Korean grammar · Level 5
V/A-지 않을 수 없다 · V-기에 이르다
Can't help but … · came to the point of … — where a chain of facts ends
Taught in Level 5, Unit 7: Mangwon is trending
an article about a changing neighbourhood ends in one of two places — a conclusion the writer feels forced into (we cannot help worrying) or an outcome the situation finally reached (shops ended up closing). A proposal to the district office needs both, and so does Hoya's first speech.
Example
친구가 그렇게까지 부탁하니 도와주지 않을 수 없었어요.
My friend asked so earnestly that I couldn't refuse to help.
The full explanation is in the unit · part of the Level 5 Pass, opening soon · Level 5, Unit 7
Practise it in context · Level 5, Unit 7
Mangwon is trending
The rule with a table, Sori’s tips, practice that checks itself, a review room and a one-page cheat sheet.
See the unit preview →