Understanding how to use ‘는 것’ in Korean is essential for building natural and fluent sentences. This grammar structure allows verbs to function as nouns, making it easier to describe actions, experiences, and thoughts. Whether you’re talking about your hobbies, future plans, or past experiences, ‘는 것’ is a key concept that will improve your Korean communication skills. In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning, structure, and various ways to use ‘는 것’ with real-life examples.
Contents
1. Definition
In English, ‘는 것’ functions similarly to gerunds (-ing forms) or relative clauses, depending on the context. It enables verbs to act as nouns, making them the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
2. Form (Structure)
The structure of ‘는 것’ varies based on the verb tense. Additionally, ‘는 것’ can be shortened to ‘는 거’ or ‘는 게’ in spoken Korean.
| Verb Tense | Structure | Example |
| Present | Verb stem + 는 것(거/게) | 먹는 것이 좋아요. (I like eating.) |
| Past | Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 것(거/게) | 본 것이 재미있었어요. (What I saw was interesting.) |
| Future | Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 것(거/게) | 내일 갈 것을 준비해요. (I’m preparing to go tomorrow.) |
Usage Tips for ‘는 것’, ‘는 거’, ‘는 게’:
- ‘는 것’:
- Used in formal writing and speech
- Always correct in any context
- Example: 한국어를 배우는 것이 어려워요. (Learning Korean is difficult.)
- ‘는 거’:
- Common in casual speech
- Less formal than ‘는 것’
- Often used in everyday conversations
- Example: 영화 보는 거 좋아해? (Do you like watching movies?)
- ‘는 게’:
- Most casual form
- Used in very informal situations or with close friends
- Often used when ‘는 것이’ is contracted
- Example: 일찍 일어나는 게 건강에 좋아요. (Waking up early is good for health.)
When to use each form:
- Use ‘는 것’ in formal writing, academic contexts, or when speaking to superiors.
- Use ‘는 거’ in everyday conversations, especially with peers or in slightly casual settings.
- Use ‘는 게’ in very casual speech, particularly with close friends or family.
Remember that ‘는 게’ is a contraction of ‘는 것이’, so it’s already combined with the subject particle ‘이’. Therefore, you can’t add another particle after ‘는 게’.
In spoken Korean, ‘는 거’ and ‘는 게’ are more common and natural-sounding than ‘는 것’, but all forms are grammatically correct. The choice between them often depends on the level of formality and the speaker’s relationship with the listener.
3. Meaning & Usage
‘는 것’ is widely used to nominalize actions. Below are different ways ‘는 것’ is used in Korean, along with example sentences.
1. Expressing Likes and Dislikes
- 나는 노래하는 것이 즐거워. (I enjoy singing.) → 노래하는 게 즐거워 / 노래하는 거 즐거워
- 그녀는 그림 그리는 것을 좋아해. (She likes drawing.) → 그림 그리는 게 좋아 / 그림 그리는 거 좋아
- 운동하는 것이 내 취미야. (Exercising is my hobby.) → 운동하는 게 내 취미야 / 운동하는 거 내 취미야
- 친구들과 수다 떨었던 것이 재미있었어. (Chatting with friends was fun.)
- 곧 만날 친구들과 이야기할 것이 기다려져. (I can’t wait to talk with the friends I’ll meet soon.)
2. Expressing Importance or Benefits
- 아침을 먹는 것이 중요해. (Eating breakfast is important.) → 먹는 게 중요해 / 먹는 거 중요해
- 규칙적으로 운동하는 것이 건강에 좋아. (Exercising regularly is good for health.) → 운동하는 게 좋아 / 운동하는 거 좋아
- 충분히 잤던 것이 피로 회복에 도움이 됐어. (Getting enough sleep helped with fatigue recovery.)
- 책을 읽는 것이 지식을 넓혀줘. (Reading books broadens your knowledge.) → 읽는 게 좋아 / 읽는 거 좋아
3. Describing Habits or Ongoing Actions
The ‘는 것’ structure is used to describe habits or ongoing actions. It helps to turn verbs into nouns, allowing them to be the subject or object of a sentence.
- 그는 매일 아침 일찍 일어나는 것을 실천해. (He practices waking up early every morning.) → 일어나는 걸 실천해
- 나는 매일 한국어를 공부하는 것이 목표야. (My goal is to study Korean every day.) → 공부하는 게 목표야
- 동생은 밤늦게까지 게임했던 것이 습관이었어. (My younger sibling had a habit of playing games late at night.)
- 친구는 항상 음악을 듣는 것이 좋아. (My friend always likes listening to music.) → 듣는 게 좋아 / 듣는 거 좋아
- 나는 매일 일기를 쓰는 것이 내 루틴이야. (Writing a diary every day is part of my routine.)
4. Talking About Past Events or Experiences
- 내가 어제 본 것이 정말 아름다웠어. (What I saw yesterday was really beautiful.)
- 우리가 먹은 것이 너무 맛있었어. (What we ate was really delicious.)
- 그녀가 했던 것이 정말 감동적이었어. (What she did was really touching.)
- 친구가 말한 것이 사실이었어. (What my friend said was true.)
- 어제 들었던 것이 아직도 기억에 남아. (What I heard yesterday still remains in my memory.)
5. Expressing Future Intentions
- 나는 내일 할 것이 많아. (I have a lot to do tomorrow.)
- 곧 일어날 것을 예측하는 것이 중요해. (It’s important to predict what will happen soon.)
- 네가 앞으로 할 것을 계획하는 것이 좋을 거야. (It would be good to plan what you will do in the future.)
- 내년에 유학 가는 것을 준비하고 있어. (I’m preparing to study abroad next year.)
- 졸업 후에 창업하는 것을 고려하고 있어. (I’m considering starting a business after graduation.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘는 것’ turns verbs into noun phrases.
- Use ‘는 것’ for present, ‘(으)ㄴ 것’ for past, and ‘(으)ㄹ 것’ for future.
- This structure helps describe habits, experiences, and facts.
5. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘는 것’.
- 나는 매일 __________ (운동하다) 것이 중요하다고 생각해. (I think exercising every day is important.)
- 어제 본 영화는 정말 재미있었는데, 그 영화를 __________ (다시 보다) 것이 기대돼. (The movie I watched yesterday was really fun, and I’m looking forward to watching it again.)
- 내일 친구와 함께 __________ (산에 가다) 것을 계획했어. (I have planned to go to the mountains with my friend tomorrow.)
- 한국어를 __________ (배우다) 것이 어려워요. (Learning Korean is difficult.)
- 그녀가 말한 것은 사실이었고, 그 말을 __________ (믿다) 것이 옳았어. (What she said was true, and it was right to believe it.)
- 내일부터 규칙적으로 __________ (운동하다) 것을 실천할 거야. (I will start exercising regularly from tomorrow.)
- 친구가 준 선물은 마음에 들었고, 그 선물을 __________ (받다) 것이 기뻤어. (I liked the gift my friend gave me, and I was happy to receive it.)
- 다음 주에 발표를 해야 하는데, 그 발표를 __________ (준비하다) 것이 중요해. (I have to give a presentation next week, and preparing for it is important.)
- 여행을 __________ (가다) 것이 항상 기대돼. (I always look forward to traveling.)
- 부모님께 전화하는 것은 중요하고, 그들을 __________ (만나다) 것도 좋아. (Calling my parents is important, and I also like meeting them.)
6. Answers
- 운동하는 것
- 다시 보는 것
- 산에 가는 것
- 배우는 것
- 믿는 것
- 운동하는 것
- 받는 것
- 준비하는 것
- 가는 것
- 만나는 것
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Incorrect Tense Usage
Incorrect: 어제 먹는 것이 맛있었어. ❌ (What I ate yesterday was delicious.)
Correct: 어제 먹은 것이 맛있었어. ✅
💡 Tip: Use (으)ㄴ 것 for past events and (으)ㄹ 것 for future intentions. 는 것 is only for present actions.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Overusing ‘는 거’ in Formal Settings
Incorrect: 발표하는 거 중요해요. ❌ (Giving a presentation is important.)
Correct: 발표하는 것이 중요해요. ✅
💡 Tip: ‘는 거’ is common in casual speech, but in formal situations, always use ‘는 것’ for clarity and professionalism.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using ‘는 것’ When a Simple Noun is Better
Verbose: 제 취미는 요리하는 것이에요. (My hobby is cooking.)
Concise: 제 취미는 요리예요. (My hobby is cooking.)
Verbose: 저는 달리기 하는 것을 좋아해요. (I like running.)
Concise: 저는 달리기를 좋아해요. (I like running.)
💡 Tip: Many activities have noun equivalents (e.g., 요리, 독서, 운동, 달리기). While using ‘는 것’ is grammatically correct, using the noun form often results in more concise and natural-sounding Korean. However, ‘는 것’ can be useful when emphasizing the act or process of doing something.
Example of when ‘는 것’ might be preferred:
- 저는 요리하는 것 자체를 즐겨요. (I enjoy the act of cooking itself.)
- 달리기 하는 것이 스트레스 해소에 도움이 돼요. (The act of running helps relieve stress.)
Remember, both forms are correct, but the simpler noun form is often more common in everyday speech.
⚠️ Mistake 4: Misplacing ‘는 것’ in a Sentence
Incorrect: 나는 공부하는 것을 좋아하는 친구. ❌ (I like studying friend.)
Correct: 나는 공부하는 것을 좋아해. ✅ (I like studying.)
💡 Tip: ‘는 것’ should be correctly placed within the sentence as a noun phrase. Always check that it makes sense within the sentence structure.
⚠️ Mistake 5: Forgetting to Adjust for Natural Sounding Korean
Incorrect: 한국어를 배우는 것은 어려운. ❌ (Learning Korean is difficult [but incomplete].)
Correct: 한국어를 배우는 것은 어려워. ✅ (Learning Korean is difficult.)
💡 Tip: Korean grammar follows specific conjugation rules. Make sure the predicate matches the subject properly, especially in casual speech.
The ‘는 것’ structure is a fundamental part of Korean grammar, helping learners express actions as nouns. By practicing different tenses and sentence structures, you can naturally incorporate this grammar into your daily conversations.