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  1. Grammar
  2. Level 3
  3. Pretend to …

Korean grammar · Level 3 · 3급

-(으)ㄴ/는 척하다

Pretend to …

In native review Taught in Unit 1: I tend to be a bit impatient

척하다 after a modifier means acting as if something were true when it isn't. Verbs take -는 척하다 for something happening now and -(으) 척하다 for something already done; adjectives take -(으) 척하다. 척하다 is written as one word.

WhenUseExample
verb, now-는 척하다자는 척해요 · 읽는 척해요
verb, already done-(으)ㄴ 척하다못 들은 척해요 · 못 본 척해요
adjective-(으)ㄴ 척하다아픈 척해요 · 바쁜 척해요
nounN인 척하다선생님인 척해요

Examples

  • 호야 씨가 책을 읽는 척했어요.

    Hoya pretended to be reading.

  • 동생이 아픈 척하고 학교에 안 갔어요.

    My little brother pretended to be ill and didn't go to school.

  • 소리쌤의 말을 못 들은 척했어요.

    I pretended I hadn't heard Sori-ssaem.

Practise it in context · Level 3, Unit 1

I tend to be a bit impatient

A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.

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