Let's study about the Korean grammar structures "-는 대로" and "-은/ㄴ 대로" today. Both of these expressions are used to indicate that something happens in accordance with or exactly as something else, but they differ based on tense and the type of verb they are attached to. Below is an explanation of each structure with examples.
1. "-는 대로"
Definition: "-는 대로" is a grammatical structure used with action verbs to indicate that something is done exactly as or immediately after the action described by the verb. It can imply that the action is followed immediately or that something is done in the same manner as the action.
Usage: This structure is attached to the verb stem of action verbs in the present tense. It often has a meaning similar to "as soon as" or "in the same way as."
Example Sentences:
"말하는 대로 해요." (Do it exactly as you say.)
"지금 가는 대로 갈게요." (I’ll go right now as planned.)
"편지를 받는 대로 답장을 써요." (Write a reply as soon as you receive the letter.)
2. "-은/ㄴ 대로"
Definition: "-은/ㄴ 대로" is a grammatical structure used with both action verbs (in their past tense form) and descriptive verbs (adjectives) to express that something is done in the same manner or exactly as something was done or described.
Usage:
For action verbs, "-은/ㄴ 대로" is attached to the verb stem of the past tense form.
For descriptive verbs (adjectives), "-은/ㄴ 대로" is attached to the verb stem to describe a state or quality.
Example Sentences:
"들은 대로 이야기해 주세요." (Tell the story exactly as you heard it.)
"내가 한 대로 따라해 보세요." (Try to follow what I did.)
"생각한 대로 일이 되지 않았어요." (Things didn’t go as I thought.)
Comparison Between "-는 대로" and "-은/ㄴ 대로"
Tense and Type:
"-는 대로" is used with action verbs in the present tense to indicate that the action is done exactly as it happens or is described.
"-은/ㄴ 대로" is used with action verbs in the past tense or descriptive verbs to describe actions or states that align with something that has already occurred or has a particular quality.
Meaning:
Both forms imply doing something in the same way as or exactly according to something else, but "-는 대로" focuses more on real-time actions or immediate responses, while "-은/ㄴ 대로" reflects past actions or states.
Summary:
"-는 대로": Used with present tense action verbs to indicate doing something as it happens or exactly as it is said.
Example: "말하는 대로 해요." (Do it exactly as you say.)
"-은/ㄴ 대로": Used with past tense action verbs or descriptive verbs to indicate doing something exactly as it was done or described.
Example: "들은 대로 이야기해 주세요." (Tell the story exactly as you heard it.)
How about the Korean verbs "알다" and "듣다"? While both verbs can have similar meanings related to understanding or receiving information, they differ grammatically in certain structures, which explains why "알다" can feel awkward in specific contexts. Also, let’s dig ‘안 대로’ and ‘알았던 대로’ out.
1. Difference Between "듣다" and "알다"
"듣다": "듣다" is a verb that describes an action, specifically the act of hearing. Since it refers to an ongoing action or the result of hearing, it can naturally be used with both "-는 대로" and "-은/ㄴ 대로".
듣는 대로: Refers to passing on information as it is being heard in real-time.
들은 대로: Refers to conveying something exactly as it was heard in the past.
"알다": "알다" is a cognitive verb that refers to a state of knowing or understanding. While "-는 대로" can be used with "알다" to indicate doing something based on current knowledge, using "-은/ㄴ 대로" to fixate on a past state of knowing is grammatically awkward.
아는 대로: Refers to doing or saying something based on what is currently known.
안 대로: Refers to acting or speaking according to what was known in the past, but this construction feels awkward because the past state and "-대로" don't naturally connect.
2. Grammatical Differences
When using "알다," attaching "-대로" to the past tense form "안" to create "안 대로" is grammatically awkward. This is because "알다" doesn't typically express fixed knowledge confined to the past.
In contrast, "듣다" can be naturally connected with both the past and present states, making both "들은 대로" and "듣는 대로" grammatically correct.
Summary
"듣다": An action verb that works naturally with both "-대로" structures for past and present states.
"알다": A cognitive verb that, when combined with the past tense "안" and "-대로," becomes grammatically awkward and unnatural, which is why "안 대로" is not used.
Additional Explanation
Cognitive Verb Nature of "알다"
"알다" describes a state of knowing that often persists from the past into the present. For example, if you knew a fact in the past, that knowledge typically remains valid.
Awkwardness of "안 대로"
The phrase "안 대로" attempts to convey following past knowledge exactly as it was, but the past form "안" suggests a completed state, making its connection with "-대로" feel awkward.
Naturalness of "알았던 대로"
Conversely, "알았던 대로" feels natural as it recalls a specific point in the past and applies that past knowledge to the present. The structure "-았던/었던" implies reflection on a past state that may differ from the present, making the phrase contextually appropriate.
Conclusion
The awkwardness of "안 대로" arises because "알다," as a cognitive verb, typically conveys knowledge that persists beyond the past moment, making the past tense "안" difficult to pair naturally with "-대로." On the other hand, "알았던 대로" is more natural as it reflects on past knowledge applied in the present context.