Classical Korean: -ㄴ다 Declarative Ending

This ending strips away the 'politeness' layers like -요 or -습니다. It focuses purely on the action or state itself. In Korean, we call this the 'diary style' of speaking. When you use -ㄴ다, you aren't really talking 'to' someone. You are reporting a fact to the world. It’s like a grammar traffic light; it tells the reader 'here is a fact.' For verbs, it changes based on the final letter. For adjectives, it’s even easier because they stay the same. It creates a sense of distance between the speaker and the listener. This distance makes the information feel more reliable and factual. It’s the 'base' form of communication in written media. If you can master this, you can read Korean news easily. It’s like switching your brain into 'broadcast mode.'

1. 1Conjugating this is like a quick logic puzzle. Follow these steps for verbs and adjectives.
2. 2For Verbs with a bottom consonant (Batchim): Add -는다.
3. 3먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹는다.
4. 4For Verbs without a bottom consonant: Add -ㄴ다 to the stem.
5. 5가다 (to go) becomes 간다.
6. 6For Adjectives: Just use the dictionary form as it is!
7. 7예쁘다 (to be pretty) stays 예쁘다.
8. 8For the Verb 'to be' (이다): It becomes 이다 or 이다 (no change).
9. 9학생이다 stays 학생이다.
10. 10For Past Tense: Add -었다/았다 to the stem.
11. 11갔다 (went) or 먹었다 (ate).
12. 12For Future Tense: Use -겠다 or -을 것이다.
13. 13하겠다 (will do) or 할 것이다 (will do).

This ending is perfect for specific 'non-conversational' moments. Use it when writing in your private diary tonight. Use it when writing an essay for a Korean class. It’s the standard for newspaper articles and scientific reports. You’ll hear it in documentaries when the narrator describes nature. It’s great for 'self-talk' when you’re thinking out loud. If you say 배고프다! (I'm hungry!) to yourself, that's this form. It works when you are much older than the listener. Think of a grandfather speaking to a young grandchild. It’s also used in books to describe the protagonist's actions. Use it to sound authoritative and objective in writing. It’s the 'default' setting for most written Korean literature. Even lyrics in songs use this to feel poetic.

This is where things get a bit tricky! Never use this with people you need to respect. Don't use it with your boss during a meeting. Avoid it when ordering food at a busy restaurant. It will sound like you are barking orders at the staff. Don't use it with strangers on the street. It might come across as cold or even aggressive. This isn't the 'friendly neighbor' style of Korean. It lacks the warmth of the -요 ending. If you’re unsure, stick to polite Korean for safety. Using this incorrectly is like wearing pajamas to a wedding. It’s just not the right vibe for social interaction. Keep it for your paper, not for your coffee date.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! The biggest trap is confusing verbs and adjectives. People often say 예쁜다 instead of 예쁘다. Remember, adjectives don't need the extra -ㄴ. It’s just 예쁘다. Another mistake is using it with elders to be 'cool.' It’s not cool; it’s actually quite shocking to them. Another error is forgetting the -ㄴ on verbs without Batchim. 가다 doesn't become 가는다. It’s just 간다. Think of the -ㄴ as a little anchor for the verb. Don't forget the difference between 이다 (to be) and 있다 (to exist). 학생이다 stays the same, but 있다 becomes 있는다. It’s like a grammar shell game; stay focused!

Compare -ㄴ다 with the polite -요 ending. -요 is for social harmony and showing respect. -ㄴ다 is for facts and personal reflection. If -요 is a warm handshake, -ㄴ다 is a printed report. Compare it with the formal -습니다. -습니다 is for presentations and the military. -ㄴ다 is for books and internal thoughts. -습니다 looks at the listener; -ㄴ다 looks at the fact. You might also see -니? for questions in this style. That’s the 'plain question' form, often used by parents. -ㄴ다 is the 'plain statement' that answers it. It’s the most 'naked' version of the Korean language. It shows the raw meaning without the social fluff.