Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-느라(고)
because (I was busy) doing …
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Clause 1 is an ongoing action that took time or effort and caused a (usually negative) result in clause 2: couldn't do something, was tired, etc. Same subject in both clauses; verbs only.
Forming it
| 공부하다 | → 공부하느라고 |
| 자다 | → 자느라 |
| 놀다 | → 노느라 |
| 찾다 | → 찾느라고 |
No tense marker before it and no command/suggestion after it: ✗ 공부하느라고 일찍 자세요. Not for adjectives or events nobody controls: ✗ 비가 오느라고.
Examples
어제 시험공부를 하느라고 한숨도 못 잤어요.
I couldn't sleep a wink last night because I was studying for an exam.
게임하느라 시간 가는 줄 몰랐어요.
I was playing a game and lost track of time.
Compared with similar patterns
-아/어서 is a general reason. -는 바람에 is an unexpected event and can have a different subject.