Korean Pattern ~(으)ㄹ 정도로: How to Say "to the extent that / so much that"

Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 정도로. Describes the degree/extent of something. Dramatic and expressive.

The Rule

~(으)ㄹ 정도로 = "to the extent that / so much that" Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 정도로. Describes the degree/extent of something. Dramatic and expressive. This is one of the essential Korean grammar patterns. Mastering it unlocks the ability to express "to the extent that / so much that" naturally in conversation — something you'll need almost every day.

Why English Speakers Get It Wrong

In English, "to the extent that / so much that" is expressed with separate words (auxiliary verbs, modals). In Korean, ~(으)ㄹ 정도로 is a grammatical ENDING attached to the verb stem. You can't just translate word-by-word. The common mistake: trying to combine Korean words the way English does instead of attaching the pattern to the verb stem. Korean grammar works by stacking endings, not by adding separate helper words.

How It Works

Formation: Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 정도로 Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 정도로. Describes the degree/extent of something. Dramatic and expressive. Step by step: 1. Take any verb (e.g., 가다 = to go) 2. Remove 다 to get the stem (가) 3. Add the pattern: 가으ㄹ 정도로 This works with virtually any Korean verb.

Real Examples

• 울 정도로 감동했어요. (ur jeongdoro gamdonghaeteoyo.) — "I was moved to the point of crying." • 못 걸을 정도로 다리가 아팠어요. (mot georeur jeongdoro dariga apateoyo.) — "My legs hurt so much I couldn't walk."

Common Mistakes

❌ Trying to translate "to the extent that / so much that" word-by-word from English ✅ Use the pattern ~(으)ㄹ 정도로 attached to the verb stem → Korean expresses "to the extent that / so much that" as a single grammatical construction, not separate words. ❌ Forgetting vowel harmony or consonant rules ✅ Check if the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant — the pattern may change form → Pay attention to the verb stem's final sound when attaching the pattern.

Quick Tip

Practice ~(으)ㄹ 정도로 with 5 verbs you already know. Write them out: • 가다 (go) → 가으ㄹ 정도로 • 먹다 (eat) → 먹으ㄹ 정도로 Repetition with familiar verbs builds the pattern into muscle memory. Once automatic, you can use it with ANY verb.

~(으)ㄹ 정도로 = "to the extent that / so much that"

Examples

울 정도로 감동했어요. — ur jeongdoro gamdonghaeteoyo. — I was moved to the point of crying.

못 걸을 정도로 다리가 아팠어요. — mot georeur jeongdoro dariga apateoyo. — My legs hurt so much I couldn't walk.