| Let's look at the sentence pattern. |
| This pattern is the structure that all of our examples will follow. |
| Complement + Verb Stem + ㄹ/을지 + Verb |
| Complement + Verb Stem + -r/-eul-ji + Verb |
| I'm thinking about whether to [verb] |
| This structure is used when you're considering different options and haven’t made a decision yet. The complement is the part that gives extra information about what you're thinking about—such as a specific subject, department, or topic. |
| The verb stem is the basic form of the action you're considering. If the verb stem ends in a vowel, you add -ㄹ지 (like 하다 → 할지). If it ends in a consonant, you add -을지 (like 먹다 → 먹을지). This -ㄹ/을지 form means “whether to [verb].” |
| After that, the sentence typically ends with a verb like 고민하다 (to be thinking hard or debating), 모르겠다 (to not know), or 결정 못 하다 (to be unable to decide). These verbs work naturally in this pattern because they all express uncertainty or indecision about doing something. |
| Let’s see how a line from the dialogue follows this pattern. |
| 한국어 교육과에 지원할지 경영학과에 지원할지 고민하고 있어요. |
| In this sentence: |
| 한국어 교육과에 means “to the Korean education department.” 지원할지 comes from the verb 지원하다 (to apply), and here it’s combined with -ㄹ지 because 하다 ends in a vowel. So 지원할지 means “whether to apply.” |
| 경영학과에 means “to the business administration department.” Again, 지원할지 means “whether to apply.” |
| Now we see the pattern repeated: two different options, each marked with -할지, expressing uncertainty about which one to choose. |
| The sentence ends with 고민하고 있어요, which is the progressive form of 고민하다, meaning “I am thinking about” or “I am debating.” |
| So, 한국어 교육과에 지원할지 경영학과에 지원할지 고민하고 있어요 means: |
| “I’m debating whether to apply for the Korean education department or the business administration department.” |
| Now you can use this structure anytime you’re stuck between choices and want to say you’re thinking it over! |
| Now let's look at some speaking examples. |
| 노래방에 갈지 클럽에 갈지 고민하고 있어. (Noraebange galji keulleobe galji gominhago isseo.) |
| I'm trying to decide whether to go to a karaoke room or a club. |
| Can you see how the pattern applies here? |
| Let's break it down: |
| Here, ‘노래방에 갈지 클럽에 갈지’ shows two alternatives. Each phrase uses 갈지, which comes from the verb stem 가- (to go) plus the grammar ending -ㄹ지, which is used to express uncertainty or a choice — in this case, "whether (I) will go" to the karaoke room or the club. That matches the Verb Stem + ㄹ지 part of the pattern. |
| Then we have ‘고민하고 있어’, which comes from the verb 고민하다 (to be indecisive, to worry or contemplate). It’s in progressive form here, meaning “am trying to decide” or “am contemplating.” This matches the Verb* part of the pattern. |
| Here's another example |
| 당구장에 갈지 피시방에 갈지 아직 모르겠어. (Danggujange galji pisibange galji ajik moreugesseo.) |
| I still don't know whether to go to a pool hall or a PC café. |
| 당구장에 갈지 피시방에 갈지 아직 모르겠어. (Danggujange galji pisibange galji ajik moreugesseo.) |
| I still don't know whether to go to a pool hall or a PC café. |
| Let's try one more, |
| 인터넷 쇼핑을 할지 길거리 쇼핑을 할지 백화점에 갈지 아직 결정 못 했어요. (Inteonet syopingeul halji gilgeori syopingeul halji baekhwajeome galji ajik gyeoljeong mot haesseoyo.) |
| I haven’t decided yet whether to shop online, shop on the street, or go to a department store. |
| 인터넷 쇼핑을 할지 길거리 쇼핑을 할지 백화점에 갈지 아직 결정 못 했어요. (Inteonet syopingeul halji gilgeori syopingeul halji baekhwajeome galji ajik gyeoljeong mot haesseoyo.) |
| I haven’t decided yet whether to shop online, shop on the street, or go to a department store. |
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