How to Use -는지 and -(으)ㄴ지 in Korean: Indirect Questions and Time Passed
The Korean patterns -는지 and -(으)ㄴ지 are used when a question becomes part of a sentence, or when you talk about how long it has been since something happened.
You will often see -는지 with present-tense verbs, as in “언제 오는지” meaning “when it comes.” You will also see -(으)ㄴ 지 in time expressions, as in “한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요,” meaning “It has been one year since I came to Korea.”
These forms look similar, but they do not always work the same way. The key is to check whether the sentence is asking an indirect question or talking about time passed.
Contents
1. Definition
The grammar pattern -(으)ㄴ지 is used in two main ways in Korean.
- To express how long it has been since something happened.
- To form indirect questions, expressing uncertainty, curiosity, or doubt.
English equivalents:
• When expressing duration: “since” / “how long it has been”
• When expressing uncertainty: “whether,” “if,” “where,” “when,” “why,” etc.
2. Form (Structure)
The pattern -(으)ㄴ지 is attached directly to verbs, adjectives, and nouns, but the exact form changes depending on the word type and the time reference.
Basic Conjugation Rules (Core Form)
To form -(으)ㄴ지 from a verb:
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add -은지
먹다 (to eat) → 먹은지 (since I ate) - If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ지
가다 (to go) → 간지 (since I went) - With 하다 verbs, change 하다 → 한지
공부하다 (to study) → 공부한지 (since I studied)
These rules are used especially when describing completed actions or how long it has been since something happened.
Verb, Adjective, Noun Differences
This pattern changes based on the type of word it attaches to.
1) Verbs
For verbs, choose the form depending on the time or uncertainty involved:
- -는지 → present or ongoing situation (you don’t know what is happening now)
- -(으)ㄴ지 → completed action, or “how long it has been”
- -(으)ㄹ지 → future possibility, uncertainty, not decided yet
Examples:
- 지금 어디 가는지 몰라요.
(I don’t know where they are going.) - 여기 온 지 얼마나 됐는지 기억이 안 나요.
(I don’t remember how long it has been since I came here.) - 내일 올 지 모르겠어요.
(I’m not sure if they will come tomorrow.)
2) Adjectives
Adjectives always use -(으)ㄴ지, because they describe a state being evaluated (no present vs. past distinction needed).
Examples:
- 이 옷이 예쁜지 모르겠어요.
(I’m not sure if this clothes looks nice.) - 방이 조용한지 확인해 주세요.
(Please check if the room is quiet.) - 그 말이 진심인지 궁금해요.
(I wonder if those words were sincere.)
3) Nouns
Nouns always use -인지, regardless of tense.
Examples:
- 그 사람이 학생인지 알아요?
(Do you know if that person is a student?) - 이것이 사실인지 확인해 주세요.
(Please check if this is true.) - 오늘이 맞는 날짜인지 헷갈렸어요.
(I was unsure whether today was the correct date.)
3. Meaning & Usage
1) Expressing Time Passed
Used to describe how long it has been since an event occurred.
Examples:
- 한국에 온 지 3년 됐어요.
(It has been three years since I came to Korea.) - 저 사람을 본 지 오래됐어요.
(It has been a long time since I saw that person.) - 점심 먹은 지 2시간 지났어요.
(Two hours have passed since I ate lunch.) - 휴대폰 산 지 얼마 안 됐어요.
(It hasn’t been long since I bought my phone.) - 학교에 다닌 지 10년이 넘었어요.
(It has been over ten years since I attended school.) - 운전면허 딴 지 보름도 안 됐어요.
(It hasn’t even been two weeks since I got my driver’s license.) - 비행기 도착한 지 30분밖에 안 됐어요.
(It’s been only 30 minutes since the plane arrived.) - 약 먹은 지 두 시간 지나서 이제 괜찮아요.
(It’s been two hours since I took the medicine, so I feel fine now.) - 계약서에 사인한 지 반년이 훌쩍 지났네요.
(It’s already been over half a year since we signed the contract.) - 새로 이사 온 지 일주일이 채 안 됐어요.
(It hasn’t even been a week since we moved in.)
2) Expressing Uncertainty / Indirect Questions
Examples:
- 그 음식이 매운지 모르겠어요.
(I’m not sure if the food is spicy.) - 오늘 약속이 중요한지 잘 모르겠어요.
(I’m not sure if today’s appointment is important.) - 이 길이 맞은지 확실하지 않아요.
(I’m not sure if this is the right way.) - 방이 조용한지 확인해 주세요.
(Please check if the room is quiet.) - 그 사람이 바쁜지 알고 싶어요.
(I want to know if that person is busy.) - 이 색이 나한테 어울리는지 고민돼요.
(I’m debating whether this color suits me.) - 지금 가는 게 괜찮은지 모르겠어요.
(I’m not sure if it’s okay to go now.) - 그 말이 진심인지 궁금해요.
(I wonder if those words were sincere.) - 가격이 적당한지 살펴볼게요.
(I’ll check whether the price is reasonable.) - 여기가 편한지 한번 앉아 보세요.
(Try sitting here to see if it’s comfortable.)
4. Key Points to Remember
-(으)ㄴ지 is often used to talk about how long it has been since something happened.
When expressing uncertainty or indirect questions, the meaning depends on whether the word is a verb, adjective, or noun.
Verbs change form depending on time reference:
- -는지 (present/ongoing)
- -(으)ㄴ지 (completed action/time passed)
- -(으)ㄹ지 (future/uncertain possibility)
Adjectives always use -(으)ㄴ지 because they describe a state being evaluated.
Nouns always use -인지, with no tense change.
The pattern often appears with verbs like 알다 (to know), 모르다 (to not know), 궁금하다 (to wonder), and 확인하다 (to check).
For time expressions, -(으)ㄴ 지 is often followed by 되다, 지나다, 넘다, etc.
예: 온 지 3년 됐어요. (It has been three years since I came.)
5. Practice Exercises
- 한국에 ______________ 1년 됐어요.
(It has been 1 year since I came to Korea.) - 점심을 ______________ 3시간 지났어요.
(It’s been 3 hours since I had lunch.) - 저는 그 사람을 ______________ 6개월 넘었어요.
(It has been over 6 months since I met that person.) - 그 영화를 ______________ 일주일 안 됐어요.
(It hasn’t been long since I watched that movie.) - 동생이 집을 ______________ 얼마나 됐는지 모르겠어요.
(I don’t know how long it has been since my younger sibling left home.) - 시험이 ______________ 이틀 됐는데, 아직도 긴장이 풀리지 않아요.
(It has been 2 days since the exam ended, but I am still nervous.) - 어머니가 병원에 ______________ 한 달 됐어요?
(How long has it been since your mother was hospitalized?) - 친구랑 ______________ 오래 되어서, 어떻게 지내는지 궁금해요.
(It has been a long time since I last contacted my friend, so I wonder how they are doing.) - 요즘 바빠서 운동을 ______________ 두 달 됐어요.
(I have been so busy that it has been 2 months since I last exercised.) - 아기가 ______________ 3주 안 되었어요.
(It hasn’t been long since the baby was born.)
6. Answers
- 한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요.
- 점심을 먹은 지 3시간 지났어요.
- 저는 그 사람을 만난 지 6개월 넘었어요.
- 그 영화를 본 지 일주일 안 됐어요.
- 동생이 집을 나간 지 얼마나 됐는지 모르겠어요.
- 시험이 끝난 지 이틀 됐는데, 아직도 긴장이 풀리지 않아요
- .어머니가 병원에 입원한 지 한 달 됐어요?
- 친구랑 연락한 지 오래 되어서, 어떻게 지내는지 궁금해요.
- 요즘 바빠서 운동을 한 지 두 달 됐어요.
- 아기가 태어난 지 3주 안 되었어요.
7. Mistakes and Tips
Mistake 1: Mixing up -는지 and -(으)ㄴ지
Incorrect: 지금 어디 갔는지 몰라요. ❌
(This suggests a completed action, but the situation is ongoing.)
Correct: 지금 어디 가는지 몰라요. ✅
(I don’t know where they are going.)
💡 Tip: If the action is happening now or ongoing, use -는지.
Mistake 2: Using -(으)ㄴ지 instead of -인지 with
Incorrect: 그 사람이 학생은지 알아요? ❌
Correct: 그 사람이 학생인지 알아요? ✅
(Do you know if that person is a student?)
💡 Tip: Nouns always use -인지, no exceptions.
Mistake 3: Forgetting that -(으)ㄴ지 is required to express how long it has been
Incorrect: 한국에 온 3년 됐어요. ❌
Correct: 한국에 온 지 3년 됐어요. ✅
(It has been 3 years since I came to Korea.)
💡 Tip: When talking about time passed, always include 지 and often combine with 되다/지나다.
The pattern -(으)ㄴ지 is useful for expressing how long it has been since something happened and for forming indirect questions. By understanding how the form changes with verbs, adjectives, and nouns, you can use it naturally in everyday conversation. Once you get comfortable with -는지, -(으)ㄴ지, and -인지, your Korean will sound more fluent and confident.