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In this lesson, let us take a look at the verb ending -도록, which means “so that”, “in a way that” or sometimes “to the point where” in Korean.

-도록 mainly has three usages:
1. The verb before -도록 can express the objective of the following verb.
2. The verb before -도록 can express the effect or the method leading to the following verb.
3. The verb before -도록 can express the extent or degree of the following state or action.

Usage 1 - Expressing the objective of the following verb

Ex)
지나가다 = to pass through
--> 사람들이 지나가도록 비켜 주세요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri ji-na-ga-do-rok bi-kyeo-ju-se-yo.]
= Please step aside so that people can pass through.

이해하다 = to understand
--> 제가 이해할 수 있도록 설명해 주세요.
[je-ga i-hae-hal su it-do-rok seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo.]
= Please explain so that I can understand.

Usage 2 - Expressing the effect or the method leading to the following verb

Ex)
들리다 = to be heard
--> 다 들리도록 이야기해 주세요.
[da deul-li-do-rok i-ya-gi-hae ju-se-yo.]
= Please talk in a way that everyone can hear you.

볼 수 있다 = to be able to see
--> 제가 볼 수 있도록 놓아 주세요.
[je-ga bol su it-do-rok no-a ju-se-yo.]
= Please put it in a way that I can see it.

Usage 3 - Expressing the extent or degree of the following state or action

Ex)
아프다 = to be painful
--> 목이 아프도록 노래를 불렀어요.
[mo-gi a-peu-do-rok no-rae-reul bul-leo-sseo-yo.]
= I sang a lot, to the point where my throat hurt.

질리다 = to get sick of, to get tired of
--> 바나나를 질리도록 먹었어요.
[ba-na-na-reul jil-li-do-rok meo-geo-sseo-yo.]
= I ate so much banana that I got sick of it.

** Usage 1 and 2 overlap in some contexts and Usage 2 and 3 also overlap in some contexts.

Sample Sentences
1. 그 얘기는 귀가 아프도록 많이 들었어요.
[geu yae-gi-neun gwi-ga a-peu-do-rok ma-ni deu-reo-sseo-yo.]
= I heard that story so often, almost to the point of my ears hurting.

2. 늦지 않도록 빨리 서두르세요.
[neut-ji an-to-rok ppal-li seo-du-reu-se-yo.]
= Hurry up so that you won’t be late.

3. 넘어지지 않도록 조심하세요.
[neo-meo-ji-ji an-to-rok jo-si-ma-se-yo.]
= Be careful so that you don’t fall over.

4. 제가 이해하기 쉽도록 설명했어요.
[je-ga i-hae-ha-gi swip-do-rok seol-myeong-hae-seo-yo.]
= I explained it in a way that would be easy to understand.

5. 이 신발은 다 떨어지도록 자주 신었어요.
[i sin-ba-reun da tteo-reo-ji-do-rok ja-ju si-neo-sseo-yo.]
= I’ve worn these shoes so often, almost to the point where they are worn out.