Describing nouns
-(으)ㄴ, -는 and -(으)ㄹ before a noun.
Whatever describes a noun goes before it. Adjectives and verbs take a describing ending, and a whole clause can describe a noun this way, where English needs "who", "which" or "that".
Adjectives: -(으)ㄴ
| Adjective | Before a noun |
|---|---|
| 크다 to be big | 큰 집 keun jip a big house |
| 작다 to be small | 작은 방 jageun bang a small room |
| 좋다 to be good | 좋은 사람 joeun saram a good person |
| 예쁘다 to be pretty | 예쁜 꽃 yeppeun kkot a pretty flower |
| 덥다 to be hot | 더운 날 deoun nal a hot day |
| 길다 to be long | 긴 머리 gin meori long hair |
Irregular stems change as before a vowel: 덥다 → 더운, and ㄹ drops: 길다 → 긴. Adjectives made with 있다 and 없다 take -는: 맛있는 음식 "tasty food", 재미없는 영화 "a boring film".
Verbs: -는, -(으)ㄴ, -(으)ㄹ
A verb's describing ending shows when the action happens:
| Time | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now | -는 | 먹는 사람 the person eating |
| Past | -(으)ㄴ | 먹은 사람 the person who ate |
| Future or not yet | -(으)ㄹ | 먹을 음식 food to eat |
- jeogi noraehaneun sarami je chinguyeyo.The person singing over there is my friend.
- eoje bon yeonghwaga jaemiisseosseoyo.The film I saw yesterday was good.
- naeil hal iri manayo.I have a lot to do tomorrow.
Whole clauses
A describing clause keeps Korean order, with its verb last, just before the noun. Its subject takes 이/가:
- jega eoje san chaegieyo.It's the book I bought yesterday.
- hangugeoreul gareuchineun seonsaengnima teacher who teaches Korean
이다
With 이다, the describing form is 인: 학생인 동생 "my younger brother, who is a student".
Patterns built on describing forms
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 때 | when | 어릴 때 when I was little |
| -(으)ㄴ 후에 | after | 밥을 먹은 후에 after eating |
| -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 | to have ever done | 가 본 적이 있어요 I've been |
| -는 것, -는 거 | doing (as a noun) | 요리하는 거 cooking |
- jeoneun yorihaneun geoseul joahaeyo.I like cooking.
- hanguge ga bon jeogi isseoyo?Have you ever been to Korea?
"Before" uses a different ending, -기 전에: 자기 전에 "before sleeping".
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Joining and describing cards.
How do you say 'a big house' with 크다 (to be big)?
큰 집.
How do you say 'a good person' with 좋다?
좋은 사람.
How do you say 'tasty food' with 맛있다?
맛있는 음식.
How do you say 'the person (who is) eating' with 먹다?
먹는 사람.
How do you say 'the film I saw' with 보다 (to see)?
본 영화.
How do you say 'work to do' with 하다 and 일?
할 일.
How do you say 'long hair' with 길다 (to be long)?
긴 머리.
How do you say 'when I was little' with 어리다 (to be young)?
어릴 때.
How do you ask 'Have you ever been to Korea?'
한국에 가 본 적이 있어요?
How do you say 'I like cooking' with 요리하다?
요리하는 것을 좋아해요.