-ㄴ가/나
I Wonder, Is It?
A sentence ending that turns a statement into a self-directed question, like 'I wonder if...'. Use -ㄴ가 for adjectives and 이다, and -나 for verbs and 있다/없다.
How It Works
This ending expresses a question directed at oneself or a gentle, indirect question to others. It conveys a sense of wondering, pondering, or musing, similar to 'I wonder if...' or 'Is it...?' in English. It's less direct than a standard question ending like -아/어요?.
Conjugation Rules:
1. Adjectives and 이다/아니다 + -ㄴ가?
Attach -ㄴ가 to adjective stems and the copula 이다/아니다.
- Adjective stem ending in a vowel: 크다 (to be big) → 큰가?
- Adjective stem ending in a consonant: 작다 (to be small) → 작은가?
- Noun + 이다: 학생이다 (to be a student) → 학생인가?
- 아니다: 아니다 (to not be) → 아닌가?
2. Verbs and 있다/없다 + -나?
Attach -나 to verb stems and 있다/없다, regardless of the final vowel or consonant.
- Verb stem: 가다 (to go) → 가나?, 먹다 (to eat) → 먹나?
- 있다/없다: 재미있다 (to be fun) → 재미있나?, 없다 (to not exist) → 없나?
3. Past Tense
For past events, the conjugation depends on the word type:
- Verbs / 있다/없다 + -았/었나?: Attach the past tense marker -았/었- before -나.
Example: 하다 (to do) → 했나? (I wonder if they did it?), 있었다 → 있었나? (I wonder if there was?) - Adjectives + -았/었는가?: The standard form for past tense adjectives is to attach -았/었- followed by -는가.
Example: 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예뻤는가? (I wonder if it was pretty?), 좋다 (to be good) → 좋았는가? (I wonder if it was good?)
Note: In colloquial speech, it's also common to hear past tense adjectives conjugated like verbs with -았/었나? (e.g., 예뻤나?).
This pattern is often used in monologues or when thinking out loud. When asking another person, it softens the question, making it sound less demanding and more like you're pondering together.
Examples (5)
- 이 옷이 나한테 너무 작은가?
I wonder if these clothes are too small for me.
Word by Word: These clothes to me too are small?
작다 is an adjective, so it conjugates to 작은가?.
- 창밖에 비가 오나?
I wonder if it's raining outside the window.
Word by Word: Outside the window rain comes?
오다 is a verb, so it conjugates to 오나?.
- 저 사람이 새로운 선생님인가?
I wonder if that person is the new teacher.
Word by Word: That person new teacher is?
The noun 선생님 is combined with the copula 이다, so it becomes 선생님인가?.
- 그가 벌써 떠났나?
I wonder if he has already left.
Word by Word: He already left?
This shows the past tense usage with the verb 떠나다 becoming 떠났나?.
- 지갑에 돈이 충분히 있나?
I wonder if there's enough money in my wallet.
Word by Word: In the wallet money enough is there?
있다 conjugates with -나, becoming 있나?.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -ㄴ가 for verbs and -나 for adjectives.
Different Meaning날씨가 덥나?Better날씨가 더운가?The rule is -ㄴ가 for adjectives (like 덥다) and -나 for verbs. Remember 'Adjective = ㄴ가' and 'Verb = 나'.
Using -ㄴ가/나 for a direct, information-seeking question to a stranger.
Different Meaning실례합니다, 지금 몇 시인가?Better실례합니다, 지금 몇 시예요?While grammatically possible, -ㄴ가 sounds like you are musing to yourself. For asking for information directly, a standard question ending like -예요? is much more natural and polite.
Learn This First
To express wondering 'I wonder/is it?', you need modifier forms and question knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -나 보다It Seems/looks Like
Both patterns use -나. However, -나 보다 is used to make an assumption based on evidence ('비가 오나 봐요' - It looks like it's raining). In contrast, -나? is for wondering without necessarily having evidence ('비가 오나?' - I wonder if it's raining).
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ지 알다/모르다(Don't) Know If/whether
This pattern embeds a question to state knowledge or lack thereof ('비가 오는지 몰라요' - I don't know if it's raining). -ㄴ가/나 is the act of wondering itself, not a statement about knowing.
- -(으)ㄹ까Shall We, I Wonder
-ㄹ까 is used for wondering about future possibilities or making suggestions ('점심 뭐 먹을까?' - What shall we eat for lunch?). -ㄴ가/나 is typically used for wondering about present or past states or facts.
- -지?Right?
-지? is used to confirm something you already assume to be true ('오늘 춥지?' - It's cold today, right?). -ㄴ가/나 is used when you are genuinely uncertain and pondering the question.