#I did it @happyinjun haha

[asyastudieskorean]

~는 것(을/이) — Making a verb into a subject/object

안녕하세요~ Since I've done nothing of substance during my winter break so far, I thought I'd take the chance to review ~는 것(을/이) with you all and teach you if you're not familiar with this grammar point yet. 그럼 우리는 같이 배울까요?

~는 것(을/이) is for making a verb into a noun/subject/object of a sentence.

For instance, you can change “저는 읽어요” (I read) to “저는 읽는 것을 좋아해요”(I like reading).

In the first sentence, “read” is the verb; in the second, “like” is the verb. "Read" has been turned into the object of the verb "like."

Form

~는 것 is attached directly to the verb stem (the verb you’re making into the noun/object of the sentence):

(To see) 보다 ➡️ 보는 것 (To go) 가다 ➡️ 가는 것 (To hear/listen) 듣다 ➡️ 듣는 것 (To walk) 걷다 ➡️ 걷는 것

The only irregular are ㄹ* verbs, for which you drop the ㄹ in the verb stem and conjugate as normal like other verbs:

(To live) 살다 ➡️ 사는 것 (To open) 열다 ➡️ 여는 것 (To make) 만들다 ➡️ 만드는 것

Easy-peasy, 그죠?

Now that you know how to conjugate the verb, in sentence form, either an object marker (을/를) or a subject marker (이/가) must be attached to 것.

Note that you’d only ever use 을 or 이 because 것 ends in a consonant. 를/가 are for words ending in vowels.

~는 것을 versus ~는 것이

When to use which was actually the most confusing part for me learning this grammar point, lol, but this is how my 선생님 explained it:

Use ~는 것이 when the verb that follows is an adjective (descriptive).

드라마를 보는 것이 재미있어요. Watching drama is fun. 단어를 외우는 것이 어려워요. Memorizing vocabulary is difficult.

*Something being fun or difficult is descriptive.

Verb examples: 어려워요 / 쉬워요 / 좋아요 / 싫어요 / 재미있어요 / 맛있어요.

Use ~는 것을 when the verb that follows is a verb (action).

저는 청소하는 것을 좋아해요. I like cleaning. 설거지하는 것을 싫어해요. I don’t like doing the dishes.

*Liking or not liking something is an action.

Verb examples: 좋아해요 / 싫어해요 / 먹어요 / 읽어요 / 들어요.

Of course, all these examples are pretty basic. They're all in present tense, 요 form, but this grammar point can be used in many more ways, such as in questions, different levels of formality, and different verb tenses/forms. Generally speaking, the conjugation rules will be the same.

For instance, look here:

제가 말하는 것을 듣고 있어요? Are you listening to what I am saying?

Same concept, but a bit different in sentence format (it uses the present progressive form (~ing) and is a question, but the same rules apply when changing 말하다 to 말하는 것을.)

And, yes, this rule of when to use the object marker (을/를) or subject marker (이/가) applies beyond this specific grammar point:

문법이 쉬어요. The grammar is easy. 한국어를 좋아해요. I like Korean.

Lastly, ~는 것이 can be shortened to ~는 게 and ~는 것을 to ~는 거 in speech and writing.

*ㄹ is pronounced “리을“ if you are speaking about the hangul letter.

If you want to give it a go in this post's notes, go for it! It can be any random sentence, just for the sake of practice. Of course, you can always send me an ask or message me directly if you want to practice Korean. I'm a bit slow on replying these days since it is my winter break, but I always reply eventually! Let's keep studying together~ 화이팅!