V-(으)니까 ②

when, do something only to discover

Explanation

-(으)니까 expresses the discovery of the fact described in the second clause as the result of performing the action described in the first clause. It corresponds to 'when' or '(do something) only to discover'. If the verb stem ends in a vowel, -니까 is used, and if it ends in a consonant, -으니까 is used. This form of -(으)니까 denoting discovery attaches only to verbs.

Details

When -(으)니까 expresses the result of an action (discovery), -았 and -겠 cannot precede it.

아침에 회사에 갔으니까 아무도 없었어요. ✕
→아침에 회사에 가니까 아무도 없었어요. ✓
I arrived at the office only to discover that nobody was there.
저녁에 집에 왔으니까 어머니가 계셨어요. ✕
→저녁에 집에 오니까 어머니가 계셨어요. ✓
When I arrived home in the evening, my mother was there.

Compare with "-(으)니까: Reasons and Causes " here

Kimchi Reader

It expresses the discovery of a fact or situation. The first clause is the action and the second clause is about the discovery. This form can only be used with action verbs.