-ㄴ/는/ㄹ

Modifier Endings

ਪੱਧਰ 2ਉਚਾਰਨ neun

Use -ㄴ/은, -는, or -ㄹ/을 to make verbs and adjectives describe nouns. This is how you say things like 'the person who is running', 'the book I read', or 'the food I will eat'.

ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ

In Korean, you can modify a noun by placing a verb or adjective with a special ending directly before it. This is similar to using relative clauses in English (e.g., 'the man who...'). The ending changes based on tense and word type.

1. Action Verbs

Past Tense (-ㄴ/은): Describes a completed action.
- Attaches -은 to stems ending in a consonant: 먹다 → 먹은 (eaten)
- Attaches -ㄴ to stems ending in a vowel: 가다 → 간 (went)
- Example: 제가 읽은 책 (the book that I read)
Present Tense (-는): Describes an ongoing action.
- Attaches -는 to all action verb stems.
- Example: 지금 읽는 책 (the book that I am reading now)
Future Tense (-ㄹ/을): Describes an action that will happen.
- Attaches -을 to stems ending in a consonant: 먹다 → 먹을 (will eat)
- Attaches -ㄹ to stems ending in a vowel: 가다 → 갈 (will go)
- Example: 내일 읽을 책 (the book that I will read tomorrow)

2. Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)

Present Tense (-ㄴ/은): Describes a current state or quality. Note: This is the same form as the past tense for action verbs, but for adjectives, it indicates the present.
- Attaches -은 to stems ending in a consonant: 좋다 → 좋은 (good)
- Attaches -ㄴ to stems ending in a vowel: 예쁘다 → 예쁜 (pretty)
- Example: 예쁜 옷 (a pretty dress)
Future Tense (-ㄹ/을): Describes a future state or quality.
- Attaches -을 to stems ending in a consonant: 좋다 → 좋을 (will be good)
- Attaches -ㄹ to stems ending in a vowel: 예쁘다 → 예쁠 (will be pretty)
- Example: 파티에 좋을 생각 (an idea that will be good for the party)

Important Note on 있다/없다:
When used as modifiers, 있다 (to exist/be interesting) and 없다 (to not exist/be uninteresting) behave like action verbs in the present tense and always take -는.

재미있다 → 재미있는 영화 (an interesting movie)
맛없다 → 맛없는 음식 (tasteless food)

ਉਦਾਹਰਣਾਂ (5)

지금 읽는 책은 아주 재미있어요.
The book I'm reading now is very interesting.
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: Now reading book-topic very is-interesting.
읽다 (to read) is an action verb. The present tense modifier -는 is used to describe the noun 책 (book).
어제 본 영화의 제목이 뭐예요?
What is the title of the movie you saw yesterday?
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: Yesterday saw movie's title what is it?
보다 (to see) is an action verb. The past tense modifier -ㄴ is attached to the stem 보- to describe 영화 (movie).
주말에 갈 곳을 정했어요?
Have you decided on a place to go this weekend?
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: Weekend-on go place-object decided?
가다 (to go) is an action verb. The future tense modifier -ㄹ is attached to the stem 가- to describe 곳 (place).
저는 키가 큰 사람을 좋아해요.
I like tall people.
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: I-topic height-subject big person-object like.
크다 (to be big/tall) is an adjective. The present tense modifier -ㄴ is used to describe 사람 (person).
이것보다 더 좋은 방법이 있어요?
Is there a better method than this?
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ: This-than more good method-subject exists?
좋다 (to be good) is an adjective with a consonant stem. The present tense modifier -은 is used to describe 방법 (method).

ਆਮ ਗਲਤੀਆਂ

Using -는 with adjectives in the present tense.
예쁘는 여자
예쁜 여자
For present tense modifiers, adjectives (descriptive verbs) use -ㄴ/은, not -는. The ending -는 is only for action verbs in the present tense.
Adding the past tense marker -았/었- before the modifier ending.
제가 먹었는 빵
제가 먹은 빵
The past tense is already included in the -ㄴ/은 ending for action verbs. You do not need to add the separate past tense marker -았/었-.
Using -은 with 있다/없다 for present tense.
재미있은 영화
재미있는 영화
When modifying nouns in the present tense, 있다 and 없다 always take -는, like action verbs, not -은.