Noun Clauses

Korean Grammar 3

Course 3 Β· Chapter 11 Β· Noun Clauses and Nominalisation in Depth

πŸ“¦ Noun Clauses and Nominalisation β€” λͺ…μ‚¬μ ˆ

A noun clause turns a whole clause into something that can act like a noun: the subject, object or topic of a larger sentence ("reading is fun", "I know that he left", "I wonder whether it is true"). Korean Grammar 2 introduced -λŠ” 것 and the modifiers. This chapter completes the picture with the three nominalisers (-κΈ°, -(으)ㅁ, -λŠ” 것) and four patterns built on noun clauses (-(으)γ„΄ 적, -λŠ” 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€ / λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€, -λ‹€λŠ” 것, -(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€).

The rule in one box -λŠ” 것: the general-purpose nominaliser; names a specific event or fact. -κΈ°: names an action as an idea or a task; chosen by certain predicates (쉽닀, μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€, μ‹œμž‘ν•˜λ‹€β€¦). -(으)ㅁ: a written, notice-style nominaliser that also forms many fixed nouns (기쁨, 꿈, μ‚Ά). The other four patterns each turn a clause into a noun for a particular job: experience (-(으)γ„΄ 적), belief (-λŠ” 쀄), reported fact (-λ‹€λŠ” 것), and indirect question (-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€).

-λŠ” 것: the general nominaliser

TenseVerbAdjective
present-λŠ” 것 (λ¨ΉλŠ” 것)-(으)γ„΄ 것 (큰 것)
past-(으)γ„΄ 것 (먹은 것)-μ•˜/μ—ˆλ˜ 것
future, supposition-(으)γ„Ή 것 (먹을 것)-(으)γ„Ή 것

In speech 것 is often shortened to κ±°: λ¨ΉλŠ” κ±°, 쒋은 κ±°.

ExampleMeaning
μ €λŠ” 책을 μ½λŠ” 것을 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”.I like reading books.
μ•„λŠ” 것이 νž˜μ΄λ‹€.Knowledge is power. (What one knows is strength.)
κ·Έκ°€ λ– λ‚œ 것을 λͺ°λžμ–΄μš”.I didn't know that he had left.

-κΈ°: the action as a task or idea

Stem + -κΈ° (the same ending in -κΈ° 전에, -κΈ° λ•Œλ¬Έμ—, -κΈ° μœ„ν•΄μ„œ, -기둜 ν•˜λ‹€) turns a verb into a noun. Certain predicates ask for it:

PredicateExampleMeaning
쉽닀 / μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€ / νž˜λ“€λ‹€ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λŠ” λ°°μš°κΈ°κ°€ μ–΄λ €μ›Œμš”.Korean is hard to learn.
μ’‹λ‹€ / νŽΈν•˜λ‹€ / λΆˆνŽΈν•˜λ‹€μ΄ μ‹ λ°œμ€ κ±·κΈ° νŽΈν•΄μš”.These shoes are comfortable to walk in.
μ‹œμž‘ν•˜λ‹€λΉ„κ°€ 였기 μ‹œμž‘ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.It started to rain.
-기둜 ν•˜λ‹€λ‚΄μΌ λ§Œλ‚˜κΈ°λ‘œ ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.We decided to meet tomorrow.
λ°”λΌλ‹€κ±΄κ°•ν•˜μ‹œκΈ°λ₯Ό λ°”λžλ‹ˆλ‹€.I hope you stay healthy.

Many skills and activities have set names with -κΈ°: λ§ν•˜κΈ° speaking, λ“£κΈ° listening, 읽기 reading, μ“°κΈ° writing, 달리기 running. You see them as headings in Korean textbooks.

-(으)ㅁ: written and fixed nouns

Stem + -(으)ㅁ (vowel stems: -ㅁ) is used in written notices, notes and headlines, and in the formal "that" clause with μ•Œλ‹€. It also forms many ordinary nouns that you must simply learn.

Verb or adjectiveNounMeaning
κΈ°μ˜λ‹€κΈ°μ¨joy
μŠ¬ν”„λ‹€μŠ¬ν””sorrow
κΎΈλ‹€ (κΏˆμ„ κΎΈλ‹€)꿈dream
μ‚΄λ‹€μ‚Άlife
μ£½λ‹€μ£½μŒdeath
λ―Ώλ‹€λ―ΏμŒbelief, faith

In notes and notices it can end a sentence: νšŒμ˜λŠ” μ˜€ν›„ μ„Έ μ‹œμ— 있음. "The meeting is at 3 p.m." It also takes tense: κ·Έκ°€ λ– λ‚¬μŒμ„ μ•Œμ•˜λ‹€ "I learned that he had left" (written).

-(으)γ„΄ 적이 μžˆλ‹€: have done before

적 means "an occasion". Past modifier + 적이 μžˆλ‹€ / μ—†λ‹€ reports experience.

ExampleMeaning
ν•œκ΅­μ— κ°„ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”.I have been to Korea.
κΉ€μΉ˜λ₯Ό λ§Œλ“€μ–΄ λ³Έ 적이 μ—†μ–΄μš”.I have never made kimchi.
κ·Έ μ˜ν™”λ₯Ό λ³Έ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”?Have you seen that film?

-λŠ” 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€ / λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€: belief and ability

With a modifier ending in -λŠ” / -(으)γ„΄, 쀄 expresses what you thought to be the case. μ•Œμ•˜λ‹€ often means the belief proved wrong; λͺ°λžλ‹€ means you did not realise.

PatternExampleMeaning
-λŠ” 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜λ‹€λ„€κ°€ 집에 μžˆλŠ” 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”.I thought you were at home (but you were not).
-λŠ” 쀄 λͺ°λžλ‹€λ„€κ°€ 온 쀄 λͺ°λžμ–΄μš”.I didn't realise you had come.
noun + 인 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜λ‹€κ·Έκ°€ 학생인 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”.I thought he was a student.

With -(으)γ„Ή 쀄 the meaning changes to know how to:

ExampleMeaning
μš΄μ „ν•  쀄 μ•Œμ•„μš”.I know how to drive.
ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό 말할 쀄 λͺ°λΌμš”.I don't know how to speak Korean.

-λ‹€λŠ” 것: the reported fact

Plain form + -λ‹€λŠ” 것 (from the quotation, Korean Grammar 2) names a fact or statement as a noun: κ·Έκ°€ 거짓말을 ν–ˆλ‹€λŠ” 것을 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš” "I found out that he had lied." It often goes with 사싀 or 점: ν•œκ΅­μ–΄κ°€ μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€λŠ” 사싀, μ€‘μš”ν•˜λ‹€λŠ” 점.

-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€: indirect questions

This turns a question into a noun clause: "whether" or "how/when/where…". The ending depends on word type and tense.

TypeFormExample
verb, present-λŠ”μ§€κ·Έκ°€ 어디에 μ‚¬λŠ”μ§€ μ•Œμ•„μš”? Do you know where he lives?
adjective, present-(으)γ„΄μ§€μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ 큰지 λͺ°λΌμš”. I don't know how big it is.
past-μ•˜/μ—ˆλŠ”μ§€μ–Έμ œ μ™”λŠ”μ§€ λͺ¨λ₯΄κ² μ–΄μš”. I don't know when he came.
nounμΈμ§€λˆ„κ΅¬μΈμ§€ μ•Œκ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”. I want to know who it is.

Choosing a nominaliser

SituationUse
Everyday: "I like doing X", "that he left"-λŠ” 것
With 쉽닀 / μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€ / νŽΈν•˜λ‹€, μ‹œμž‘ν•˜λ‹€, -기둜 ν•˜λ‹€, 바라닀-κΈ°
Skills and names (λ§ν•˜κΈ°, μ“°κΈ°)-κΈ° noun
Written notes, notices, fixed nouns (기쁨, μ‚Ά)-(으)ㅁ
Experience-(으)γ„΄ 적
Mistaken belief / know how to-λŠ” 쀄 / -(으)γ„Ή 쀄
"Whether / how / when"-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€
Watch out: the same sentence, two nominalisers Several sentences work with either: μ½λŠ” 것을 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš” and 읽기λ₯Ό μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš” both mean "I like reading". The predicate often settles it: with 쉽닀 / μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€ and -기둜 ν•˜λ‹€ prefer -κΈ°; with μ•Œλ‹€ in speech prefer -λŠ” 것; in a formal document prefer -(으)ㅁ. When unsure, -λŠ” 것 is the safest choice.
Watch out: -(으)γ„Ή 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€ and -(으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€ μš΄μ „ν•  쀄 μ•Œμ•„μš” says you know how to drive (a learned skill); μš΄μ „ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš” says you can drive (ability or permission, perhaps today). 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€ is about knowledge of how; 수 μžˆλ‹€ is about possibility.

πŸ—£οΈ In Use β€” μ‹€μ œ 예문

Three exchanges with noun clauses.

β‘  Experience (-(으)γ„΄ 적)

A: μ œμ£Όλ„μ— κ°€ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”? Have you ever been to Jeju?
B: μ•„λ‹ˆμš”, 아직 κ°„ 적이 μ—†μ–΄μš”. No, I've never been.

β‘‘ A mistaken belief (-λŠ” 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜λ‹€)

A: μ–΄, 아직 μ•ˆ κ°”μ–΄μš”? 벌써 κ°„ 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”. Oh, haven't you left yet? I thought you'd gone already.
B: μ•„λ‹ˆμš”, μ§€κΈˆ κ°€λ €κ³  ν•΄μš”. No, I am about to go now.

β‘’ An indirect question (-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€)

A: νšŒμ˜κ°€ λͺ‡ μ‹œμ— μ‹œμž‘ν•˜λŠ”μ§€ μ•„μ„Έμš”? Do you know what time the meeting starts?
B: 잘 λͺ¨λ₯΄κ² μ–΄μš”. ν•œλ²ˆ λ¬Όμ–΄λ³Όκ²Œμš”. I'm not sure. I'll ask.

πŸ“‹ Quick Reference β€” μš”μ•½ν‘œ

PatternMeaningExample
-λŠ” 것general nominaliserμ½λŠ” 것을 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”
-κΈ°task or ideaλ°°μš°κΈ°κ°€ μ–΄λ €μ›Œμš”
-(으)ㅁwritten, fixed nouns기쁨, 꿈, μ‚Ά
-(으)γ„΄ 적이 μžˆλ‹€experienceκ°„ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”
-λŠ” 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€/λͺ¨λ₯΄λ‹€belief온 쀄 λͺ°λžμ–΄μš”
-(으)γ„Ή 쀄 μ•Œλ‹€know how toμš΄μ „ν•  쀄 μ•Œμ•„μš”
-λ‹€λŠ” 것reported factν–ˆλ‹€λŠ” 것을 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”
-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€whether, how, when어디에 μ‚¬λŠ”μ§€ μ•Œμ•„μš”?

✏️ Try It Yourself β€” μ—°μŠ΅

Work out the answer first, then click to check.

1. Say "I like watching films" with -λŠ” 것.

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μ €λŠ” μ˜ν™”λ₯Ό λ³΄λŠ” 것을 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”.

2. Say "Korean is hard to learn" with -κΈ°.

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ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λŠ” λ°°μš°κΈ°κ°€ μ–΄λ €μ›Œμš”.

3. Give the nouns made from κΈ°μ˜λ‹€, μŠ¬ν”„λ‹€, μ‚΄λ‹€.

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기쁨 Β· μŠ¬ν”” Β· μ‚Ά

4. Say "I have never eaten raw octopus."

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산낙지λ₯Ό 먹은 적이 μ—†μ–΄μš”.

5. Say "I thought it was a holiday" (it was not).

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휴일인 쀄 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”.

6. What is the difference between μˆ˜μ˜ν•  쀄 μ•Œμ•„μš” and μˆ˜μ˜ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?

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The first says you know how to swim (a learned skill). The second says you can swim (ability or possibility, maybe today).

7. Say "I found out that he is a teacher" with -λ‹€λŠ” 것.

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κ·Έκ°€ μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄λΌλŠ” 것을 μ•Œμ•˜μ–΄μš”.

8. Say "Do you know where the station is?" with -(으)γ„΄/λŠ”μ§€.

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역이 어디에 μžˆλŠ”μ§€ μ•„μ„Έμš”?

9. Which nominaliser would you pick for a notice: "The meeting is at 3 o'clock"?

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-(으)ㅁ: νšŒμ˜λŠ” μ„Έ μ‹œμ— 있음.

Coming up in Chapter 12: Putting It Together. The final chapter builds one long sentence clause by clause, gives a decision procedure for the whole course, runs an error-spotting clinic, and ends with the Course Complete recap and a pointer to Korean Grammar 4.