는 것 (nominalization) - General Noun Clause

The logic is very simple. You take a verb and make it a "thing." You are turning an action into a subject or object. For example, "to eat" becomes "the act of eating." You are creating a noun clause. This allows you to add particles like -이/가 or -을/를. It acts exactly like a regular noun in a sentence. You can put it anywhere a noun goes. It is the building block for advanced Korean conversation. It allows you to describe actions in detail. You can say what you like, what you hate, or what you are good at. It is essentially the "-ing" of the Korean language. However, it is much more flexible than the English version. You will find yourself using it in almost every conversation. It is the Swiss Army knife of Korean grammar. You can use it to build very complex thoughts from simple verbs.

1. 1Start with any verb you want to use.
2. 2Remove the -다 from the end of the verb. This gives you the verb stem.
3. 3Simply attach 는 directly to that verb stem.
4. 4Add the word 것 after it.
5. 5Remember to add a space between 는 and 것.
6. 6For example, 가다 becomes 가는 것. 먹다 becomes 먹는 것. If the stem ends in ㄹ, you must drop the ㄹ first. So 만들다 becomes 만드는 것. This is a very important rule to remember. It is like a math formula that always works. For verbs like 공부하다, it becomes 공부하는 것. If the verb is 듣다, it becomes 듣는 것. It doesn't matter if the stem has a patchim or not. You always just add 는 것. This makes it one of the most consistent patterns in Korean. You don't have to worry about complex irregulars here. Just follow these five steps every single time.

Use this when you talk about your hobbies. For instance, 저는 수영하는 것을 좋아해요 (I like swimming). Use it when describing a dream or a goal. "My goal is living in Seoul" uses 사는 것. It is perfect for job interviews too. You can say your strength is listening to people. Use it when you need a subject for a verb. "Walking is healthy" becomes 걷는 것이 건강에 좋아요. It works in almost any situation where you need an action to be a noun. Think of it as your go-to grammar for descriptions. If you are ordering food, you might say 매운 것을 먹는 것을 좋아해요. If you are asking directions, you might ask if 걸어가는 것 is okay. It is also used to express habits. "Waking up early is my habit" would use 일어나는 것. Basically, if you want to use a verb as a noun, this is your tool. It is also the base for many other grammar points. You will see it in -는 것 같다 (it seems like) as well.

Don't use this with adjectives! Adjectives have their own special rule called -(으)ㄴ 것. So 예쁜 것 is correct, but 예쁘는 것 is wrong. Also, avoid it when a specific noun already exists. If there is a simple noun, use that instead. For example, use 식사 instead of 먹는 것 in very formal writing. Don't use it for fixed expressions that require -기. Some verbs just prefer -기 over -는 것. This happens most often with verbs like 시작하다. For example, 공부하기 시작해요 is much more common. Also, don't use it to describe people directly if you can use 사람 or 분. For example, "the person who is eating" is 먹는 사람, not 먹는 것. 것 literally means "thing," so using it for people can be rude. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. If it's an adjective, the light is red for 는 것!

The biggest mistake is the space! Many learners forget the space between 는 and 것. Another common mistake is with the ㄹ verbs. Don't say 만들는 것, say 만드는 것. Beginners often forget to use contractions in speech. Using 것을 in a casual chat sounds a bit stiff. Try using 걸 instead to sound more natural. Also, don't forget the particles. A noun clause still needs a particle to function correctly. Without a particle, the sentence might feel incomplete. Another mistake is mixing up 는 것 with the past tense (으)ㄴ 것. If you are talking about something you *did*, use the past tense. Many students also struggle with the contraction 게. Remember that 게 is just 것이 in a costume. It's like a ninja contraction! Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are typing fast, but you should try to be precise. Always check if you are describing a verb or an adjective before you start.

You might already know -기. That also turns verbs into nouns. But -기 is usually for shorter, fixed phrases. For example, 달리기 (running) or 읽기 (reading). -는 것 is more versatile and general. It is used for longer, more descriptive clauses. Then there is -(으)ㅁ. This is very formal and often used in writing. You will see it on signs, in news reports, or in dictionaries. For daily speaking and general usage, 는 것 is your best friend. It bridges the gap between basic and intermediate Korean perfectly. Think of -기 as a specialized tool and 는 것 as your everyday hammer. There is also -(으)ㄴ 것 for adjectives. This is the biggest point of confusion. Remember: Verbs get 는, Adjectives get (으)ㄴ. If you can remember that distinction, you are already ahead of the curve. It's like knowing when to use "a" versus "an" in English. It just takes a little bit of practice to get the feel for it.