안녕하세요! Today, I'll teach you how to change a verb into a noun. This is very useful grammar and I highly recommend you take time and master this! Don't forget to download the free worksheet! By the way, I prepared all these lessons and made one by one the worksheets for the ones who want to learn Korean on their own. I hope it can help you! 😊
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1. 는 것 Grammar
You attach this "는 것" to a verb stem. Then, it changes that verb into a noun! You can think of it as "ing" in English. Just like English "ing" words, you can use it as a subject or an object in a sentence!
음악을 듣다(listen to music) → 음악을 듣는 것(listening to music)
저는 음악을 듣는 것을 좋아해요. I like listening to music.
Take a look at the examples above. 듣다 is a verb, meaning "to listen". By adding 는 것 to the stem 듣, we turned this into a noun, "listening". That means it can't be used at the end of a sentence anymore. It is not a verb! Instead, in the example, "듣는 것" is used as an object. Does it make sense? I'll show you one more example!
책을 읽다(read a book) → 책을 읽는 것(reading a book)
저는 책을 읽는 것을 좋아해요. I like reading books.
Do you see the pattern here? We add "는 것" to a verb 읽다(to read). Now 읽는 것 means "reading." It is an object of a sentence, so I attached the object marker "을" to it! Not difficult at all, right?
2. Conjugation Information
I have good news for you. Guess what! You don't have to worry too much about a vowel or final consonant to use this grammar. You can simply attach "는 것" to a verb stem! Even irregular final consonants won't bother you this time!
보다 → 보는 것 (seeing/watching)
먹다 → 먹는 것 (eating)
듣다 → 걷는 것 (walking)
잇다 → 잇는 것 (connecting)
돕다 → 돕는 것 (helping)
쓰다 → 쓰는 것 (writing)
See how all the verbs above kept their stem? How simple is it? However, there is only one exception. Well, I did say you don't have to worry "too much"... Haha. Ok, so, the only time you have to pay extra attention is when a verb stem ends with "ㄹ" as the final consonant. In this case, you'll drop that ㄹ and attach "는 것". It's still not bad.
놀다 → The stem is 놀. It ends with the final consonant "ㄹ". → Drop ㄹ. → 노 → Add "는 것(ing)" → 노는 것 (playing).
살다 → 사는 것 (living)
만들다 → 만드는 것 (making).
는 것 also can be attached to 있다, 없다, and 계시다. 계시다 is an honorific (politer) version of 있다. Here are how.
있다 → 있는 것
없다 → 없는 것
계시다 → 계시는 것
3. More Information
Space
Ok, let's dig deeper into this 는 것 grammar! First, pay attention to where there is a space in this grammar. Yes, you need to add a space between 는 and 것. Sometimes, my students just write it without space, so I'm just telling you to help you get attention about it.
Abbreviation
One more important information. This 는 것 is usually used in written language. In daily life, people like to say things quicker and shorter. 것 is usually used as 거 in daily conversation.
는 것 = 는 거
When "는 것" is used in an object location, the object marker needs to be attached. Well, 는 것을 is a bit long. So, people shorten it to 걸. Three syllables into one!
는 것을 = 는 걸
음악 듣는 것을 좋아해요. = 음악 듣는 걸 좋아해요.
Object marker
It is natural to have only one object marker in one sentence. I say this because I saw some of my students were confused. Take a look at the two options below.
저는 책을 읽는 것을 좋아해요.
저는 책 읽는 것을 좋아해요.
Can you tell the difference between the two? The object marker is used twice in the top sentence. You can say it and people will understand you but it is awkward. The natural sentence is the bottom one. "책 읽는 것" is considered one object, so you attach the object marker after the word 것.
4. Examples
Let's see some examples using this 는 것 (기) grammar. You can talk about your hobby(취미) using this grammar. After studying the examples, try to make your own sentences!
1
저는 만화책 읽는 것을 좋아해요. I like reading comic books.
만화책 is a comic book. You can, of course, use the shortened version, 만화책 읽는 걸 좋아해요. Since you are talking about yourself, "저는(I)" is also omitted.
2
제 취미는 자전거를 타는 것이에요. My hobby is riding a bike.
Here is a good expression for you! To talk about your hobby, you can use this "제 취미는 V는 것이에요." 제 means "my" and 취미 is "hobby" in Korean. So you are saying "My hobby is N."
3
제 취미는 축구를 보는 거예요. My hobby is watching soccer.
Remember? 는 것 can be shortened to 는 거. Well, when you talk about your hobby, if you choose to use "는 거," you have to use 예요 after that. Do you know why? 이다(be) becomes 예요 when it is attached to a no-consonant noun. Take a look at the diagram below. Click the picture if you want to enlarge it.
4
민지: 민수 씨, 취미가 뭐예요? Minsu, what is your hobby?
민수: 제 취미는 골프 치는 거예요. My hobby is playing golf.
Then, how can we ask about other's hobbies? You can use the expression "취미가 뭐예요?" in Korean. 뭐 is "what". Can you answer that question with your own answer?
5
Q: 줄리 씨, 한국 음식 먹는 것을 좋아해요? Do you like eating Korean food?
A: 네, 좋아해요. Yes, I like it.
Yes, you can just ask "한국 음식을 좋아해요? (Do you like Korean food?)" However, you can add "eating" in the sentence as well! Just avoid using the object marker twice like "한국 음식을 먹는 것을."
5. Wrap-up & Worksheets
To make a verb into a noun, you can add "는 것" to a verb stem.
You can translate it like "Ving" in English.
는 것 is a more written form. 는 거 is more commonly used in daily conversations.
How was the lesson? It was not that difficult, wasn't it? Yet, you can utilize the verbs you know, so it is quite useful! Please download the free PDF worksheet and practice what you learned! It includes the answer sheet, so make sure to check your answers. If you liked my lesson, please click the like button and share it with your studying buddies! Thanks for studying with my website, "My Korean Lesson!"
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