Grammar
-(으)려면
if one wants to / to be able to
Form
Verb stem + -(으)려면 — “if one wants to”, “in order to”.
Function
Treats intending to do an action as the condition for the ensuing requirement or advice.
Why this form?
-(으)면 — “if”: ordinary condition without encoding an intention to do the action.
-(으)려고 — “in order to”: expresses purpose rather than necessarily establishing a condition.
Forms not to confuse
- -(으)면
시간이 있으면 오세요. — Come if you have time.
- -(으)려고
공부하려고 도서관에 갔어요. — I went to the library to study.
Examples
더 넓게 찾으려면 나눠서 움직이죠. — If we want to search more widely, let us split up.
잘하려면 연습해야 해요. — To do well, you need to practice.