In Korean, verbs and adjectives can modify nouns, similar to how English uses phrases like “the running man” or “the beautiful flower.” This guide explains how to convert verbs and adjectives to modify nouns in different tenses.

Understanding Verbs vs Adjectives

Korean has two types of words ending in ~다:

Verbs (동사):

  • 하다 (do), 주다 (give), 받다 (receive), 웃다 (laugh), 먹다 (eat)

Adjectives (형용사):

  • 좋다 (be good), 즐겁다 (be interesting), 아름답다 (be beautiful), 이쁘다 (be pretty), 밝다 (be bright)

Key difference: Verbs can have continuous tense, but adjectives cannot (since they describe states, not actions).

Tense Overview

Tense Meaning Verb Adjective
Continuous ~ing (doing) -는 N/A
Complete done/did -ㄴ/-은 -ㄴ/-은
Future will do -ㄹ/-을 -ㄹ/-을

Continuous Tense: -는 (Verbs Only)

The -는 ending creates the “~ing” form. Only verbs can use this form.

Basic Pattern: Verb stem + 는

Verb Modification Example
하다 → 하 + 는 하는 공부하는 사람 (studying person)
주다 → 주 + 는 주는 표를 주는 사람 (person giving tickets)
받다 → 받 + 는 받는 선물을 받는 사람 (person receiving a gift)
웃다 → 웃 + 는 웃는 웃는 사람 (laughing person)

Special Case: ㄹ-final Verbs

When the verb stem ends in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ before adding 는. This is because ㄹ is a flowing sound (similar to a vowel), so it doesn’t stop the sound.

Verb Modification Example
살다 → 사 + 는 사는 집에 사는 사람 (person living at home)
울다 → 우 + 는 우는 우는 사람 (crying person)

Complete Tense: -ㄴ/-은 (Done/Did)

The -ㄴ/-은 ending indicates completed action or current state.

Pronunciation insight: When you say 한 (completed), the sound stops with ㄴ - this “stopping” represents completion.

1. Without Final Consonant: Add -ㄴ

Word Modification Example
하다 → 한 공부한 사람 the person who studied
주다 → 준 네가 준 것 what you gave
싸다 → 싼 싼 물건 cheap stuff
이쁘다 → 이쁜 이쁜 사람 pretty person

ㄹ-final verbs: Drop ㄹ and add ㄴ

Word Modification Example
들다 → 든 물건을 든 사람 person who lifted stuff
힘들다 → 힘든 힘든 삶 tough life
길다 → 긴 긴 치마 long skirt

2. With Final Consonant: Add -은

When there’s a consonant at the end of the stem, add 으 between them because ㄴ cannot directly attach.

Word Modification Example
먹다 → 먹은 먹은 사람 the person who ate
받다 → 받은 선물을 받은 사람 person who received a gift
좋다 → 좋은 좋은 사람 good person
웃다 → 웃은 웃은 사람 person who laughed
얻다 → 얻은 얻은 것 the thing gained

3. Irregular ㄷ → ㄹ Change

Some ㄷ-final verbs change to ㄹ for smoother pronunciation:

Word Modification Example
걷다 → 걸은 걸은 사람 person who walked
듣다 → 들은 들은 사람 person who heard

Why? ㄷ sounds stiff, while ㄹ flows smoothly. Since walking and hearing are smooth actions, ㄹ feels more natural.

4. Special Case: 있다/없다 use -는

Although 있다 and 없다 are technically adjectives, they describe ongoing states. Therefore, they use -는 like continuous tense verbs:

Word Example
맛있다 → 맛있는 맛있는 음식 (delicious food)
맛없다 → 맛없는 맛없는 음식 (not delicious food)

5. ㅂ-final Adjectives: -운

Adjectives ending in ㅂ다 have special changes. The ㅂ drops and 은 becomes 운:

Word Modification Example
즐겁다 → 즐거운 즐거운 인생 interesting life
아름답다 → 아름다운 아름다운 사람 beautiful person

Why 운 instead of 은? Adjectives describe states (no action). The 우 sound feels heavier and more static than 으, matching the “no action” quality of adjectives.

Future Tense: -ㄹ/-을 (Will Do)

The -ㄹ/-을 ending indicates future or intention.

Pronunciation insight: When you say 할, the sound doesn’t stop but flows forward - this “flowing” represents future time moving forward.

1. Without Final Consonant: Add -ㄹ

Word Modification Example
하다 → 할 할 일 task to do
싸다 → 쌀 쌀 물건 stuff that will be cheap

2. With Final Consonant: Add -을

Word Modification Example
받다 → 받을 받을 물건 thing I will receive
있다 → 있을 있을 것 thing that will exist

3. Irregular Changes

ㄷ → ㄹ change:

  • 걷다 → 걸을 (걸을 사람 - person who will walk)

ㅂ-final adjectives:

  • 즐겁다 → 즐거울 (그의 삶은 즐거울 것이다 - his life will be interesting)

Irregular Verbs Reference

Some verbs have unique conjugation patterns:

Verb ~어 form ~으니 Past
긋다 (draw a line) 그어 그으니 그었다
낫다 (be better) 나아 나으니 나았다
잇다 (connect) 이어 이으니 이었다
짓다 (build) 지어 지으니 지었다

Quick Reference Chart

Tense Without 받침 With 받침 ㄹ-final ㅂ-final adj.
Continuous (-는) 하는 먹는 사는 N/A
Complete (-ㄴ/은) 한 먹은 산 아름다운
Future (-ㄹ/을) 할 먹을 살 아름다울

Remember: The sound of each ending matches its meaning - ㄴ stops (completed), ㄹ flows (future), 는 continues (ongoing).