Your goal
Give one sentence for a reason for lateness or cancellation
Connect what happened with why it happened. Use the stated reason; do not invent a cause that is missing.
Before you start
- 이유
- why something happens
- 늦다
- arrive later than the agreed time
- 취소하다
- cancel something planned
- 비가 오다
- rain
- 바쁘다
- be busy
- 약속
- an agreed meeting or plan
Explore the situation
Model record: yesterday the bus arrived late, so Yuna reached the meeting late. The stated cause is the delayed bus.
| Stated reason | Result | One sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 버스가 늦게 왔어요. | 약속에 늦었어요. | 버스가 늦게 와서 약속에 늦었어요. |
| 시간이 없었어요. | 약속을 취소했어요. | 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요. |
Learn the expressions
Put the reason first and link it to the result with -아/어서. Keep the causal direction. Start with these four forms.
| Base form | Reason form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 오다 | 와서 | 비가 와서 공원에 안 갔어요. |
| 없다 | 없어서 | 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요. |
| 바쁘다 | 바빠서 | 바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요. |
| 일하다 | 일해서 | 늦게까지 일해서 약속에 늦었어요. |
For past events, the final 늦었어요 or 취소했어요 marks the past in these examples. Use 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요 here. Background followed by a request is taught separately in B2-09.
Read the conversation
Reason for lateness
왜 늦었어요?
Show meaning
Why were you late?
버스가 늦게 와서 약속에 늦었어요.
Show meaning
I was late for our meeting because the bus arrived late.
Reason for cancelling
왜 약속을 취소했어요?
Show meaning
Why did you cancel the meeting?
시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
Show meaning
I cancelled because I had no time.
Build a sentence
Check the details shown on the cards and try a sentence before revealing the example. Then assemble the sentence pieces.
Change the facts and express them
Late bus
- Reason
- 버스가 늦게 왔어요.
- Result
- 약속에 늦었어요.
Example and explanation
버스가 늦게 와서 약속에 늦었어요.
The bus delay is the cause; lateness is the result.
Not enough time
- Reason
- 시간이 없었어요.
- Result
- 약속을 취소했어요.
Example and explanation
시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
State the cancellation reason first.
Rain and the park
- Reason
- 비가 왔어요.
- Result
- 공원에 안 갔어요.
Example and explanation
비가 와서 공원에 안 갔어요.
This is the stated event, not a rule that rain always means cancellation.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Link the delayed bus to being late.
Sentence pieces
- 가
- 와서
- 에
- 버스
- 늦게
- 약속
- 늦었어요.
2. You had no time and cancelled.
Sentence pieces
- 이
- 약속
- 취소했어요.
- 시간
- 없어서
- 을
Practice
Choose a response that fits the situation using the expressions you learned.
1. Complete: 시간이 ___ 약속을 취소했어요.
- 없어서
- 없러
- 없은데
2. Choose the reason form of 바쁘다.
- 바쁠 거예요
- 바빠서
- 바쁘어서
3. Record: rain caused the park meeting to be cancelled. Which matches?
- 약속을 취소해서 비가 왔어요.
- 비가 오지 않아서 약속을 취소했어요.
- 비가 와서 약속을 취소했어요.
4. Which part states the reason in this sentence?
- 버스가 늦게 와서
- 약속에 늦었어요
- 약속에
Try a new situation
Use the new role information. Write the required details in Korean and try saying them.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. A late bus made you late for the meeting. Link both facts with -아/어서.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
2. You cancelled because you had no time. State the reason and result in one sentence.
왜 약속을 취소했어요?
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
3. You did not go to the park because it rained. Write one sentence.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
4. You could not attend yesterday because you were busy. Use 바빠서 and 못 갔어요.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
5. Minsu cancelled; the reason is unknown. Ask why.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
Check your learning
Read the new conditions and distinguish the key information.
1. Jisu missed yesterday’s meeting because she was busy. Choose her sentence.
- 바빠서 모임에 갔어요.
- 바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요.
- 모임에 가서 바쁠 거예요.
2. The bus is late today, so you are late. Combine the facts.
- 늦어서 버스가 일찍 와요.
- 버스가 와서 안 늦었어요.
- 버스가 늦게 와서 늦어요.
3. The cancellation reason is lack of time. Which sentence matches?
- 시간이 없어서 취소했어요.
- 비가 와서 취소했어요.
- 공부하러 갔어요.
4. Identify the result: 늦게까지 일해서 약속에 늦었어요.
- 일하다
- 약속에 늦었어요
- 늦게까지 일해서
5. You only know it was cancelled today, not why. What should you ask?
- 비가 와서 취소했어요.
- 바빠서 취소했어요.
- 왜 취소해요?
6. Which uses the practised pattern for the past event?
- 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
- 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소할 거예요.
- 시간이 없어 약속이에요.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Complete: 시간이 ___ 약속을 취소했어요.
Answer: 없어서
없어서 links the reason.
- 없러 — 없러 is not this connecting form.
- 없은데 — The target reason form is 없어서.
2. Choose the reason form of 바쁘다.
Answer: 바빠서
Use 바쁘다 → 바빠서.
- 바쁠 거예요 — This is a future expression, not a reason link.
- 바쁘어서 — The target form does not retain ㅡ.
3. Record: rain caused the park meeting to be cancelled. Which matches?
Answer: 비가 와서 약속을 취소했어요.
Keep the stated cause and result.
- 약속을 취소해서 비가 왔어요. — Cause and result are reversed.
- 비가 오지 않아서 약속을 취소했어요. — This denies the recorded rain.
4. Which part states the reason in this sentence?
Answer: 버스가 늦게 와서
The delayed bus is the reason.
- 약속에 늦었어요 — This is the result.
- 약속에 — This is part of the result, not the cause.
Learning check
1. Jisu missed yesterday’s meeting because she was busy. Choose her sentence.
Answer: 바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요.
Link being busy to not being able to attend.
- 바빠서 모임에 갔어요. — Attending contradicts the record.
- 모임에 가서 바쁠 거예요. — This gives a different sequence and future result.
2. The bus is late today, so you are late. Combine the facts.
Answer: 버스가 늦게 와서 늦어요.
This preserves the current cause and effect.
- 늦어서 버스가 일찍 와요. — No early arrival is given.
- 버스가 와서 안 늦었어요. — Both result and tense differ.
3. The cancellation reason is lack of time. Which sentence matches?
Answer: 시간이 없어서 취소했어요.
Use the confirmed lack of time.
- 비가 와서 취소했어요. — Rain is an invented reason here.
- 공부하러 갔어요. — This does not state the cancellation reason.
4. Identify the result: 늦게까지 일해서 약속에 늦었어요.
Answer: 약속에 늦었어요
Being late for the meeting is the result.
- 일하다 — A dictionary verb alone does not state the result.
- 늦게까지 일해서 — This part is the reason.
5. You only know it was cancelled today, not why. What should you ask?
Answer: 왜 취소해요?
Ask for the reason with 왜.
- 비가 와서 취소했어요. — This assumes rain.
- 바빠서 취소했어요. — This assumes the person is busy.
6. Which uses the practised pattern for the past event?
Answer: 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
Final 취소했어요 marks the past result.
- 시간이 없어서 약속을 취소할 거예요. — This gives a future plan.
- 시간이 없어 약속이에요. — The cancellation result is missing.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. A late bus made you late for the meeting. Link both facts with -아/어서.
버스가 늦게 와서 약속에 늦었어요.
버스가 늦게 와서 저는 약속에 늦었어요.
Use 와서 for the reason and 늦었어요 for the result.
2. You cancelled because you had no time. State the reason and result in one sentence.
왜 약속을 취소했어요?
시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
시간이 없어서 취소했어요.
Lack of time is the stated cause.
3. You did not go to the park because it rained. Write one sentence.
비가 와서 공원에 안 갔어요.
비가 와서 공원에 가지 않았어요.
Both negative forms express this result.
4. You could not attend yesterday because you were busy. Use 바빠서 and 못 갔어요.
바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요.
어제 바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요.
어제는 바빠서 모임에 못 갔어요.
This task practises the form 못 갔어요.
5. Minsu cancelled; the reason is unknown. Ask why.
왜 약속을 취소했어요?
왜 취소했어요?
민수 씨, 왜 약속을 취소했어요?
Ask rather than invent a reason.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Link the delayed bus to being late.
버스가 늦게 와서 약속에 늦었어요.
Reason comes before result.
2. You had no time and cancelled.
시간이 없어서 약속을 취소했어요.
Connect 없다 as 없어서.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall with the example closed
Give one sentence for a reason for lateness or cancellation
Change one detail
Change a person, action or time and make two sentences.
Combine with earlier expressions
Make a short exchange with a question and response.
Review what felt difficult
Review this expressionExplain a simple reason →Earlier learningReconnect the foundation →Look separately at activity completion and core learning results.