-ㄴ/는다는 것
The Fact That... (Quoted)
Turns a quoted sentence into a noun phrase, like 'the fact that [sentence]'.
How It Works
This grammar pattern is a powerful tool for embedding a complete statement within another sentence, treating that statement as a single noun concept. It emphasizes the content or fact of the statement.
Conjugation Rules:
The conjugation follows the rules for indirect quotation.
- Action Verbs: Verb stem + -ㄴ/는다는 것
- Stems ending in a vowel: Add -ㄴ다는 것 (e.g., 가다 → 간다는 것 - the fact that someone goes)
- Stems ending in a consonant: Add -는다는 것 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹는다는 것 - the fact that someone eats) - Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): Verb stem + -다는 것
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘다는 것 (the fact that something is pretty)
- 좋다 → 좋다는 것 (the fact that something is good) - Nouns + 이다: Noun + -(이)라는 것
- 학생이다 → 학생이라는 것 (the fact that someone is a student)
- 의사이다 → 의사라는 것 (the fact that someone is a doctor) - Past Tense: Verb stem + -았/었다는 것
- 갔다 → 갔다는 것 (the fact that someone went)
- 예뻤다 → 예뻤다는 것 (the fact that something was pretty)
This newly formed noun phrase can be followed by particles like 이/가 (subject), 을/를 (object), or 은/는 (topic). It is commonly used with verbs like 알다 (to know), 모르다 (to not know), 믿다 (to believe), 잊다 (to forget), and predicates like 사실이다 (to be a fact) or 중요하다 (to be important).
Examples (5)
- 매일 운동한다는 것은 건강에 아주 중요해요.
The fact that you exercise every day is very important for your health.
Word by Word: Every day exercising-the fact that for health very is important.
- 저는 그가 한국 사람이라는 것을 몰랐어요.
I didn't know (the fact) that he is Korean.
Word by Word: I he Korean person is-the fact that didn't know.
- 그녀가 시험에 합격했다는 것을 모두에게 알렸어요.
I informed everyone of the fact that she passed the exam.
Word by Word: She to the exam passed-the fact that to everyone informed.
- 사랑이 항상 아름답다는 것은 사실이 아니에요.
The fact that love is always beautiful is not true.
Word by Word: Love always beautiful-the fact that a fact is not.
- 사람들이 그 소문을 믿는다는 것이 놀라워요.
The fact that people believe that rumor is surprising.
Word by Word: People that rumor believe-the fact that is surprising.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -ㄴ/는다는 것 with the simpler nominalizer -는 것.
Different Meaning친구가 오는 것을 잊었어요.Better친구가 온다는 것을 잊었어요.While the incorrect example is grammatically valid, it has a different nuance. '오는 것을 잊었어요' means 'I forgot about my friend coming' (focusing on the action). '온다는 것을 잊었어요' means 'I forgot the fact/the news that my friend was coming' (focusing on the piece of information). Use -ㄴ/는다는 것 when you are treating the clause as a reported fact, piece of news, or a specific thought.
Using -는다는 것 with adjectives instead of -다는 것.
Not Quite날씨가 춥는다는 것을 들었어요.Better날씨가 춥다는 것을 들었어요.The present tense marker -는- is used for action verbs. For descriptive verbs (adjectives) like 춥다 (to be cold), you must use -다는 것 directly attached to the stem.
Learn This First
To turn reported statements into noun clauses, you need reported speech and nominalization.
Related Patterns
- -기Nominalizer
Another common nominalizer. While -기 and -는 것 can sometimes be interchangeable for simple actions, -ㄴ/는다는 것 is distinct because it always involves a quoted or reported idea, making the sentence about the information itself.
- -ㄴ지/는지Whether, If
This pattern is used for indirect questions, meaning 'whether/if...'. It's related because both patterns embed a clause within a larger sentence. -ㄴ/는다는 것 embeds a statement, while -ㄴ/는지 embeds a question (e.g., '그가 언제 오는지 몰라요' - I don't know when he is coming).