How to use 을/ㄹ 줄 몰랐다 in Korean

Pattern: -(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다 (-(eu)ㄹjulmol-rass-da, (eu)ㄹjulmolrassda)

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다 expresses surprise or unawareness about something happening or being true.

Example sentences showing usage of -(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다(-(eu)ㄹjulmol-rass-da, (eu)ㄹjulmolrassda)

Indicates that the speaker did not expect or know about something.

When to use

Expressing surprise, Unexpected situations, Unawareness of ability

The nuance

Attach -(으)ㄹ 줄 몰랐다 to verb stems to express unawareness of ability, future event, or possibility. Use -을 if stem ends with a consonant, -ㄹ if vowel. Past tense is 줄 몰랐다; present is 줄 모른다.

Real-world examples

  • 그 사람이 그렇게 빨리 올 줄 몰랐어요.

    geu sa-ram-i geu-reoh-ge ppal-ri ol jul mol-rass-eo-yo., geu sa ram i geu reoh ge ppal ri ol jul mol rass eo yo.

    '올' expresses future possibility of 'to come', fitting '-ㄹ 줄 몰랐다' perfectly.

  • 너가 그걸 할 줄 몰랐어!

    neo-ga geu-geol hal jul mol-rass-eo!, neo ga geu geol hal jul mol rass eo!

    Used to express surprise about someone's ability.

  • 비가 올 줄 몰랐는데, 우산을 안 가져왔어요.

    bi-ga ol jul mol-rass-neun-de, u-san-eul an ga-jyeo-wass-eo-yo., bi ga ol jul mol rass neun de, u san eul an ga jyeo wass eo yo.

    Indicates lack of expectation about a future event.

  • 그 영화가 그렇게 재미있을 줄 몰랐어요.

    geu yeong-hwa-ga geu-reoh-ge jae-mi-iss-eul jul mol-rass-eo-yo., geu yeong hwa ga geu reoh ge jae mi iss eul jul mol rass eo yo.

    Expresses surprise about an unexpected fact.

  • 그가 거짓말할 줄 몰랐어.

    geu-ga geo-jis-mal-hal jul mol-rass-eo., geu ga geo jis mal hal jul mol rass eo.

    Shows unawareness of someone's action.

  • 나는 그가 올 줄 몰랐어요.

    na-neun geu-ga ol jul mol-rass-eo-yo., na neun geu ga ol jul mol rass eo yo.

    Expresses surprise about a future possibility.

  • 그 사람이 그렇게 빨리 올 줄 알았어요.

    geu sa-ram-i geu-reoh-ge ppal-ri ol jul al-ass-eo-yo., geu sa ram i geu reoh ge ppal ri ol jul al ass eo yo.

    '-ㄹ 줄 알다' expresses expectation or knowledge, opposite of '-ㄹ 줄 몰랐다'.

  • 나는 그가 거짓말할 줄 몰라요.

    na-neun geu-ga geo-jis-mal-hal jul mol-ra-yo., na neun geu ga geo jis mal hal jul mol ra yo.

    Present tense '몰라요' is unnatural for expressing surprise about future possibility.

Quick quiz

  1. Complete the sentence: I didn't expect you to come this quickly.

    나는 네가 이렇게 빨리 올 줄 _______.(na-neunne-gai-reoh-geppal-rioljul_______., naneunnegaireohgeppalrioljul_______.)
  2. Choose the correct ending: I didn't know he could sing well.

    그가 노래를 잘 부를 줄 _______.(geu-gano-rae-reuljalbu-reuljul_______., geuganoraereuljalbureuljul_______.)
  3. What does '-을/ㄹ 줄 몰랐다' mean in this sentence?

    비가 올 줄 몰랐는데, 우산을 안 가져왔어요. 이 문장에서 '-을/ㄹ 줄 몰랐다'는 어떤 의미인가요?(bi-gaoljulmol-rass-neun-de,u-san-eulanga-jyeo-wass-eo-yo.imun-jang-e-seo'-eul, bigaoljulmolrassneunde,usaneulangajyeowasseoyo.imunjangeseo'eul, ㄹjulmol-rass-da'neuneo-tteonui-mi-in-ga-yo?, ㄹjulmolrassda'neuneotteonuimiingayo?)

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