Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-아/어야
only if, only when (necessary condition)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Clause 1 is a necessary condition for clause 2. Emphatic: -아/어야만. It is also the base of -아/어야 하다 (must).
Forming it
| 먹다 | → 먹어야 |
| 가다 | → 가야 |
| 하다 | → 해야 |
| 학생 | → 학생이어야 |
Not followed by commands or suggestions: ✗ 표가 있어야 들어가세요.
Examples
매일 꾸준히 연습해야 잘할 수 있어요.
You can only get good if you practice steadily every day.
표가 있어야 안에 들어갈 수 있어요.
You can only go inside if you have a ticket.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)면 is a general 'if/when'; -아/어야 says only that condition will work. -아/어야 하다/되다 is the expression for 'must'.