-ㄴ지/는지

Whether, If

Level 3Sounds Like ji neunji

-ㄴ지/는지 is an ending that embeds a question or a point of uncertainty into a larger sentence, similar to 'whether' or 'if' in English.

How It Works

-ㄴ지/는지 is a connective ending used to embed a clause of uncertainty or a question within a larger sentence. The embedded clause acts as the object of verbs related to knowing, thinking, asking, or perceiving.

Conjugation Rules:
The conjugation depends on the type of predicate and the tense.

1. Verbs (Present Tense):

  • Attach -는지 to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
  • 가다 (to go) → 가는지
  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹는지

2. Adjectives (Present Tense):

  • Attach -ㄴ지 to stems ending in a vowel.
  • 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁜지
  • Attach -은지 to stems ending in a consonant.
  • 작다 (to be small) → 작은지
  • Exception: For adjectives ending in -있다 or -없다, attach -는지.
  • 맛있다 (to be delicious) → 맛있는지
  • 재미없다 (to be not fun) → 재미없는지

3. Nouns (이다/아니다):

  • Attach -인지 to the noun.
  • 학생이다 (to be a student) → 학생인지
  • 의사이다 (to be a doctor) → 의사인지

4. Past Tense (-았/었-):

  • Attach -았/었는지 to the stem of any verb or adjective.
  • 했다 (did) → 했는지
  • 예뻤다 (was pretty) → 예뻤는지

5. Future/Conjecture (-겠- / -ㄹ 것):

  • For future uncertainty, the pattern -ㄹ지 is more commonly used.

This pattern is frequently used with question words like 누구 (who), 뭐 (what), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), 왜 (why), and 어떻게 (how). The question word appears within the embedded clause.

Important Note: Do not confuse -는지 (no space) with -ㄴ 지 (with a space). -ㄴ 지 means 'since' and refers to the time elapsed after an action.

Examples (5)

  1. 그 사람이 언제 오는지 알아요?

    Do you know when that person is coming?

    Word by Word: That person when comes do you know?

    The question '언제 와요?' (When are they coming?) is embedded into the larger sentence using -는지 with the verb 오다.

  2. 이 음식이 맛있는지 잘 모르겠어요.

    I'm not sure if this food is delicious.

    Word by Word: This food is delicious I don't know well.

    The adjective 맛있다 ends in -있다, so it conjugates with -는지, becoming 맛있는지 to express uncertainty about its taste.

  3. 저 분이 학생인지 선생님인지 헷갈려요.

    I'm confused whether that person is a student or a teacher.

    Word by Word: That person student is teacher is I'm confused.

    The noun 학생 is followed by -인지 to create a clause of uncertainty.

  4. 어제 누가 전화했는지 기억이 안 나요.

    I don't remember who called yesterday.

    Word by Word: Yesterday who called I don't remember.

    The past tense verb 전화했다 becomes 전화했는지 to embed the past event into the sentence.

  5. 시험이 얼마나 어려운지 궁금해요.

    I'm curious how difficult the exam is.

    Word by Word: The exam how difficult I'm curious.

    The adjective 어렵다 conjugates to 어려운지, combined with the question word 얼마나 (how).

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing -는지 (whether) with -ㄴ 지 (since).

    Not Quite한국에 온지 1년 됐어요.
    Better한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요.

    When talking about the time elapsed 'since' an action, you must put a space between the verb and 지. '온지' (incorrect) would mean 'whether I came'. '온 지' (correct) means 'since I came'.

  • Using the wrong conjugation for adjectives.

    Not Quite날씨가 좋는지 모르겠어요.
    Better날씨가 좋은지 모르겠어요.

    Adjectives use -(으)ㄴ지, not -는지. The stem of 좋다 ends in a consonant, so it becomes 좋은지.

  • Using a polite ending like -요 before -는지.

    Not Quite친구가 어디에 가요는지 몰라요.
    Better친구가 어디에 가는지 몰라요.

    The clause before -ㄴ지/는지 must end with the plain verb/adjective stem, not a conjugated sentence ending like -아/어요 or -ㅂ/습니다.

Learn This First

To form indirect questions 'whether/if', you need modifier forms and question knowledge.

Related Patterns

Words in This Pattern

-ㄴ지-는지
Practice -ㄴ지/는지 in BubblegumPoppy, your AI tutor, writes Korean lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.