B1 Reported Speech 12 min read Medium

Reporting Questions: '...asked if...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)

This pattern turns a direct question into a reported one, acting as the Korean equivalent of '...asked if...'.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use '-(느)냐고 묻다' to report a question someone else asked, turning the direct question into an indirect statement.

  • For verbs, use -느냐고 묻다: '밥을 먹느냐고 물었어요' (He asked if I ate).
  • For adjectives, use -냐고 묻다: '예쁘냐고 물었어요' (She asked if it was pretty).
  • For past tense, use -았/었느냐고 묻다: '갔느냐고 물었어요' (He asked if I went).
Original Question + (느)냐고 + 묻다 (to ask)

Overview

Reporting questions in Korean allows you to relay what someone else asked without directly quoting them. This grammatical construction is essential for natural, nuanced communication, moving beyond simple statement repetition to integrated discourse. The pattern -(으)냐고 묻다 (romanization: -(eu)nyago mutda) serves this precise function, translating broadly to "asked if/whether…" or "asked what/where/when…".

Mastery of this structure marks a significant step in your Korean proficiency at the B1 level, enabling you to articulate complex social interactions and information exchanges.

The core of this pattern is the verb 묻다 (mutda), meaning "to ask." When combined with the indirect interrogative particle -(으)냐고, it transforms a direct question into a subordinate clause within a larger sentence. This not only streamlines your storytelling but also reflects a more sophisticated understanding of Korean sentence structure. You'll find yourself using -(으)냐고 묻다 to recount conversations, relay messages, or even express your own past inquiries, making it an indispensable tool for everyday and formal contexts.

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, -(으)냐고 묻다 functions by converting a speaker's direct question into an indirect, reported form. The particle -(으)냐고 attaches to the stem of the original question's predicate (verb, adjective, or 이다 for nouns), effectively marking that predicate as the content of the reported question. The verb 묻다 is then conjugated to indicate the tense and politeness level of the act of asking itself.
Crucially, the tense of the reported predicate within the -(으)냐고 clause is relative to the moment the question was originally posed. For adjectives and descriptive verbs (expressing states), the present tense form is typically used, regardless of when the question was asked. For action verbs, however, the past tense marker 았/었 (at/eot) can and often does appear within the reported clause if the original question referred to a completed action.
This allows for precise temporal reference within the reported question, distinguishing it from an inquiry about a current state.
For example, if someone asked 지금 바빠요? (Are you busy now?), you would report it as 친구가 지금 바쁘냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if I was busy now.) Here, 바쁘다 (to be busy) is an adjective describing a state, so it retains its present form 바쁘냐고. However, if they asked 점심 먹었어요? (Did you eat lunch?), you would report 친구가 점심 먹었느냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if I had eaten lunch.) The 았/었 in 먹었느냐고 correctly conveys that the original question concerned a past action. This nuanced handling of tense within the reported clause is vital for accurate expression and often distinguishes intermediate learners from advanced ones.
Linguistically, -(으)냐고 acts as a complementizer, integrating the interrogative content into the main clause while 묻다 explicitly frames it as an inquiry. This allows for complex sentence formation where the reported question becomes an object of the verb 묻다. The subject of the original question, if different from the subject of 묻다, is often explicitly stated or implied to avoid ambiguity.
For instance, 그녀는 나에게 언제 오느냐고 물었어요. (She asked me when I was coming.), where (me) is the implied subject of 오다 (to come).

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the formation of -(으)냐고 묻다 requires careful attention to the stem type of the original predicate (adjective, verb, or noun + 이다) and its tense. The general rule involves dropping the base form ending (da) and attaching the appropriate -(으)냐고 form before conjugating 묻다 (mutda) for the desired tense and politeness level.
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1. Adjectives (형용사)
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Adjectives describe states or qualities. Their reported forms depend on the final sound of their stem:
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Stem ends in a vowel or : Attach 냐고 묻다 (nyago mutda). Note that irregular adjectives drop the before adding 냐고.
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예쁘다 (yeppeuda, to be pretty) → 예쁘냐고 묻다
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친구가 그 옷이 예쁘냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if that clothing was pretty.)
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멀다 (meolda, to be far) → 머냐고 묻다 (The drops)
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손님이 목적지가 머냐고 질문했어요. (The customer asked if the destination was far.)
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Stem ends in a consonant (excluding ): Attach 으냐고 묻다 (eunyago mutda).
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좋다 (jota, to be good) → 좋으냐고 묻다
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선생님이 건강이 좋으냐고 물으셨습니다. (The teacher asked if my health was good.)
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작다 (jakda, to be small) → 작으냐고 묻다
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어머니가 방이 너무 작으냐고 걱정했어요. (My mother worriedly asked if the room was too small.)
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irregular adjectives: These follow the consonant rule, but changes to (u).
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덥다 (deopda, to be hot) → 더우냐고 묻다
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친구가 날씨가 더우냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if the weather was hot.)
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2. Verbs (동사)
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Verbs denote actions or processes. Their reported forms depend on the tense of the original action:
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Present Tense (current action/state): Attach 느냐고 묻다 (neunyago mutda) to the verb stem, regardless of its ending.
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가다 (gada, to go) → 가느냐고 묻다
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그가 나에게 어디 가느냐고 물었어요. (He asked me where I was going.)
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먹다 (meokda, to eat) → 먹느냐고 묻다
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엄마가 지금 밥 먹느냐고 전화하셨어요. (Mom called and asked if I was eating now.)
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Past Tense (completed action/state): Attach 았/었느냐고 묻다 (at/eotneunyago mutda) to the verb stem.
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가다갔느냐고 묻다
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친구는 내가 어제 어디 갔느냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked where I went yesterday.)
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먹다먹었느냐고 묻다
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선배가 점심 먹었느냐고 물었어요. (My senior asked if I had eaten lunch.)
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Future Tense / Conjecture (planned or speculated action): Attach (으)ㄹ 거냐고 묻다 ((eu)l geonyago mutda) to the verb stem.
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하다 (hada, to do) → 할 거냐고 묻다
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상사가 프로젝트를 언제 끝낼 거냐고 질문했습니다. (My boss asked when I would finish the project.)
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오다 (oda, to come) → 올 거냐고 묻다
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친구가 파티에 올 거냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if I would come to the party.)
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3. Nouns + 이다 (N + ida, to be a noun)
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When reporting questions about identity or classification, 이다 (ida) changes based on the preceding noun's final sound:
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Noun ends in a vowel: Attach 냐고 묻다 (nyago mutda).
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의사이다 (uisainda, to be a doctor) → 의사냐고 묻다
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아이가 아빠에게 의사냐고 순진하게 물었어요. (The child innocently asked his dad if he was a doctor.)
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Noun ends in a consonant: Attach 이냐고 묻다 (inyago mutda).
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학생이다 (haksaengida, to be a student) → 학생이냐고 묻다
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처음 만난 사람이 저에게 학생이냐고 물었어요. (The person I first met asked me if I was a student.)
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4. Conjugation of 묻다 (mutda)
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The final step is to conjugate 묻다 to reflect the politeness level and tense of the reporting context. Remember, 묻다 is a irregular verb, meaning changes to (l) when followed by a vowel.
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| Tense/Politeness | 합니다체 (Formal Polite) | 아/어요체 (Standard Polite) | 해체 (Intimate/Casual) | Explanation |
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| :--------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
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| Present | 묻습니다 (mutseumnida) | 물어요 (mureoyo) | 물어 (mureo) | Reporting a question currently being asked or a general inquiry. |
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| Past | 물었습니다 (mureotseumnida) | 물었어요 (mureosseoyo) | 물었어 (mureosseo) | Reporting a question that was asked in the past. |
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| Future | 물을 것입니다 (mureul geosimnida) | 물을 거예요 (mureul geoyeyo) | 물을 거야 (mureul geoya) | Reporting an anticipated act of asking. |
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Summary Table for Reported Questions
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| Original Predicate Type | Stem Ending | Reported Form | Example (Direct Question) | Example (Reported Question) |
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| :---------------------- | :-------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Adjective | Vowel, | 냐고 묻다 | 비싸요? (bissayo?) | 비싸냐고 물었어요. (bissanago mureosseoyo.) |
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| Adjective | Consonant ( irregular) | 으냐고 묻다 (우냐고) | 재미있어요? (jaemiisseoyo?) | 재미있으냐고 물었어요. (jaemiisseunyago mureosseoyo.) |
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| Verb (Present) | Any | 느냐고 묻다 | 공부해요? (gongbuhaeyo?) | 공부하느냐고 물었어요. (gongbuhanyeoga mureosseoyo.) |
55
| Verb (Past) | Any | 았/었느냐고 묻다 | 봤어요? (bwassoyo?) | 봤느냐고 물었어요. (bwassneunyago mureosseoyo.) |
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| Verb (Future) | Any | (으)ㄹ 거냐고 묻다 | 먹을 거예요? (meogeul geoyeyo?)| 먹을 거냐고 물었어요. (meogeul geonyago mureosseoyo.) |
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| Noun + 이다 | Vowel | 냐고 묻다 | 한국 사람이에요? | 한국 사람이냐고 물었어요. |
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| Noun + 이다 | Consonant | 이냐고 묻다 | 선생님이에요? | 선생님이냐고 물었어요. |

When To Use It

The -(으)냐고 묻다 pattern is versatile and extends beyond merely recounting conversations. It allows for a more sophisticated relay of information, subtle inquiries, and expressions of indirect curiosity. Understanding these contexts will deepen your command of this structure.
  • Relaying a Direct Question: The most straightforward use is to report a question someone explicitly asked. This is crucial for narrative coherence and for sharing information from one party to another.
  • 그가 언제 도착하느냐고 물었어요. (He asked when they would arrive.)
  • 직원이 몇 시에 퇴근할 거냐고 물어봤어요. (The employee asked what time I would be leaving work.)
  • Indirect Requests or Suggestions: Sometimes, a question is phrased as an indirect request or a gentle suggestion. Using -(으)냐고 묻다 captures this nuance, indicating that the original speaker wasn't just seeking information but subtly prompting an action.
  • 상사가 보고서를 내일까지 완성할 수 있느냐고 물었습니다. (My boss asked if I could complete the report by tomorrow.) – This often functions as an indirect instruction to complete it.
  • 친구가 우리 저녁 먹으러 갈 거냐고 물어봐서 좋다고 했어. (My friend asked if we were going to eat dinner, so I said yes.)
  • Expressing One's Own Past Inquiry or Doubt: While 묻다 implies someone else asking, you can use this structure to narrate your own past questions, especially when expressing self-doubt or curiosity about a past situation.
  • 나는 내가 문을 잠갔느냐고 스스로에게 물었다. (I asked myself if I had locked the door.)
  • 이게 정말 가능할 거냐고 한참을 고민했어요. (I thought for a long time, asking myself if this would really be possible.)
  • Formulating Indirect Inquiries (with other verbs): While 묻다 is primary, other verbs of inquiry or cognition can follow -(으)냐고 to express a reported question in a different light. For example, 궁금해하다 (gunggeumhaehada, to be curious about) or 알아보다 (araboda, to find out).
  • 나는 그가 왜 그렇게 화났느냐고 궁금했어요. (I was curious why he was so angry.)
  • 비서가 회의 시간이 변경되었느냐고 확인했습니다. (The secretary checked whether the meeting time had changed.)
In Korean communication, especially in polite or formal contexts, indirectness is often valued. Using -(으)냐고 묻다 can soften the impact of a request or make a question less intrusive, even when simply relaying it. It demonstrates an awareness of social dynamics and contributes to a more polished communication style.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific pitfalls when employing -(으)냐고 묻다. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying reasons will significantly enhance your accuracy.
  • Incorrect Tense within the Reported Clause: This is arguably the most frequent mistake. The tendency is to always use the present tense within the -(으)냐고 clause or to force agreement with the past tense 묻다. However, for action verbs referring to a completed event, the past tense 았/었느냐고 is essential.
  • Incorrect (for a past action): 친구가 어제 영화 보느냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if I watched a movie yesterday. – implies ongoing action)
  • Correct: 친구가 어제 영화 봤느냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked if I had watched a movie yesterday.)
  • Incorrect (for a present state): 엄마가 지금 배고팠느냐고 물어봤어요. (Mom asked if I was hungry now. – implies past hunger)
  • Correct: 엄마가 지금 배고프냐고 물어봤어요. (Mom asked if I am hungry now.)
  • Confusing Adjective and Verb Endings: The distinction between -(으)냐고 for adjectives and -느냐고 for verbs is critical, though sometimes blurred in very casual speech.
  • Incorrect: 그 책이 재미있느냐고 물어봤어요. (재미있다 (jaemiitda, to be interesting) is an adjective, not a verb).
  • Correct: 그 책이 재미있으냐고 물어봤어요. (More formally correct, though 재미있냐고 is very common casually).
  • Omitting for Verbs in Formal Contexts: While 가냐고, 먹냐고 are highly common and acceptable in casual conversation (especially spoken Korean), they are informal contractions of 가느냐고 and 먹느냐고. In formal writing or polite speech, the should be retained for verbs.
  • Informal (spoken): 사장님이 언제 가냐고 물으셨어. (The boss asked when I'm leaving.)
  • Formal/Polite: 사장님께서 언제 가느냐고 물으셨습니다.
  • Incorrect Particle Usage: The questioner is marked with 이/가 or 은/는 (subject particles), and the person being asked is marked with 에게 (ege) or 한테 (hante). Do not use these particles for the content of the question.
  • Incorrect: 친구가 나에게 바쁘냐고에게 물어봤어요. (Redundant 에게.)
  • Correct: 친구가 나에게 바쁘냐고 물어봤어요. (My friend asked me if I was busy.)
  • Using 냐고 as a Direct Question Ending: -(으)냐고 is for reported questions. Using it directly to ask someone, e.g., 바쁘냐고? (Are you busy?) without 묻다 or 하다, is overly abrupt, informal, and can sound impolite. Direct questions typically use -(으)세요?, -(아/어)요?, -(느)냐? (very formal/literary/older), or -(으)니? (intimate).
  • Incorrect (as a direct question): 지금 바쁘냐고?
  • Correct (direct question): 지금 바쁘세요? or 지금 바빠요?

Real Conversations

To truly master -(으)냐고 묻다, observe its usage in authentic Korean interactions. Native speakers often employ contractions and context-specific phrasing that might initially confuse learners but are vital for sounding natural.

1. Contractions: -(으)냬 (-(eu)nyae)

A very common contraction occurs when -(으)냐고 하다 (-(eu)nyago hada, to say (ask)) is used, especially in spoken Korean. It often shortens to -(으)냬 (-(eu)nyae). This is particularly prevalent when someone is repeating a question they just heard or referencing a recently asked question.

- Original: 친구가 너 뭐 하냐고 해. (My friend is asking what you're doing.)

- Contraction: 친구가 너 뭐 하냬.

- Original: 엄마가 언제 오냐고 했어. (Mom said (asked) when I'm coming.)

- Contraction: 엄마가 언제 오냬.

This contraction is informal and conversational, typically used in casual settings among friends or family. You will frequently encounter it in text messages or direct speech.

2. Casual Texting and Social Media:

In informal written communication, the verb 묻다 or 하다 might even be omitted or abbreviated, especially when the context is clear.

- 오빠가 저녁 뭐 먹었냐고 물어봄 ㅋ (My older brother asked what I ate for dinner lol – 물어봄 is an abbreviation of 물어봤음 or 물어봤어요).

- 다들 주말에 뭐 할 거냐고 묻네. (Everyone's asking what we're going to do this weekend.)

3. Formal and Business Contexts:

In more formal settings, -(으)냐고 묻다 (or 질문하다, munuihada, to inquire) maintains its full form and is used to respectfully relay information.

- 거래처에서 납품 일정을 조정할 수 있느냐고 문의하셨습니다. (The client inquired whether the delivery schedule could be adjusted.)

- 면접관이 앞으로의 계획에 대해 어떻게 생각하느냐고 질문했습니다. (The interviewer asked how I thought about my future plans.)

4. Cultural Insight: Indirectness

Korean communication often favors indirectness, particularly when discussing sensitive topics, making requests, or expressing opinions. Using reported speech like -(으)냐고 묻다 can be a subtle way to maintain harmony or show politeness. Instead of saying directly, "Can you do this?", one might report, "The team leader asked if you could do this," shifting the responsibility for the request's origin and softening its impact. This indirectness is not a sign of evasion but a culturally nuanced approach to interaction.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about -(으)냐고 묻다 that often arise during the learning process.
  • Q: Is the particle truly necessary in -(으)냐고?

Yes, absolutely. The is an integral part of the indirect quotation particle in Korean. It serves as a connector that transforms the preceding clause into a quoted statement or question, acting as the object of the reporting verb (like 묻다 or 하다). Removing it would render the sentence grammatically incorrect or change its meaning entirely. For instance, 바쁘냐 would be an extremely informal, even blunt, direct question, not a reported one.

  • Q: What is the difference between -(으)냐고 묻다 and -(으)냐고 하다?

Both 묻다 (mutda, to ask) and 하다 (hada, to say) can be used with -(으)냐고. The nuance is subtle but significant:

  • -(으)냐고 묻다 explicitly emphasizes the act of asking a question. It is more precise and formal in conveying that an inquiry was made.
  • -(으)냐고 하다 is more general. While it still reports a question, it can sometimes be used more casually, or when the focus is less on the action of asking and more on the content of what was said (which happened to be a question). It's also the form that readily contracts to -(으)냬 in casual speech.
In many everyday contexts, they can be interchangeable, but 묻다 is the clearer, more direct choice when you want to specifically state that a question was asked.
  • Q: Can I use -(으)는지 묻다 instead of -(으)냐고 묻다? What's the difference?

Yes, -(으)는지 묻다 (-(eu)neunji mutda) is another common pattern for reporting questions, particularly for

3. Formation of Indirect Questions

Tense/Type Verb/Adj Ending Example
Present Verb
먹다
-느냐고
먹느냐고
Present Adj
예쁘다
-냐고
예쁘냐고
Past
갔다
-었느냐고
갔느냐고
Future
할 것이다
-(으)ㄹ 거냐고
할 거냐고
Honorific
가시다
-으시냐고
가시냐고

Common Conversational Contractions

Full Form Short Form
먹느냐고
먹냐고
예쁘냐고
예쁘냐고
했느냐고
했냐고

Meanings

This grammar is used to report a question that someone else asked. It transforms a direct question into an indirect statement.

1

Reporting Yes/No Questions

Reporting a question that requires a yes or no answer.

“그가 어디에 가느냐고 물었어요.”

“맛있느냐고 물어봤어요.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Reporting Questions: '...asked if...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb-느냐고 묻다
먹느냐고 물었어요
Negative
안 Verb-느냐고 묻다
안 먹느냐고 물었어요
Past
Verb-었느냐고 묻다
먹었느냐고 물었어요
Future
Verb-(으)ㄹ 거냐고 묻다
먹을 거냐고 물었어요
Adjective
Adj-냐고 묻다
예쁘냐고 물었어요
Honorific
Verb-으시냐고 묻다
가시냐고 물었어요

Formality Spectrum

Formal
그가 식사했느냐고 물었습니다.

그가 식사했느냐고 물었습니다. (Reporting a question about eating.)

Neutral
그가 밥을 먹었느냐고 물었어요.

그가 밥을 먹었느냐고 물었어요. (Reporting a question about eating.)

Informal
그가 밥 먹었냐고 물었어.

그가 밥 먹었냐고 물었어. (Reporting a question about eating.)

Slang
걔가 밥 먹었냐고 물어보더라.

걔가 밥 먹었냐고 물어보더라. (Reporting a question about eating.)

Indirect Question Flow

Reporting Question

Verb

  • 먹다 to eat

Adjective

  • 예쁘다 to be pretty

Examples by Level

1

그가 밥을 먹느냐고 물었어요.

He asked if I ate.

2

엄마가 어디 가냐고 물었어요.

Mom asked where I am going.

3

친구가 바쁘냐고 물었어요.

My friend asked if I am busy.

4

선생님이 숙제했냐고 물었어요.

The teacher asked if I did homework.

1

그녀가 내일 올 거냐고 물었어요.

She asked if I would come tomorrow.

2

그가 왜 울었느냐고 물었어요.

He asked why I cried.

3

아빠가 돈이 있느냐고 물었어요.

Dad asked if I have money.

4

그가 누구냐고 물었어요.

He asked who it is.

1

팀장님이 회의에 참석할 수 있느냐고 물으셨어요.

The team leader asked if I could attend the meeting.

2

그가 왜 그렇게 생각하느냐고 물었어요.

He asked why I think that way.

3

선생님이 시험이 어렵느냐고 물으셨어요.

The teacher asked if the exam was difficult.

4

그녀가 왜 화가 났느냐고 물었어요.

She asked why I was angry.

1

그는 나에게 왜 그 제안을 거절했느냐고 물었다.

He asked me why I rejected that proposal.

2

면접관이 우리 회사에 왜 지원했느냐고 물었어요.

The interviewer asked why I applied to our company.

3

그녀는 내가 그 사실을 알고 있었느냐고 물었다.

She asked if I had known that fact.

4

그가 언제 돌아올 거냐고 계속 물었어요.

He kept asking when I would return.

1

그는 내가 과연 그 일을 감당할 수 있겠느냐고 반문했다.

He retorted by asking if I could truly handle that task.

2

상사는 내가 왜 기한을 지키지 못했느냐고 따져 물었다.

The boss demanded to know why I couldn't meet the deadline.

3

그녀는 내가 왜 그런 선택을 했느냐고 깊이 물었다.

She asked deeply why I made such a choice.

4

그는 내가 정말로 떠날 것이냐고 재차 확인했다.

He confirmed again by asking if I was really leaving.

1

그는 내가 과연 진실을 말하고 있느냐고 의구심을 표했다.

He expressed doubt by asking if I was truly telling the truth.

2

그녀는 내가 왜 그토록 고집을 부렸느냐고 힐난했다.

She reproached me by asking why I was so stubborn.

3

그는 내가 그 제안을 수락할 의사가 있느냐고 물어왔다.

He inquired whether I had the intention to accept the proposal.

4

그는 내가 왜 그 길을 택했느냐고 나에게 반문했다.

He asked me back why I had chosen that path.

Easily Confused

Reporting Questions: '...asked if...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다) vs -다고 묻다 vs -냐고 묻다

Learners often use -다고 for questions.

Reporting Questions: '...asked if...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다) vs 말하다 vs 묻다

Using '말하다' for reporting questions.

Reporting Questions: '...asked if...' (냐고/으냐고 묻다) vs 물어보다 vs 묻다

They are similar but '물어보다' is more common in speech.

Common Mistakes

밥 먹다냐고 물었어요

밥 먹느냐고 물었어요

Missing the '느' for verb stems.

밥 먹냐고 말했어요

밥 먹느냐고 물었어요

Using '말하다' instead of '묻다'.

밥 먹었냐고 물었어요

밥 먹었느냐고 물었어요

Informal ending in formal context.

예쁘다냐고 물었어요

예쁘냐고 물었어요

Incorrect adjective conjugation.

갈 거냐고 말했어요

갈 거냐고 물었어요

Reporting a question requires '묻다'.

어디 가느냐고 물었어요

어디 가느냐고 물었어요

Correct, but ensure '어디' is included.

바쁘냐고 물어봤어요

바쁘냐고 물었어요

Both are correct, but '물어봤어요' is more casual.

숙제했느냐고 말했다

숙제했느냐고 물었다

Reporting a question with a statement verb.

그가 오느냐고 물었다

그가 오느냐고 물었다

Correct, but check tense consistency.

예쁘느냐고 물었다

예쁘냐고 물었다

Adjectives do not take '느'.

가시느냐고 물으셨다

가시느냐고 물으셨다

Correct, but ensure honorifics are consistent.

왜 했느냐고 물었다

왜 했느냐고 물었다

Correct, but check formal register.

먹었냐고 물었다

먹었느냐고 물었다

Too informal for formal writing.

Sentence Patterns

___이/가 ___냐고 물었어요.

___이/가 왜 ___느냐고 물었어요.

___이/가 ___을/를 할 거냐고 물었어요.

___이/가 ___이/가 ___냐고 물어봤어요.

Real World Usage

Texting very common

걔가 오늘 올 거냐고 물어봐.

Job Interview common

면접관이 왜 지원했느냐고 물었습니다.

Social Media common

팔로워들이 왜 안 올리냐고 물어보네요.

Food Delivery occasional

기사님이 어디냐고 물으셨어요.

Travel common

직원이 여권이 있느냐고 물었어요.

Office very common

팀장님이 보고서가 끝났느냐고 물으셨어요.

💡

Verb vs Adjective

Remember: Verbs get '느냐고', Adjectives just get '냐고'.
⚠️

Don't use '말하다'

Always use '묻다' or '물어보다' for questions.
🎯

Past Tense

If the original question was past, the reported question must also be past.
💬

Honorifics

When reporting a superior's question, use '물으셨어요'.

Smart Tips

Always use the honorific '물으셨어요' to show respect.

팀장이 물었어요. 팀장님이 물으셨어요.

Match the tense of the reported question to the original time.

그가 먹느냐고 물었어요 (even if he ate yesterday). 그가 먹었느냐고 물었어요.

You can drop the '느' in '느냐고' for a more natural flow.

그가 먹느냐고 물어봤어. 그가 먹냐고 물어봤어.

Use '-(으)ㄹ 거냐고' to capture the future intent.

그가 갈 거냐고 물었어요. 그가 갈 거냐고 물었어요.

Pronunciation

neu-nya-go

Linking

The '느' in '느냐고' is often pronounced clearly, but in fast speech, it might sound like '냐고'.

Falling

물었어요↓

Indicates a statement of fact about a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of '냐' as the 'Question Mark' sound. If you hear a question, you '냐' (add 냐고) and then '묻다' (ask).

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a giant question mark sign (?) and handing it to a reporter who writes it down as a statement.

Rhyme

When you hear a question, don't just say it, add '냐고' and '묻다' to relay it.

Story

Min-su asked, 'Are you hungry?' (배고프냐?). I told my friend, 'Min-su asked if I was hungry' (배고프냐고 물었어). Now the question is a story.

Word Web

묻다물어보다냐고질문대답전달

Challenge

Ask three friends a question today, then report those questions to a teacher or language partner using this grammar.

Cultural Notes

In business, always use honorifics like '물으셨어요' when reporting a boss's question.

Friends often use '물어보더라' to report questions in a gossipy tone.

In formal papers, use '물었다' or '질문했다'.

Derived from the archaic interrogative suffix '-느냐' and the verb '묻다'.

Conversation Starters

오늘 아침에 누가 무슨 질문을 했어요?

어제 친구가 뭐라고 물어봤어요?

면접에서 가장 당황스러운 질문이 뭐였어요?

소설 속 주인공이 누구에게 무엇을 물었나요?

Journal Prompts

오늘 하루 동안 들은 질문 3가지를 적어보세요.
어제 친구와 나눈 대화를 요약해보세요.
최근에 받은 가장 어려운 질문에 대해 써보세요.
상대방의 질문을 통해 알게 된 사실에 대해 써보세요.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

그가 밥을 ___ 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹느냐고
Verb stem + 느냐고.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 예쁘냐고 물었다
Adjective + 냐고 + 묻다.
Correct the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

그가 어디 가냐고 말했다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 어디 가냐고 물었다
Reported questions use '묻다'.
Change to indirect speech. Sentence Transformation

그가 '밥 먹었어?'라고 물었다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 밥 먹었느냐고 물었다
Past tense + 느냐고.
Match the direct question to the indirect form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 예쁘냐고 물었다
Adjective + 냐고.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

물었다 / 그가 / 먹느냐고 / 밥을

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 밥을 먹느냐고 물었다
Subject + Object + Verb + Reporting.
Which is the most formal? Multiple Choice

Choose the formal version.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 가느냐고 물었습니다
Formal ending -습니다.
Fill in the blank.

선생님이 숙제를 ___ 물으셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 했느냐고
Honorific reporting.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

그가 밥을 ___ 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹느냐고
Verb stem + 느냐고.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 예쁘냐고 물었다
Adjective + 냐고 + 묻다.
Correct the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

그가 어디 가냐고 말했다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 어디 가냐고 물었다
Reported questions use '묻다'.
Change to indirect speech. Sentence Transformation

그가 '밥 먹었어?'라고 물었다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 밥 먹었느냐고 물었다
Past tense + 느냐고.
Match the direct question to the indirect form. Match Pairs

Match: '예뻐?' -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 예쁘냐고 물었다
Adjective + 냐고.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

물었다 / 그가 / 먹느냐고 / 밥을

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 밥을 먹느냐고 물었다
Subject + Object + Verb + Reporting.
Which is the most formal? Multiple Choice

Choose the formal version.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그가 가느냐고 물었습니다
Formal ending -습니다.
Fill in the blank.

선생님이 숙제를 ___ 물으셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 했느냐고
Honorific reporting.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Report the question: "이 영화 재미있어요?" Fill in the Blank

친구가 이 영화가 ______ 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 재미있으냐고
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

물었어요 / 어디에 / 친구가 / 사느냐고

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 친구가 어디에 사느냐고 물었어요.
Translate the following sentence into Korean. Translation

The teacher asked who is the class president.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 선생님께서 반장이 누구냐고 물어보셨어요.
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

그는 나에게 예쁘느냐고 물었다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 나에게 예쁘냐고 물었다.
Which sentence is grammatically correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 아빠가 신문을 읽으시느냐고 여쭤봤어요.
Match the direct question to its reported form. Match Pairs

Match the pairs

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: [{"pair":["\"\uc5b8\uc81c \uc640\uc694?\"","\uc5b8\uc81c \uc624\ub290\ub0d0\uace0 \ubb3c\uc5c8\ub2e4"]},{"pair":["\"\uc774\uac83\uc740 \ubb50\uc608\uc694?\"","\uc774\uac83\uc740 \ubb50\ub0d0\uace0 \ubb3c\uc5c8\ub2e4"]},{"pair":["\"\ub0a0\uc528\uac00 \uc88b\uc544\uc694?\"","\ub0a0\uc528\uac00 \uc88b\uc73c\ub0d0\uace0 \ubb3c\uc5c8\ub2e4"]}]
Report the question: "어제 뭐 했어요?" Fill in the Blank

민준 씨가 저에게 어제 뭐 ______ 물었어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 했냐고
Translate the following sentence into English. Translation

동생이 이 옷이 비싸냐고 물어봤어.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My younger sibling asked if these clothes are expensive.
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

할머니가 밥을 먹냐고 물어보셨다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 할머니가 밥을 먹느냐고 물어보셨다.
Which sentence reports the question "이 분은 누구세요?" (Who is this person?) respectfully? Multiple Choice

Choose the best option.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 이 분이 누구시냐고 여쭤봤다.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, '물어봤어요' is a very common, slightly more casual way to say 'asked'.

In written Korean, yes. In spoken Korean, it is often dropped.

Use '누구냐고 물었어요'.

Yes, it is essential for reporting inquiries in a professional setting.

Because '말하다' means 'to speak/tell', not 'to ask'.

Use '-(으)ㄹ 거냐고 묻다'.

Yes, '나는 내가 왜 그랬느냐고 물었다'.

It can be both formal and informal depending on the verb ending.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Preguntar si...

Spanish uses the subjunctive mood in some reported questions.

French high

Demander si...

French requires specific tense sequence rules.

German high

Fragen, ob...

German word order changes in the reported clause.

Japanese high

~かどうか聞く

Japanese uses 'kado-ka' instead of a simple suffix.

Chinese moderate

问是否...

Chinese does not conjugate the verb in the reported clause.

Arabic moderate

سأل إذا...

Arabic has complex gender agreement in reported speech.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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