는 (present modifier) - Verb to Adjective

Think of 는 as a live-action camera. It captures what is happening right this second. It sits between a verb and a noun. The verb stem comes first. Then you attach 는. Finally, you add the noun you want to describe. It acts like an adjective in the sentence. But instead of a simple quality, it's an action. It can also describe a regular habit. If you do something every day, use 는. It is a "noun modifier" for the present tense. It always looks forward to the noun. It never stands alone at the end.

1. 1Find the verb stem of your action word.
2. 2Drop the 다 from the dictionary form.
3. 3Add 는 directly to the remaining stem.
4. 4Place the noun immediately after the 는.
5. 5Take the verb 가다 (to go). The stem is 가. Add 는 to get 가는. Now add a noun like 사람 (person). You get 가는 사람 (the person who goes). It works the same for consonant stems. Take 먹다 (to eat). The stem is 먹. Add 는 to get 먹는. The phrase 먹는 사람 means "the eating person."
6. 6There is one special rule to remember. If the stem ends in ㄹ, drop it. This is like a tiny grammar tax. For 만들다 (to make), the stem is 만들. Drop the ㄹ to get 만드. Add 는 to get 만드는. This is the most common mistake for learners. Don't be the person who keeps the ㄹ!

Use this when ordering food at a restaurant. You can ask for the 가장 잘 나가는 메뉴 (best-selling menu). Use it when asking for directions. You might look for the 명동으로 가는 버스 (bus going to Myeongdong). It is perfect for describing people at a party. You can point to the 춤을 잘 추는 친구 (friend who dances well). Use it in job interviews too. You can talk about a 노력하는 태도 (an attitude of trying hard). It makes your Korean feel much more professional. It shows you can link complex ideas together.

Do not use this for descriptive verbs (adjectives). Words like 예쁘다 (pretty) or 작다 (small) use ㄴ/은. Using 는 with adjectives sounds very strange to natives. Also, avoid using it for finished actions. If the action happened yesterday, 는 is wrong. It only works for the present or habits. Don't use it with the verb 이다 (to be). That also follows the adjective rule and becomes 인. If you use it for the future, it won't work. Stick to the "here and now" for this pattern.

The ㄹ drop is the biggest trap. Many people say 살는 instead of 사는 (living). Another mistake is confusing the pronunciation. When you say 먹는, it sounds like 멍는. The ㄱ sound changes to ㅇ naturally. This happens because of the ㄴ that follows. Don't try to force the ㄱ sound too hard. It will make your speech sound choppy. Also, beginners often confuse this with topic markers. The topic marker 은/는 attaches to nouns. This 는 attaches to verb stems. They look the same but act differently. Even native speakers might make a typo sometimes. But they always know the difference in their hearts.

How does this differ from ㄴ/은? Well, ㄴ/은 is for the past with verbs. 먹은 빵 is the bread you already finished. 먹는 빵 is the bread in your mouth now. Then there is 을/를 for the future. 먹을 빵 is the bread you will buy tomorrow. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. 는 is green for "currently going." ㄴ is yellow for "already passed." ㄹ is red for "waiting to happen." It is a simple way to track time. Using the wrong one changes the whole story.