B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 14

Describing Nouns and Creating Concepts

6 Règles totales
65 exemples
6 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Transform your Korean sentences from simple statements into rich, descriptive, and complex ideas.

  • Master noun modifiers to describe people, places, and things in any timeframe.
  • Convert verbs into nouns to express abstract concepts and habits.
  • Explain the purpose behind your actions using advanced connecting structures.
Master the art of description and unlock complex expression.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey friend! Ready to level up your Korean? In this chapter, you're going to learn how to make your sentences super descriptive. No more plain sentences! You'll master how to use verbs like adjectives to perfectly describe nouns – whether it's something happening *right now*, something that *already happened*, something that *will happen*, or even things you *used to do*. For example, imagine you want to say “the friend *who is coming*” or “that movie *I watched last night*.” This is exactly what you'll learn! Or maybe you want to say “reading books is great” – turning actions into concepts is key here. We'll start by describing things in the present tense, then move to the past and future. After that, we'll dive into how to turn any verb into a noun – like transforming “eat” into “eating.” Finally, you'll learn how to express the purpose of an action, like saying something is “for studying.” It's like unlocking a whole new level of expression! By the end of this chapter, you won't just be describing nouns; you'll be building complex ideas. You'll be able to confidently talk about “the book *you want to read*”, “the task *you need to do*”, or “the reason *why you are learning Korean*.” Your speaking will sound much more natural, you'll express your thoughts with greater precision, and you'll truly feel like a B1 Korean speaker. Ready? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use verb-based modifiers to describe specific nouns in past, present, and future contexts.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Nominalize actions to discuss hobbies and reasons using -는 것 and -기.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome, language adventurers, to a pivotal chapter in your Korean journey! If you've been yearning to add depth and nuance to your sentences, you're in the right place. This guide is designed for B1 Korean grammar learners ready to move beyond basic structures and truly express themselves.
We're diving deep into how to describe nouns with precision, transforming simple statements into rich, detailed observations. You’ll learn to use verbs like adjectives, allowing you to talk about
the friend *who is coming*
(오는 친구) or
the movie *I watched yesterday*
(어제 본 영화).
This chapter is crucial for elevating your Korean descriptive grammar. You’ll master various forms of noun modification – present, past, future, and even past habits – making your speech incredibly natural and engaging. Beyond just describing, we’ll also explore Korean nominalization, which is the fascinating process of turning actions into concepts.
Imagine saying
reading books is fun
(책 읽는 것이 재미있어요) or studying is important (공부하기는 중요해요). By the end, you'll not only describe *what* something is but also *why* it is, like
a tool *for studying*
(공부하기 위한 도구). This skill set is a hallmark of B1 Korean proficiency, enabling you to construct more complex ideas and convey your thoughts with clarity and confidence.
Get ready to unlock a whole new level of expression!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces several powerful grammar patterns that allow you to modify nouns with verbs and turn verbs into nouns. Let's break them down:
First, we have the Present Tense Modifiers: -는 for action verbs. This is like saying
who/which/that is doing [verb]
. For example, 읽는 책 (the book that is being read / the book one is reading) or 이야기하는 사람 (the person who is talking).
For descriptive verbs (adjectives), we use -ㄴ/은 directly, like 예쁜 꽃 (a pretty flower).
Next, the Past Tense Noun Modifier: -ㄴ/은. This attaches to action verbs to describe a noun that *was* affected by the action. For instance, 먹은 음식 (the food that was eaten) or 본 영화 (the movie that was seen/watched).
Then, the Future Noun Modifier: -ㄹ/을. This indicates something that *will* happen or needs to happen. Think of it as to do or
that will be done.
Examples include 갈 곳 (the place to go / the place one will go) or 할 일 (the work to do).
The Korean Past Habit Modifier: -던 expresses an action that *used to* happen repeatedly or continuously in the past. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the past action. For example, 살던 집 (the house I used to live in) or 자주 가던 카페 (the cafe I used to go to often).
Unlike -ㄴ/은, which marks a completed past action, -던 suggests a past action that was habitual or interrupted.
Now, let's turn actions into nouns. Turning Actions into Nouns (-는 것) is a versatile way to nominalize verbs. It literally means
the thing of doing [verb].
For instance, 한국어를 배우는 것 (the act of learning Korean / learning Korean) or 책을 읽는 것 (reading books).
Another form of Korean Nominalization: -기 also turns verbs into nouns, often used for general activities, abilities, or commands. For example, 읽기 (reading, as a skill or activity) or 쓰기 (writing). It's often used with verbs like to like or to dislike, or with expressions of ease/difficulty.
Finally, we have Purpose for Nouns: -기 위한. This structure expresses that something is
for the sake of doing [verb]
or for [verb]-ing. It combines -기 with 위하다 (to be for the sake of) and the modifier -ㄴ/은. So, 공부하기 위한 책 (a book for studying) or 여행하기 위한 돈 (money for traveling).
These patterns will dramatically enhance your ability to create descriptive and complex sentences.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    어제 먹는 밥은 맛있었어요.
    (The rice that is eating yesterday was delicious.)
✓ Correct:
어제 먹은 밥은 맛있었어요.
(The rice I ate yesterday was delicious.)
*Explanation:* When describing a noun with a past action, you must use the past tense modifier -ㄴ/은. -는 is for present actions.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    나는 살은 집이 그리워요.
    (I miss the house that was lived in.) (implies the house itself was lived in once and it's done, not a habit)
✓ Correct:
나는 살던 집이 그리워요.
(I miss the house I used to live in.)
*Explanation:* Use -던 to express a past habit or an action that occurred continuously or repeatedly in the past. -ㄴ/은 focuses on a completed action.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    읽는 것은 쉬워요.
    (Reading is easy.) (While not strictly wrong, often less natural for general ability)
✓ Correct:
읽기는 쉬워요.
(Reading is easy.)
*Explanation:* While both -는 것 and -기 can nominalize verbs, -기 is often preferred when talking about general activities, abilities, or when paired with verbs like 쉽다/어렵다 (easy/difficult), 좋다/싫다 (like/dislike).

Real Conversations

A

A

민수 씨, 어제 본 영화 어땠어요? (Min-su, how was the movie you watched yesterday?)
B

B

정말 좋았어요! 다시 보고 싶은 영화예요. (It was really good! It's a movie I want to watch again.)
A

A

이 책은 뭐예요? (What is this book?)
B

B

아, 이건 한국어 공부하기 위한 책이에요. (Oh, this is a book for studying Korean.)
A

A

대단하네요! 매일 공부하는 모습이 멋져요. (That's amazing! The way you study every day is cool.)
A

A

옛날에 자주 가던 식당이 있었는데, 요즘은 안 가요. (There was a restaurant I used to go to often in the past, but I don't go these days.)
B

B

왜요? 음식이 맛있는 곳이었어요? (Why not? Was it a place where the food was delicious?)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -는 것 and -기 for nominalization?

While both nominalize verbs, -는 것 often refers to a specific instance or a more concrete thing of an action, whereas -기 is frequently used for general activities, abilities, or when paired with adjectives like easy or difficult. For example, 수영하는 것 (the act of swimming) vs. 수영하기 (swimming as an activity/skill).

Q

Can -던 be used for actions that happened only once in the past?

Generally, no. -던 implies a repeated, habitual, or continuous action in the past that is now finished or interrupted. For a single, completed past action, you should use the past tense modifier -ㄴ/은.

Q

Is there a simpler way to say

the person who is running
than 뛰는 사람?

Not really with a single word that retains the same meaning. 뛰는 사람 is the most direct and natural way to say

the person who is running
using Korean noun modification. This structure is fundamental for descriptive sentences.

Cultural Context

These noun modifiers and nominalization patterns are the backbone of descriptive and complex sentences in Korean. You'll encounter them constantly in daily conversations, news articles, and K-dramas. Mastering them allows you to speak with greater precision and express nuanced ideas, a key characteristic of proficient B1 Korean speakers.
For instance, instead of just saying
I like to read,
a native speaker might naturally say 책 읽는 것을 좋아해요 (I like the act of reading books), or 읽기가 좋아요 (Reading is good/easy). Using -던 also adds a layer of nostalgia or personal history, making your storytelling richer. These structures are not just grammar rules; they are essential tools for effective and natural communication.

Exemples clés (8)

1

어제 본 영화가 진짜 재미있었어요.

Le film que j'ai regardé hier était vraiment amusant.

Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)
2

이게 제가 어제 인스타그램에 올린 사진이에요.

C'est la photo que j'ai postée sur Instagram hier.

Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)
3

제 취미는 영화를 보는 것이에요.

Mon hobby est de regarder des films.

Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)
4

한국어 공부하는 게 재미있어요.

Étudier le coréen est amusant.

Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)
5

한국어 말하기 연습을 해요.

Je m'entraîne à parler coréen.

Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)
6

오늘 할 일: 방 청소하기.

À faire aujourd'hui : ranger la chambre.

Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)
7

이것은 한국어를 배우기 위한 책입니다.

C'est un livre pour apprendre le coréen.

But pour les noms : Dans l'intention de (-기 위한)
8

살을 빼기 위한 식단을 짜고 있어요.

Je prépare un régime pour perdre du poids.

But pour les noms : Dans l'intention de (-기 위한)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Lis à l'envers !

Si une longue phrase te perd, trouve le dernier nom et remonte. «피자를 먹는 사람» devient : La personne (사람) qui mange (먹는) de la pizza (피자).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateurs au Présent : -는 (Le 'qui/que' pour les verbes d'action)
⚠️

Alerte Adjectifs

Attention : pour les verbes, ㄴ/은 exprime le passé, mais pour les adjectifs, c'est le présent ! «예쁜 사람» signifie une personne jolie maintenant.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)
💡

Le 'D' pour 'Déjà commencé'

Pense au 'D' de 던 comme 'Déjà en cours' ou 'Durée'. C'est parfait pour : «내가 읽던 책이야.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateur d'habitude passée en coréen : 'j'avais l'habitude de' (~던)
🎯

Contracte comme un pro

Si tu écris '는 것이' dans un SMS, tu vas avoir l'air d'un avocat ! Utilise toujours '게', '걸' ou '건' pour sonner naturel : «공부하는 게 재미있어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)

Vocabulaire clé (5)

읽다 (ikda) to read 가다 (gada) to go 공부 (gongbu) study 취미 (chwimi) hobby 영화 (yeonghwa) movie

Real-World Preview

coffee

Talking about Hobbies

Review Summary

  • Verb stem + 는 + Noun
  • Verb stem + ㄴ/은 + Noun
  • Verb stem + 던 + Noun
  • Verb stem + 는 것
  • Verb stem + 기
  • Verb stem + 기 위한 + Noun

Erreurs courantes

You used the past modifier instead of the present. Use -는 for current actions.

Wrong: 먹은 사람 (when meaning a person eating now)
Correct: 먹는 사람

Ensure you are modifying a noun with -기 위한. If you want to say 'in order to study', use -기 위해서.

Wrong: 공부하기 위한 것이에요
Correct: 공부하기 위한 것이에요 (or simply 공부하기 위해서)

-던 is strictly for past habits or interrupted past actions, not current ones.

Wrong: 읽던 책을 읽어요 (when meaning reading a book right now)
Correct: 읽는 책을 읽어요

Règles dans ce chapitre (6)

1

Modificateurs au Présent : -는 (Le 'qui/que' pour les verbes d'action)

B1
Pour décrire un nom avec une action au présent, colle simplement «-는» au radical du verbe. C'est ton outil pour dire qui ou que.
내가 자주 가는 카페야.
12 exemples
2

Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)

B1
Utilise ㄴ/은 pour transformer un verbe en adjectif au passé, comme pour dire le café bu ou le film vu.
어제 본 영화가 진짜 재미있었어요.
10 exemples
3

Modificateur d'habitude passée en coréen : 'j'avais l'habitude de' (~던)

B1
Utilise 던 pour parler d'une habitude passée ou d'un truc que t'avais commencé sans finir.
이게 내가 `마시던` 커피야.
10 exemples
4

Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)

B1
Utilise «는 것» pour transformer tes actions en noms. Ça te permet de les utiliser comme sujets ou objets avec les badges «게», «걸» ou «건».
제 취미는 영화를 보는 것이에요.
11 exemples
5

Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)

B1
Utilise ~기 pour transformer tes actions en concepts, idéal pour les
listes de tâches
, les "boutons d'appli
ou des structures comme
facile à".
한국어 말하기 연습을 해요.
12 exemples
6

But pour les noms : Dans l'intention de (-기 위한)

B1
Utilise -기 위한 pour transformer un verbe en une 'étiquette de but' pour le nom qui suit. «위한» (pour), «목표» (but).
이것은 한국어를 배우기 위한 책입니다.
10 exemples

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job! You are now equipped to describe your world in Korean. Keep practicing!

Write a journal entry about your past habits and current goals.

Continue to: Refining Context and Comparisons

Pratique rapide (10)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

제 취미는 춤추다 것이에요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 제 취미는 춤추는 것이에요.
Tu dois enlever le '다' et ajouter '는 것' au radical '춤추-'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase suivante.

Find and fix the mistake:

성공하기 위해 노력을 많이 했어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 성공하기 위한 노력을 많이 했어요.
Pour décrire le nom '노력' (effort), tu dois utiliser la forme adjectivale '-기 위한'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: But pour les noms : Dans l'intention de (-기 위한)

Quelle phrase décrit correctement 'les vêtements que j'ai fabriqués' ?

Choisis la bonne phrase pour 'les vêtements que j'ai fabriqués' :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 만든 옷
Pour les verbes en 'ㄹ' comme '만들다', on supprime le 'ㄹ' et on ajoute 'ㄴ'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)

Trouve l'erreur dans la structure grammaticale.

책을 읽기 때문에 조용히 해 주세요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 책을 읽기 위해서 조용히 해 주세요.
Le contexte compte ! '때문에' veut dire 'parce que', mais ici on veut le silence 'pour' lire. La structure pour 'dans le but de' est '~기 위해서'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)

Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte ?

Choisis la bonne forme nominalisée :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 밥을 먹는 것이 힘들어요.
Il doit y avoir un espace entre le '는' et le '것'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Transformer les actions en noms (는 것)

Complète la phrase avec le verbe '가다' (aller) au passé.

지난번에 ___ 식당이 어디예요?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 간
Comme l'action a eu lieu 'la dernière fois' (지난번에), on utilise le modificateur passé '간'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)

Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte ?

Choisis la phrase qui utilise correctement le modificateur de but :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 살을 빼기 위한 식단이 중요해요.
Dans cette structure, '식단' est le nom modifié, donc '-기 위한' est le lien correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: But pour les noms : Dans l'intention de (-기 위한)

Complète cette phrase de type 'liste de tâches'.

Plan du jour : ___ (Faire du sport)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 운동하기
Pour les listes et mémos, on utilise la forme nominale ~기. '운동하다' devient donc '운동하기'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)

Quelle phrase dit correctement 'C'est facile à apprendre' ?

Choisis la phrase naturelle :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 배우기 쉬워요.
La structure 'facile à [verbe]' utilise toujours '[radical] + 기 + 쉽다'. Donc '배우기 쉽다' est correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Nominalisation Coréenne : ~기 (Transformer les Verbes en Noms)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

내가 어제 먹는 피자가 맛있었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 어제 먹은 피자가 맛있었어요.
'어제' (hier) indique le passé, donc '먹는' (présent) doit devenir '먹은' (passé).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modificateur de nom au passé (ㄴ/은)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

En coréen, un verbe à l'infinitif ne peut pas toucher un nom. Il lui faut une 'colle', et -는 sert justement à lier l'action au nom : «먹는 음식».
Non ! -는 est réservé aux verbes d'action. Pour les adjectifs, on utilise -(으)ㄴ. On dira donc «큰 가방» (un grand sac) et pas «크는 가방».
Oui, mais cela signifie que la personne EST jolie (présent). Pour le passé, on utilise '던'. «예쁜 사람».
'먹은' est un passé simple. '먹었던' insiste sur une action terminée il y a longtemps ou une habitude passée. «내가 먹은 빵».
ㄴ c'est pour une action terminée. 던 c'est pour une habitude ou un truc pas fini. Par exemple : «본 영화» (vu) vs «보던 영화» (en train de regarder).
Oui ! Ça décrit un état qui était vrai mais qui a changé. «춥던 날씨» veut dire qu'il faisait froid, mais plus maintenant.
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