes how something happens rather than describing a noun. For example: 화면이 제대로 보여요. — “The screen is visible properly.” 나오니까 comes from 나오다, “to come out,” which in this context is used for something appearing or displaying on a screen. -니까 connects a reason or condition to a result: “because/now that …, ….” Thus 나오니까 means “because it is displaying” or “now that it is displaying.” The observed form is not simply a present-tense ending; it includes the connective -니까. For example: 소리가 나오니까 시작해요. — “Since the sound is coming out, let’s start.” 이제 means “now” in the sense of the current stage or situation. It helps mark a change from an earlier state: 이제 시작해요. — “We’re starting now.” 준비됐어요 is the polite spoken form of 준비되다, “to become/become made ready” or “to be ready.” The ending -어요 makes the statement polite. In this fixed translation, the understood subject is the group represented by “we,” so the phrase means “we’re set.” The form itself does not specify a person or number; the context and translation supply that reading. Compare 준비됐어요? — “Are you ready?” Together, 화면이 제대로 나오니까 gives the reason or condition “now that the screen is displaying correctly,” and 이제 준비됐어요 gives the resulting status “we’re set now.” The whole utterance therefore means: “The screen is showing correctly, so we’re set.”

7. 혹시 모르니 슬라이드 백업본을 다른 기기에 보관해 두세요.

   Keep a backup copy of your slides on a second device, just in case.

   혹시 모르니

   just in case

   슬라이드

   slides

   백업본

   backup copy

   다른

   another; different

   기기

   device

   보관해 두세요

   keep it stored

   More detail

   혹시 모르니 is a reusable “just in case” expression. 혹시 signals a possible contingency, and 모르다 means “to not know” in its base form; here 모르니 uses -니 to connect the situation to the advice that follows. The whole expression is idiomatic, so it is best learned as a unit rather than translated word by word. Example: 비가 올지 모르니 우산을 가져가세요. — “It might rain, so take an umbrella just in case.” 슬라이드 is the loanword for “slide” or “slides.” The plural meaning here comes from context; the form itself does not add a separate plural ending. Example: 슬라이드를 수정했어요. — “I revised the slides.” 백업본 means “backup copy.” 백업 is “backup,” and 본 means a copy or version. The compound identifies this as a saved copy for protection, rather than the original working version. Example: 백업본을 확인하세요. — “Check the backup copy.” 다른 means “another” or “different” and modifies the noun after it. Its base form is 다르다 (“to be different”); 다른 is the attributive form used before a noun. Here it marks a device that is not the one already being used or referred to. Example: 다른 방법을 찾아봅시다. — “Let’s look for another method.” 기기 means “device,” such as an electronic device. 다른 기기 therefore means “another device” or “a different device.” Example: 이 파일을 다른 기기로 보내세요. — “Send this file to another device.” 보관해 두세요 combines 보관하다 (“to store or keep”) with -아 두다, which presents an action as completed and its result as remaining available. 두세요 is the polite request form of 두다; in this combination, the result is “keep it stored.” The understood object is the preceding 슬라이드 백업본. Example: 중요한 문서는 따로 보관해 두세요. — “Keep the important documents stored separately.” Together, 슬라이드 백업본을 marks “the backup copy of the slides” as the object, 다른 기기에 means “on/in another device,” and 보관해 두세요 asks the listener to store it there and leave it available. The complete utterance means: “Keep a backup copy of your slides on another device, just in case.”

8. 시작하기 전에 다른 기기에 하나 저장해 둘게요.

   I'll put one on another device before I start.

   시작하기 전에

   before starting

   다른

   another; different

   기기

   device

   하나

   one

   저장해 둘게요

   I’ll save it and keep it stored

   More detail

   시작하기 전에 means “before starting.” 시작하다 is the base verb “to start.” Its -기 form turns the action into a noun-like expression, and -기 전에 is a reusable pattern meaning “before doing …”: 출발하기 전에 전화해요 means “I call before leaving.” 다른 means “another” or “different” here and modifies 기기. It is placed before the noun it describes. The distinction is useful: 같은 기기 means “the same device,” while 다른 기기 means “another/different device.” 기기 is the noun “device.” In this sentence, 기기에 means “on/to the device”: 에 marks the destination or location where something is stored. 기기 is a general word for an electronic device; the sentence does not specify which kind. 하나 means “one” as a standalone noun-like number. The object being saved is not named in the Korean sentence, so 하나 indicates one item without identifying it more specifically. Before a noun, the related form is usually 한, as in 한 파일 (“one file”); by itself, 하나 is appropriate. 저장해 둘게요 expresses “I’ll save it and keep it stored.” 저장하다 is the base verb “to save,” and 저장해 is its connective form. 두다 after another verb can indicate leaving the result in place or maintaining that state: 미리 적어 둘게요 means “I’ll write it down in advance and leave it written.” The final -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intention or commitment, often directed toward the listener: 확인할게요 means “I’ll check.” Together, 시작하기 전에 sets the time condition, 다른 기기에 identifies the device receiving the item, 하나 specifies one item, and 저장해 둘게요 says that the speaker will save it and leave it stored. The whole utterance therefore means: “I’ll put one on another device before I start.”

9. 세션이 끝나면 어댑터를 돌려줄 수 있어요? 나중에 필요해요.

   Could you bring the adapter back after the session? I need it later.

   세션

   session

   끝나면

   when it ends / after it ends

   어댑터

   adapter

   돌려줄

   return / give back

   수 있어요?

   can ...?

   나중에

   later

   필요해요

   need / be needed

   More detail

   세션 means “session” here. With the subject marker in 세션이, it is the entity whose ending is described by the intransitive verb 끝나다; it is not an agent that actively ends something. 끝나면 comes from 끝나다, “to end.” The form 끝나- + -면 means “when/if it ends”; here, the temporal meaning “when the session ends” is intended. -면 is a reusable condition or time pattern after a verb: 도착하면 means “when someone arrives.” 어댑터 means “adapter.” In this utterance, the fixed translation identifies it as the item to be returned and the item needed later. 돌려줄 comes from 돌려주다, “to return or give back.” Before 수 in an ability construction, the verb takes the prospective modifier -(으)ㄹ: 돌려주- + -ㄹ → 돌려줄. This form presents the return as an action that can be done; it does not mean that the return has already happened. 수 있어요? is the polite question form of the pattern 동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, which asks whether an action is possible: “can [someone] do it?” Together with the preceding verb, 돌려줄 수 있어요? means “Can you return it?” The subject “you” is understood from the request and is not stated here. 나중에 means “later” and places the need at a later time. It is an adverb and does not change for number or gender. 필요해요 comes from 필요하다, “to be needed” or “to be necessary,” in a polite present form. Here, the fixed translation specifies the intended participants and meaning: the speaker needs the adapter later. The Korean sentence leaves the person who needs it and the needed item implicit. A useful contrast is 필요 없어요, “it is not needed” or “I do not need it,” where 없다 reverses the meaning. Together, 세션이 끝나면 sets the time—“when the session ends”—and 어댑터를 돌려줄 수 있어요? asks whether the listener can return the adapter. 나중에 필요해요 states that the speaker needs the adapter later. The whole utterance therefore means: “Could you bring the adapter back after the session? I need it later.”

10. 세션이 끝나는 대로 돌려드릴게요.

    I'll return it as soon as the session ends.

    세션

    session

    끝나는 대로

    as soon as it ends

    돌려드릴게요

    I’ll return it to you

    More detail

    세션 means “session.” It is a noun, and 세션이 marks it as the subject of 끝나는: the session is the thing that ends. The particle 이 is used after this noun because it ends in a consonant. 끝나는 대로 expresses “as soon as it ends.” The base verb is 끝나다, “to end”; 끝나는 is its present modifying form before 대로. The pattern 동사-는 대로 can mean that the next action happens immediately after the stated event: 수업이 끝나는 대로 연락할게요. — “I’ll contact you as soon as the class ends.” Here, the subject of 끝나다 is the session, not the speaker. 돌려드릴게요 means “I’ll return it to you.” It is built from 돌려드리다, “to return something to someone,” followed by -ㄹ게요. 돌려드리다 combines 돌리다 (“return,” in this use) with 드리다, which presents the speaker’s action as being done for or given to the addressee in a respectful way. The ending -ㄹ게요 commonly expresses the speaker’s willingness or promise to carry out an action, especially one oriented toward the listener; it is not simply a neutral future marker. The object is omitted in Korean here. In the supplied context, it is understood as the adapter. Together, 세션이 끝나는 대로 sets the time—immediately after the session ends—and 돌려드릴게요 states the speaker’s respectful promise to return the understood item to the listener. Thus the whole utterance means: “I’ll return it as soon as the session ends.”

11. 그러면 걱정할 일이 하나 줄어들 거예요.

    That should give you one less thing to worry about.

    그러면

    then; in that case

    걱정할

    to worry about

    일

    thing; matter

    하나

    one

    줄어들

    become fewer; decrease

    거예요

    will; should

    More detail

    그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects this sentence to the situation just mentioned and introduces the expected result. 걱정할 comes from 걱정하다, “to worry.” The ending -(으)ㄹ makes the verb modify the following noun, so 걱정할 일 means “a thing to worry about” or “a matter that may cause worry.” Example: 걱정할 문제가 있어요 means “There is a problem to worry about.” 일 means “thing” or “matter.” In 걱정할 일이, the particle 이 marks this noun phrase as the subject of 줄어들다. 하나 means “one.” Here it indicates one thing or matter: 걱정할 일이 하나 means “one thing to worry about,” without identifying the matter. 줄어들 is the stem of 줄어들다, “to become fewer” or “to decrease.” In 줄어들 거예요, the stem has the future/prospective -(으)ㄹ form before 거예요; it is not the noun-modifying use in 걱정할. Because the subject is one item in the set of things to worry about, this means that the number of such things will decrease by one. 거예요 is the polite form used with V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 to express an expected or predicted event. Together, 줄어들 거예요 means “will become fewer” or, in this context, “should decrease.” The sentence combines 그러면 + 걱정할 일이 하나 + 줄어들 거예요: “Then, one thing to worry about will decrease.” Natural English expresses the result as “That should give you one less thing to worry about.”