-는/ㄹ
Verb Noun Modifier
Turns verbs into adjectives to describe nouns. Use -는 for present tense actions and -(으)ㄹ for future tense actions.
How It Works
This grammar pattern is essential for creating more descriptive sentences. It attaches to action verb stems to modify a following noun, similar to 'who', 'which', or 'that' in English.
There are two main forms you'll learn at this level:
1. Present Tense: -는
This form describes an action that is currently happening. It attaches to the verb stem regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹는 사람 (the person who is eating)
- 가다 (to go) → 가는 버스 (the bus that is going)
2. Future Tense/Possibility: -(으)ㄹ
This form describes an action that will happen in the future, or something that can be done. The rule depends on the verb stem's ending:
- Use -ㄹ after a stem ending in a vowel.
보다 (to see/watch) → 볼 영화 (a movie to watch) - Use -을 after a stem ending in a consonant.
읽다 (to read) → 읽을 책 (a book to read)
This is different from the modifier for adjectives, which is -ㄴ/은.
Examples (4)
- 지금 읽는 책이 재미있어요.
The book I'm reading now is interesting.
Word by Word: Now reading book is interesting.
- 저기 가는 사람이 제 친구예요.
The person going over there is my friend.
Word by Word: Over there going person my friend is.
- 내일 먹을 음식을 샀어요.
I bought food to eat tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow to eat food bought.
- 주말에 볼 영화를 추천해 주세요.
Please recommend a movie to watch this weekend.
Word by Word: Weekend on to watch movie recommend please give.
Common Mistakes
Using the verb modifier -는 with adjectives.
Not Quite예쁘는 여자Better예쁜 여자Adjectives use the -ㄴ/은 modifier to describe nouns, not -는. The ending -는 is only for action verbs in the present tense.
Using the past tense marker -았/었- before -는.
Not Quite어제 먹었는 빵이 맛있었어요.Better어제 먹은 빵이 맛있었어요.To describe a past action, you use a different modifier, -ㄴ/은. The present tense modifier -는 cannot be combined with the past tense marker.
Learn This First
To use verb noun modifiers, you need to understand verb conjugation patterns.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
This is the adjective equivalent of -는/ㄹ. While -는/ㄹ modifies nouns with verbs (actions), -ㄴ/은 modifies nouns with adjectives (descriptions).
- Verb stems
Understanding how to find the verb stem is essential because -는 and -(으)ㄹ attach directly to it.
- -는 것Thing of -ing
This pattern uses the same -는 modifier but combines it with the noun '것' (thing) to turn an entire verb phrase into a noun, like 'the act of doing something'.
- -(으)ㄹ 거(예요/야)Will, Probably
This future tense ending also uses the -(으)ㄹ modifier. It's essentially -(으)ㄹ modifying the noun '거' (a contraction of '것', thing) to mean 'the thing that will happen'.