약속과 계획 이야기Making Plans with Others
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Make a suggestion using -(으)ㄹ까요?, such as 같이 저녁 먹을까요?.
- Invite someone to an activity and accept or decline the invitation politely.
- Ask about and state availability using 시간이 있어요/없어요 and 다른 약속이 있어요.
- Set a day, time, and place for a plan using scheduling vocabulary.
- Continue explaining feelings and reasons with -아서/어서 from Chapter 13.
- Continue using comparison with 보다/더 and noun-modifying descriptive forms from Chapters 11 and 12.
- Understand a short conversation and a short written message about making and confirming plans.
- Write a short message proposing a plan and responding to an invitation.
- Complete a practical task: making a plan with a friend, including a suggestion, a response, and a confirmed time and place.
Communication Scenario
Now that 라일라's presentation is over, 지영 suggests they celebrate together before her older brother arrives from abroad. 지영 proposes a day and place, 라일라 checks her schedule, and together they settle on a time. This chapter closes Unit III by bringing together everything learners have practiced about people, relationships, and feelings into the practical task of making a real plan.
- This chapter is the final chapter of Unit III (사람과 관계 — People and Relationships), following Chapters 11-13.
- New productive systems in this chapter are limited to suggestions with -(으)ㄹ까요?, invitations, accepting and declining, and scheduling vocabulary for days, times, and places.
- Kinship terms, comparison with 보다/더, closeness vocabulary, noun-modifying descriptive forms, emotion vocabulary, and the reason connector -아서/어서 continue to be used throughout.
Unit III Preview
Unit III (Chapters 11-14) moves from independent daily-living tasks toward describing people, relationships, feelings, and plans in more detail. The table below shows how this chapter completes that progression.
| Chapter | Focus | New Productive Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Meeting new people | noun-modifying descriptive forms -(으)ㄴ, appearance and personality vocabulary, introductions |
| 12 | Talking about family and friends | kinship terms, comparison with 보다/더, closeness vocabulary |
| 13 | Feelings and reactions | emotion vocabulary, reason clauses with feelings using -아서/어서 |
| 14 | Making plans with others | suggestions with -(으)ㄹ까요?, invitations, scheduling language |
This chapter introduces only suggestions with -(으)ㄹ까요?, invitation and response language, and scheduling vocabulary. It recycles kinship terms, comparison, closeness vocabulary, noun-modifying descriptive forms, emotion vocabulary, and -아서/어서 from Chapters 11 through 13.
Core Vocabulary
The vocabulary below supports proposing, accepting, declining, and scheduling plans. All items are productive for this chapter.
| Korean | Meaning | Pattern / Note |
|---|---|---|
| 약속 | promise, appointment | noun; used with 약속이 있다/없다, 약속을 잡다 |
| 계획 | plan | noun; used with 계획이 있다, 계획을 세우다 |
| 약속을 잡다 | to make/set an appointment | verb phrase; chapter form 약속을 잡아요 |
| 초대하다 | to invite | action verb; chapter form 초대해요 |
| 초대 | invitation | noun; used with 초대를 받다 (to receive an invitation) |
| 시간이 있다/없다 | to have/not have time | existential pattern; recycled 있다/없다 |
| 다른 약속 | another appointment | noun phrase; used to decline politely |
| 좋은 생각이에요 | That's a good idea. | fixed response accepting a suggestion |
| 미안하지만 | I'm sorry, but... | softening expression before a decline |
| 다음에 | next time | time expression; often used when declining |
| -(으)ㄹ까요? | Shall we...? / Should I...? | ending; makes a suggestion or asks for the listener's preference |
Receptive support: 일정 (schedule), 미루다 (to postpone) may appear in the reading passage with glosses.
Pronunciation Focus
This chapter introduces no new sound-change rule. It reviews liaison in 약속을 and 시간이, where the final consonant of the noun connects smoothly to the following particle, and reviews the rise in intonation used with question endings such as -(으)ㄹ까요?.
-(으)ㄹ까요? is a question ending and should rise gently at the end, similar to other polite questions you have already practiced. A flat, falling intonation can make a genuine suggestion sound like a statement.
먹을까요? · 만날까요? · 갈까요? · 약속을 · 시간이
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter introduces the suggestion ending -(으)ㄹ까요?, invitation language, and scheduling vocabulary. It reviews the reason connector -아서/어서, comparison with 보다/더, and noun-modifying descriptive forms from earlier chapters in this unit.
New: making a suggestion with -(으)ㄹ까요?
-(으)ㄹ까요? attaches to a verb stem to propose an activity together or to ask what the listener would like to do. Stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ take -ㄹ까요?; stems ending in most other consonants take -을까요?.
| Dictionary Form | Stem Type | -(으)ㄹ까요? Form |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | vowel-final | 갈까요? |
| 먹다 | consonant-final | 먹을까요? |
| 만나다 | vowel-final | 만날까요? |
Only this suggestion form is activated productively this chapter. Other modal or proposal endings remain for a later chapter.
[activity] + -(으)ㄹ까요?
This pattern proposes doing something together or asks what the listener prefers. It is usually answered with acceptance, a counter-suggestion, or a polite decline.
이번 주말에 같이 저녁 먹을까요?
Shall we eat dinner together this weekend?
New: accepting and declining an invitation
- 네, 좋은 생각이에요. Yes, that's a good idea. accepting a suggestion
- 미안하지만 그날은 다른 약속이 있어요. I'm sorry, but I have another appointment that day. softener + reason for declining
- 그럼 다음에 만날까요? Then shall we meet another time? counter-suggestion using -(으)ㄹ까요?
New: setting a day, time, and place
- 토요일 저녁 여섯 시 어때요? How about Saturday evening at six? day + time + 어때요?, recycled from earlier chapters
- 학교 앞 식당에서 만나요. Let's meet at the restaurant in front of school. location + 에서 만나요
Review: reason clauses with -아서/어서
- 발표가 끝나서 기뻐요. 그래서 같이 축하하고 싶어요. I'm glad the presentation is over, so I want to celebrate together. recycled -아서/어서 and 기쁘다 from Chapter 13
Review: comparison with 보다/더 and noun-modifying forms
- 평일보다 주말이 더 좋아요. The weekend is better than a weekday. recycled 보다/더 from Chapter 12
- 바쁜 이번 주가 끝나서 좋아요. I'm glad this busy week is over. recycled -(으)ㄴ noun-modifying form from Chapter 11
Practice — Building suggestion and scheduling sentences
- Write a sentence suggesting an activity using -(으)ㄹ까요?.
- Write a sentence accepting an invitation and a sentence declining one with a reason.
- Write a sentence proposing a day, time, and place to meet.
Model Dialogue
Setting: 지영 calls 라일라 the day after her presentation to suggest celebrating.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- What does 지영 suggest, and why?
- Why does 라일라 decline Saturday, and what does she propose instead?
- Where and when do they finally agree to meet?
Guided Practice
- Write a sentence suggesting a weekend activity using -(으)ㄹ까요?.
- Write a sentence declining an invitation politely with 미안하지만 and a reason.
- Write a sentence proposing a day and time using 어때요?.
- Write a short exchange: one person suggests meeting, and the other proposes a place using 에서 만나요.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a language partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud. Listen twice without reading, then complete the tasks below.
이번 주말 약속
이번 주말에 친구하고 약속이 있어요. 토요일에는 다른 약속이 있어서 일요일에 만나기로 했어요. 일요일 저녁 여섯 시에 학교 앞 식당에서 만날 거예요. 친구를 만나서 같이 저녁을 먹고 이야기할 거예요. 벌써 기분이 좋아요.
듣기 과제 — Listening task: Listen and answer in English.
| 질문 | 답 |
|---|---|
| Why did the speaker choose Sunday instead of Saturday? | ______ |
| What time and where will they meet? | ______ |
| How does the speaker feel about the plan, and why? | ______ |
Reading Practice
Below is a short message that 라일라 wrote to a friend back home about her plans with 지영. Read it and answer the questions below. No romanization is provided.
지영 씨하고 한 약속
발표가 끝나서 아주 기뻐요. 그래서 지영 씨가 같이 저녁 먹을까요 하고 물어봤어요. 저는 좋은 생각이라고 했어요. 그런데 토요일에는 다른 약속이 있어서 일요일로 정했어요. 일요일 저녁 여섯 시에 학교 앞 식당에서 만날 거예요. 그 식당은 지영 씨 집보다 더 가까워서 좋아요. 다음 달에는 지영 씨 오빠도 만날 수 있으면 좋겠어요.
This passage recycles vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1 through 13 and introduces only the suggestion, invitation, and scheduling patterns scheduled for this chapter.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- Why does 라일라 feel glad, according to the message?
- Why did they choose Sunday instead of Saturday?
- Why does 라일라 like the restaurant they chose?
Writing Workshop
This chapter's writing task is a short message proposing a plan and responding to an invitation: 약속 정하기 ("Setting Up a Plan").
- Suggest an activity. Use -(으)ㄹ까요? to propose doing something together.
- Respond to the suggestion. Accept with 좋은 생각이에요, or decline politely with 미안하지만 and a reason.
- Propose a day and time. Use scheduling vocabulary and 어때요? to settle on a specific day and time.
- Propose a place. Use 에서 만나요 to state where you will meet.
- Add a feeling and a comparison. Include one feeling explained with -아서/어서 and one comparison sentence with 보다/더.
- Revise. Check your draft against the checklist below.
체크리스트 — Editing checklist:
- A suggestion is made using -(으)ㄹ까요?.
- A response accepts or politely declines the suggestion.
- A specific day, time, and place are proposed and confirmed.
- At least one feeling is explained with -아서/어서.
- At least one comparison sentence with 보다/더 is used correctly.
- Speech level is consistent everyday polite -아요/어요 throughout.
- Only Hangeul is used; no romanization appears in the final draft.
- No grammar or vocabulary beyond Chapter 14 appears productively.
Speaking Practice
통제 연습 — Controlled practice: 제안하기
Practice saying five suggestions aloud using -(으)ㄹ까요? with different activities, until the pattern feels automatic.
의사소통 과제 — Communicative task: 약속 정하기
With a partner, take turns suggesting an activity, responding by accepting or declining, and settling on a day, time, and place, as in the Model Dialogue.
혼자 하는 연습 — Solo alternative
Record yourself suggesting a plan to an imaginary friend, responding to your own suggestion in both an accepting and a declining way, and confirming a day, time, and place.
Culture and Communication
Directly refusing an invitation without a softening word can sound abrupt in many everyday South Korean interactions. Beginning a decline with 미안하지만 and offering a brief reason or a counter-suggestion, such as 다음에 만날까요?, is a common and considerate way to decline while keeping the relationship warm.
Among friends and classmates, it is common to confirm the exact day, time, and place before ending a conversation about plans, even in casual settings. This chapter's dialogue reflects that everyday habit of clear confirmation rather than leaving details vague.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: Using -(으)ㄹ까요? to describe something that will definitely happen, such as predicting the weather without inviting a shared decision.
Correction: -(으)ㄹ까요? is for suggestions and shared decisions, as in 같이 갈까요? ("Shall we go together?"), not for simple predictions.
Error: Saying only 안 돼요. ("No, I can't.") when declining an invitation.
Correction: Soften the decline and give a reason: 미안하지만 그날은 다른 약속이 있어요.
Error: Agreeing on a day and time but leaving the place unstated, such as saying only 일요일에 만나요. without a location.
Correction: Confirm all three details when possible: 일요일 저녁 여섯 시에 학교 앞 식당에서 만나요.
Chapter Review
Section A — 어휘 (Vocabulary)
1. List three scheduling or invitation expressions from this chapter and their meanings.
Section B — 문법 (Grammar)
1. Write a sentence suggesting an activity using -(으)ㄹ까요?.
2. Correct the error: 안 돼요. as a full response to an invitation.
Section C — 독해 이해 (Reading Comprehension)
1. According to 라일라's message, explain why she and 지영 chose Sunday instead of Saturday and why she likes the restaurant they chose.
Section D — 쓰기 (Writing)
1. Write your "setting up a plan" message following the Writing Workshop steps and checklist.
Section E — 말하기 (Speaking)
1. Role-play or record a conversation suggesting a plan, responding to it, and confirming a day, time, and place.
누적 복습 — Cumulative review
This chapter recycles everyday polite speech level, kinship terms, comparison with 보다/더, closeness vocabulary, noun-modifying descriptive forms, emotion vocabulary, and the reason connector -아서/어서 from Chapters 11 through 13, and adds suggestions with -(으)ㄹ까요?, invitation and response language, and scheduling vocabulary. This chapter completes Unit III. If any earlier system still feels uncertain, review the relevant chapter before continuing.
Practical Performance Task
수행 과제
친구하고 약속 정하기 — Making a Plan with a Friend
You will make and confirm a plan with a friend in both written and spoken form.
- Written: Write your "setting up a plan" message from the Writing Workshop.
- Spoken: Present the same content aloud, including a suggestion with -(으)ㄹ까요?, a response, and a confirmed day, time, and place, as in the Model Dialogue.
- Reflection: Write one English sentence identifying which part of this chapter — making suggestions or scheduling details — felt easiest.
| Criterion | What is evaluated |
|---|---|
| Suggestion | An activity is suggested correctly using -(으)ㄹ까요? |
| Response | The suggestion is accepted or politely declined with a reason |
| Scheduling details | A specific day, time, and place are proposed and confirmed |
| Feeling and reason | At least one feeling is explained correctly using -아서/어서 |
| Comparison | At least one comparison sentence with 보다/더 is used correctly |
| Speech-level consistency | Everyday polite -아요/어요 maintained throughout |
| Hangeul and spacing accuracy | Accurate spelling and level-appropriate spacing throughout, no romanization |
| Scope discipline | No structures used productively beyond Chapter 14 and earlier chapters |
Answer Key
Grammar Practice — Building Suggestion and Scheduling Sentences
1. Sample answer: 주말에 같이 영화 볼까요?
2. Sample answers: 네, 좋은 생각이에요. / 미안하지만 그날은 다른 약속이 있어요.
3. Sample answer: 토요일 오후 세 시 어때요?
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- 지영 suggests eating dinner together on the weekend because she is glad 라일라's presentation is over.
- 라일라 declines Saturday because she has another appointment, and proposes Sunday instead.
- They agree to meet on Sunday evening at six at the restaurant in front of school.
Listening comprehension
- The speaker chose Sunday because Saturday already had another appointment.
- They will meet on Sunday evening at six at the restaurant in front of school.
- The speaker already feels good about the plan.
Reading comprehension
- 라일라 feels glad because her presentation is over.
- They chose Sunday because 라일라 had another appointment on Saturday.
- 라일라 likes the restaurant because it is closer to 지영's house than her own.
Chapter Review — Section B
1. Sample answer: 이번 주말에 같이 저녁 먹을까요?
2. Correction: 미안하지만 그날은 다른 약속이 있어요.
Section D — Sample "setting up a plan" message
발표가 끝나서 기뻐요. 그래서 친구하고 같이 저녁 먹을까요 하고 물어봤어요. 토요일에는 다른 약속이 있어서 일요일로 정했어요. 일요일 저녁 여섯 시에 학교 앞 식당에서 만날 거예요. 그 식당은 우리 집보다 더 가까워서 좋아요.
Check that: a suggestion is made with -(으)ㄹ까요?, a response accepts or declines appropriately, a day, time, and place are confirmed, a feeling is explained with -아서/어서, a comparison sentence with 보다/더 appears, and no structures beyond Chapter 14 appear productively.
Looking Ahead
지금 할 수 있는 것 — What you can do now
You can suggest an activity, accept or politely decline an invitation, propose and confirm a day, time, and place, and connect a plan to your feelings and comparisons, all in consistent everyday polite speech level. This completes Unit III, 사람과 관계 (People and Relationships).