In Korean grammar, understanding the difference between ‘는 것’ and ‘-(으)ㅁ’ can be tricky for learners. These two structures are used to express different nuances in sentences, and mastering them is essential for clear communication. In this post, we’ll break down the differences, explain their usage, and provide practical examples to help you understand when and how to use each structure effectively.
Contents
1. Definition
- ‘는 것’: Functions similarly to the English gerund (-ing) or relative clauses.
- ‘-(으)ㅁ’: Creates a noun from a verb or adjective, often used in formal writing or abstract concepts.
2. Form (Structure)
‘는 것’ (Verb to Noun Clause)
Verb stem + ‘는 것’
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹는 것 (eating)
- 가다 → 가는 것 (going)
- 공부하다 → 공부하는 것 (studying)
‘-(으)ㅁ’ (Nominalization)
Verb stem + ‘-(으)ㅁ’
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹음 (the act of eating)
- 가다 → 감 (the act of going)
- 공부하다 → 공부함 (the act of studying)
📌 Note: For verbs ending in a consonant, use ‘음’. For those ending in a vowel, use ‘ㅁ’.
3. Meaning & Usage
Both ‘는 것’ and ‘-(으)ㅁ’ transform verbs into nouns, but they serve different purposes. Below is a comparison of their key differences in meaning and usage, along with example sentences for each case.
1. Everyday Speech vs. Formal Writing
‘는 것’ is widely used in daily conversations and informal writing.
‘-(으)ㅁ’ appears in formal documents, academic writing, or official statements.
Example Sentences (Daily Speech):
- 친구를 만나는 것이 즐거워요. (Meeting friends is enjoyable).
- 운동하는 것이 건강에 좋아요. (Exercising is good for health).
- 한국어를 배우는 것은 쉽지 않아요. (Learning Korean is not easy).
- 여행하는 것이 내 취미예요. (Traveling is my hobby).
- 책을 읽는 것이 중요해요. (Reading books is important).
Formal Writing Equivalent (-(으)ㅁ):
- 친구를 만남이 즐겁다 (Meeting friends is enjoyable).
- 규칙적 운동이 건강 증진에 기여함 (Regular exercise contributes to health improvement).
- 한국어 습득의 어려움이 인정됨 (The difficulty of Korean language acquisition is recognized).
2. Describing Actions vs. Stating Facts
‘는 것’ emphasizes the process or action itself.
‘-(으)ㅁ’ focuses on the result, fact, or concept of the action.
Example Sentences:
- 시험을 준비하는 것이 힘들어요. (Preparing for the exam is hard).
- 빨리 걷는 것이 운동에 좋아요. (Walking fast is good exercise).
- 자주 웃는 것이 스트레스를 줄여요. (Smiling often reduces stress).
- 정직하게 사는 것이 중요해요. (Living honestly is important).
- 글을 쓰는 것이 어려워요. (Writing is difficult).
Fact-based Equivalent:
- 빈번한 웃음이 스트레스를 줄인다 (Frequent smiling reduces stress).
- 정직한 삶이 중요하다 (Living honestly is important).
- 시험 준비의 어려움이 인정됨 (The difficulty of exam preparation is acknowledged).
- 잦은 웃음의 스트레스 감소 효과가 확인됨 (The stress-reducing effect of frequent smiling is confirmed).
3. Subjective Feelings vs. Objective Statements
는 것’ is often used when expressing personal opinions or emotions.
‘-(으)ㅁ’ is more neutral and is commonly found in public notices or reports.
Example Sentences:
- 새로운 것을 배우는 것이 재미있어요. (Learning new things is fun).
- 이 영화를 보는 것이 감동적이에요. (Watching this movie is touching).
- 날씨가 더운 것이 불편해요. (The hot weather is uncomfortable).
- 같이 걷는 것이 기분 좋아요. (Walking together feels good).
- 아침에 커피를 마시는 것이 습관이에요. (Drinking coffee in the morning is a habit).
Objective Statement Equivalent:
- 새로운 지식 습득의 즐거움이 보고됨 (The enjoyment of acquiring new knowledge is reported).
- 해당 영화의 감동적 요소가 주목받음 (The touching elements of the movie are noted).
- 고온의 불쾌감이 관측됨 (Discomfort due to high temperatures is observed).
- 동반 산책의 긍정적 효과가 확인됨 (The positive effects of walking together are confirmed).
- 아침 커피 섭취의 습관화가 조사됨 (The habituation of morning coffee consumption is studied).
4. Common in Speech vs. Official Documents
‘는 것’ appears naturally in spoken Korean.
‘-(으)ㅁ’ is used in news reports, signs, and legal documents.
Example Sentences:
- 여기에 주차하는 것은 금지되어 있습니다 (Parking here is prohibited).
- 이 제품을 사용하는 것이 편리합니다 (Using this product is convenient).
- 방문하는 것이 가능합니다 (Visiting is possible).
- 수업을 듣는 것이 중요합니다 (Attending class is important).
- 서류를 제출하는 것이 필요합니다 (Submitting documents is necessary).
Formal Sign Equivalent:
- 주차가 금지됨 (Parking is prohibited).
- 본 제품 사용이 편리함 (Using this product is convenient).
- 방문이 가능함 (Visiting is possible).
- 수업 참여가 중요함 (Attending class is important).
- 서류 제출이 필수임 (Submitting documents is necessary).
5. Used in Speech vs. Found in Titles & Summaries
‘는 것’ is used in everyday explanations.
‘-(으)ㅁ’ is used in headlines, reports, and research papers.
Example Sentences:
- 문제를 해결하는 것이 중요하다 (Solving the problem is important).
- 규칙을 따르는 것이 필요하다 (Following the rules is necessary).
- 건강을 지키는 것이 최우선이다 (Protecting health is the top priority).
- 계획을 세우는 것이 도움이 된다 (Making a plan is helpful).
- 데이터를 분석하는 것이 필수적이다 (Analyzing data is essential).
Headline & Report Equivalent:
- 문제 해결이 중요함 (Solving the problem is important).
- 규칙 준수가 필수임 (Following the rules is necessary).
- 건강 유지가 최우선임 (Protecting health is the top priority).
- 계획 수립이 유익함 (Making a plan is beneficial).
- 데이터 분석이 필수임 (Analyzing data is essential).
Summary of Differences
| Comparison Point | ‘는 것’ (Common & Conversational) | ‘-(으)ㅁ’ (Formal & Concise) |
| Usage | Daily speech, casual writing | Official writing, signs, reports |
| Focus | Action or process | Concept or result |
| Tone | Personal, subjective | Objective, neutral |
| Common In | Conversations, informal essays | News, legal documents, academic papers |
| Example | 공부하는 것이 중요하다(Studying is important) | 공부함이 중요함 (Studying is important) |
4. Key Points to Remember
- Action vs. Concept – ‘는 것’ focuses on the process, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ emphasizes the result or concept.
- Casual vs. Formal – ‘는 것’ is used in daily conversation, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ appears in formal writing.
- Subjective vs. Objective – ‘는 것’ is often personal, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ is neutral and factual.
- Spoken vs. Written – ‘는 것’ is common in speech, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ is used in documents, reports, and signs.
- Different Sentence Structures – ‘는 것’ changes with tense, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ is mostly fixed as a noun form.
5. Practice Exercises
- 매일 운동(하는 것 / 함)이 건강에 좋아요. (Exercising daily is good for health.)
- 이 연구는 명상(하는 것 / 함)의 효과를 분석해요. (This study analyzes the effects of meditation.)
- 친구와 대화(하는 것 / 함)이 스트레스를 줄여요. (Talking with friends reduces stress.)
- 환경 (보호하는 것 / 보호함) 의 중요성 (The importance of environmental protection)
- 아침에 일찍 일어나(는 것 / 음)이 하루를 생산적으로 만들어요. (Waking up early in the morning makes your day productive.)
- 안전한 도로 이용의 필요성 (강조하는 것 / 강조됨) (The importance of safe road use being emphasized)
- 새로운 기술을 배우(는 것 / 음)이 경쟁력을 높여요. (Learning new skills increases competitiveness.)
- 환경 보호 활동의 필수성 (요구하는 것 / 요구됨) (The necessity of environmental protection activities being required)
- 규칙적으로 식사(하는 것 / 함)이 건강 유지에 중요해요. (Eating regularly is important for maintaining health.)
- 공공 장소에서의 예절 지키기 중요성이 (강조되는 것 / 강조됨) (The importance of keeping etiquette in public places being emphasized)
6. Answers
- 매일 운동하는 것이 건강에 좋아요.
- 이 연구는 명상하는 것의 효과를 분석해요.
- 친구와 대화하는 것이 스트레스를 줄여요.
- 환경 보호함의 중요성
- 아침에 일찍 일어나는 것이 하루를 생산적으로 만들어요.
- 안전한 도로 이용의 필요성 강조됨
- 새로운 기술을 배우는 것이 경쟁력을 높여요.
- 환경 보호 활동의 필수성 요구됨
- 규칙적으로 식사하는 것이 건강 유지에 중요해요.
- 공공 장소에서의 예절 지키기 중요성이 강조됨
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-(으)ㅁ’ in casual conversation
Incorrect: 나는 독서를 함을 좋아해. ❌ (I like reading.)
Correct: 나는 독서하는 것을 좋아해. ✅ (I like reading.)
💡 Tip: ‘-(으)ㅁ’ sounds too rigid for daily speech. Use ‘는 것’ in everyday conversations.
Both ‘는 것’ and ‘-(으)ㅁ’ nominalize verbs but serve different functions. ‘는 것’ is used in daily conversation, while ‘-(으)ㅁ’ appears in formal contexts. Understanding their differences will improve your Korean writing and speaking skills.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Replacing abstract nouns with ‘는 것’
Incorrect: 행복하는 것이 중요하다. ❌ (Happiness is important.)
Correct: 행복함이 중요하다. ✅ (Happiness is important.)
💡 Tip: When referring to abstract concepts like happiness (행복함), trust (신뢰함), or change (변화함), use ‘-(으)ㅁ’ instead of ‘는 것’.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Forgetting subject markers with ‘-(으)ㅁ’
Incorrect: 이해함 중요하다. ❌ (Understanding is important.)
Correct: 이해함이 중요하다. ✅ (Understanding is important.)
💡 Tip: ‘-(으)ㅁ’ functions as a noun, so it requires subject markers like ‘이/가’ for grammatical correctness.
⚠️ Mistake 5: Misusing Tense with ‘-(으)ㅁ’
Incorrect: 그는 내일 회의에 참석했음이 중요하다. ❌
(It is important that he attended the meeting tomorrow.)
Correct: 그는 내일 회의에 참석함이 중요하다. ✅
(It is important that he attend the meeting tomorrow.)
💡 Tip: The ‘-(으)ㅁ’ form does not indicate tense. When expressing past or future actions, don’t add tense to the ‘-(으)ㅁ’ form itself. Instead, use time expressions in other parts of the sentence if necessary. The ‘-(으)ㅁ’ form represents the action or state in its basic, tenseless form.