Korean Class: Quoting Imperative Sentence 라고

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In Korean, to quote a command or imperative sentence, we use the grammar "~라고" (~rago). For example, if someone wants to quote the command "Stop talking," they can say it as "그는 말하지 마라고 했어요" (Geuneun malhaji marago haesseoyo). 

The "~라고" sentence structure helps to convey the command or instruction clearly, maintaining the original feel of the imperative sentence. It is important to note that the use of "~라고" is according to the context and type of sentence being quoted.

By understanding how to use "~라고" in quoting imperative sentences, Korean speakers can easily include instructions or commands in their daily conversations.

Quoted Imperative Sentences: ~(으)라고

In this lesson, we will learn how to quote sentences in an imperative setting: that is, a sentence in which someone gives orders or requests to another person.

Imperative Sentence Cited: ~ (으) 라고

When we studied the imperative mood, we learned that there are many ways to end sentences when giving orders to someone. Apart from differences in politeness, these all mean the same thing:

Low Informal: 해!
Informal: 해라!
Formal: 하세요!

High formal: 하십시오!

If I would put a word there:

공부 해! = study!
공부 해라! = study!
공부 하세요! = study!

공부 하십시오! = study!

However, when quoting words/sentences in an imperative mood, we do not use either of these endings. When we do this, we use a particle similar to the second example 공부 해라.

Study (공부 해라) consists of the word 공부 하다 and adds the imperative ending “아 / 어라” to it. 

However, when quoting these sentences, we need to attach (으) to the verb. ~ 으라 is added to words that end with a consonant, and ~ 라 is added to words that end with a vowel. Notice the difference:

• 자라: sleep
• 라: sit down!
• 하라: Analyze it!
• 가라: go away
• 라: read it!

After we add ~ (으) 라 to the end of the word, we have to add "고" to it, to indicate that it is a quoted sentence:

• 자라고
• 앉으라고
• 분하라고
• 가라고
• 읽으 라고 

Let's look at the following example sentences:

> 우리 아버지 는 항상 저 에게 수학 을 공부 라고 했어요
    (Dad always told me to study math)
> 깡패 는 항상 다른 사람들 이 에게 돈 을 주라고 했어
    (Punk always tell other people to give him money)
> 요리사 는 우리 에게 썩은 음식 을 먹으 라고 했어요
    (The chef told us to eat stale food) 

Now that we know all this, we can see how to quote a negative imperative sentence. 

Negative Quoted Imperative Sentences: ~ 지 말라고

Previously, we learned about how to add ~ 라고 to a sentence quoted in the imperative mood. When doing that, we need to add ~ 라고 to the end of words that end in vowels, and ~ 으라고 to words that end in consonants.

However, when quoting a negative imperative sentence, we only need to add ~ 지 말라고 to the last syllable.

1. 지 말다 = negative imperative > 하지마 (don't), 말하다 (say), 라고 (direct quote)

2. (으) 라 = added to the end of the verb (imperative mood) that is quoted. 

* Even though ~ 지 말다 ends with ㄹ, we don't need to add “으”. In other words, we wouldn't write: ~ 지 말 으라 because two ㄹ can be put together without the need for "으"

3. 라고 = indicates the quoted sentence.

Also, learn how to use 라고 in "How to quote a phrase".

If you pay attention, there are similarities between 하지마 and 하지 말라고.

• 하지마 don't do!
• 하지 말라고 I said don't!

Look at the following examples:

The following are some example sentences:

• 그렇게 하지 말라고 했어! = I told you not to do it like that!
• 편지 를 읽지 말라고 했어! = I told you not to read the letter!
• 그 의자 를 앉지 말라고 했어요! = I told you not to sit on that chair!
• 선생님 은 수업 에 늦게 오지 말라고 했어요 = The teacher told us not to come late to class

That's for today, hope you guys enjoy the lesson. See you next week :)