-아/어서
a/eoseo
Grammar · 2 senses
because of, therefore
Examples
그 옷은 작아서 못 입어요.
I can't wear these clothes because they're too small.
요즘에 바빠서 친구들을 못 만나요.
I can't meet my friends because I'm busy these days.
When you'd hear it
-아/어서 is a neutral, very common pattern in both conversation and writing, including polite everyday speech such as explaining why something cannot happen. It appears often in dramas, daily messages, and ordinary workplace explanations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often treat -아/어서 and -(으)니까 as interchangeable. -아/어서 commonly connects a cause to a result, while -(으)니까 is preferred before a command, request, or suggestion.
in order to
Examples
내일 친구를 만나서 영화를 볼 거예요.
I'm going to meet my friend tomorrow in order to watch a movie.
조금 더 돈을 모아서 장난감을 살까요?
Should we save a little more money in order to buy toys?
When you'd hear it
This is a very common neutral connector in conversation and writing, including everyday plans such as meeting someone and then doing another activity. It is not especially formal or casual, so learners encounter it across dramas, messages, and workplace conversations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often treat it as interchangeable with -(으)려고, but -아/어서 presents the first action as leading into the next, while -(으)려고 emphasizes the speaker’s intention. In purpose clauses, -아/어서 generally connects actions with the same subject and is not normally used before a command or suggestion.
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