Describing Verbs

How to use descriptive verbs (김치가 맛있어요.) and how to use descriptive verbs as adjectives (맛있는 김치를 먹어요.) was covered in previous chapters. (Still need to write and add these to Unit 2).

Just as we can describe nouns we can also describe verbs. We need this for sentences such as “I like to swim” or “Learning Korean is difficult”. To do this we need to first turn these verbs into nouns using nominalization.

What is nominalization?

Nominalization means turning a verb into a noun.

There are two common ways to turn a verb into a noun:

Nominalization using 기

Action Verb Stem + 기

1. Get the verb stem of an action verb.
2. Attach 기.

For example:

• 하다 (to do) → 하기 (doing)
• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹기 (eating)

Example sentences:

• I like swimming. → 수영하기를 좋아해요.
• Learning Korean is difficult. → 한국어를 배우기가 어려워요.
• Practicing is important. → 연습하기가 중요해요.

Nominalization using 는 것

Action Verb Stem + 는 것

1. Get the verb stem of an action verb.
2. Attach 는 것. (This is the 것 from a previous chapter meaning “thing”)

For example:

• 하다 (to do) → 하는 것 (doing)
• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹는 것 (eating)

If the verb stem ends with a consonant ㄹ, remove it first. For example: 살다 (to live) → 사는 것 (living)

Example sentences:

• I like swimming. → 수영하는 것을 좋아해요.
• Learning Korean is difficult. → 한국어를 배우는 것이 어려워요.
• Practicing is important. → 연습하는 게 중요해요.

Differences between 기 and 는 것 forms

Both forms are used to change a verb into a noun and they can often have the same meaning. However, there are some slight differences.

For example, both of these sentences mean “Learning Korean is difficult”:

• 한국어를 배우기가 어려워요.
• 한국어를 배우는 것이 어려워요.

The 기 form often focuses on an activity in general. It is also commonly used with lists of actions or to-do items.

The 는 것 form is general and is commonly used in conversation. It can also refer to an action that someone observes:

• I saw my friend swimming. → 친구가 수영하는 것을 봤어요.

Some grammar forms only work with one of these.

Nominalization using (으)ㅁ

There is a third form which is less common than 기 and 는 것.

Verb Stem + (으)ㅁ

1. Get the verb stem.
2. Attach ㅁ after a vowel or ㄹ. Use 음 instead after another consonant.

For example:

• 하다 (to do) → 함
• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹음
• 살다 (to live) → 삶

This form is more common in formal writing, notices and records than in everyday conversation. For now just focus on being able to recognize it.

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Sources & References

• Billy Go’s Beginner Korean Course | #69: Describing Verbs