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-는가Korean sentence ending · TOPIK 6

-neun-ga

TOPIK 6 6급Sentence Endings 종결 어미raising an issue 문제 제기2 senses

One sentence ending with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-는가-ㄴ가-은가

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

A sentence-final ending used when the speaker is asking himself/herself or assuming something.

말하는 사람이 스스로에게 묻거나 추측할 때 쓰는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Usually used as -는가 하다, -는가 싶다 or -는가 보다.

주로 ‘-는가 하다’, ‘-는가 싶다’, ‘-는가 보다’로 쓴다.

예문Examples

내가 여기서 무얼 하고 있는가.

What am I doing here?

머뭇거리는 걸 보니 자신이 없는가 보구나.

Seeing him hesitate, he must not be confident.

나는 그가 왜 그냥 갔는가 하며 궁금해했다.

I wondered why he left without a word.

대화In conversation

지수가 열이 심하다던데 좀 어때요?

I heard Jisu has a high fever. How is she?

좀 나아지는가 싶으면 열이 또 오르고 그래서 걱정이에요.

Just when I think she's getting better, the fever goes up again, so I'm worried.

(formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to a question about a fact of the present.

(예사 낮춤으로) 현재의 사실에 대한 물음을 나타내는 종결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs, the honorific -으시-, the past -었- or the future -겠-.

동사 또는 ‘-으시-’, ‘-었-’, ‘-겠-’ 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

무엇 하는가? 어서 가지 않고.

What are you doing? Why aren't you going?

김 군은 미국으로 언제 떠나는가?

When are you leaving for America, Kim?

자네 표정이 좋지 않은데 무슨 일이 있는가?

You don't look well. Is something the matter?

대화In conversation

오래 기다렸는가?

Did I keep you waiting long?

아닐세. 나도 좀 아까 왔다네.

No, I just got here myself.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other sentence endings you will meet alongside this one.

-거들랑 -geodeullang -걸랑 (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending referring to the reason, cause, or basis for the preceding statement that the speaker thought… TOPIK 6 -게 -ge (formal, moderately addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when ordering a person who is younger or has close friendly ties with you. TOPIK 6 -게 -ge (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the following content would obviously be realized if the preceding content… TOPIK 6 -구려 -guryeo (formal, moderately addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to indicate that the speaker is impressed by a newly realized fact. TOPIK 6 -그려 geuryeo A postpositional particle used when the speaker talks about what he/she says to the listener in a friendly manner. TOPIK 6 -나 -na (informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking or assuming something. TOPIK 6

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -는가 mean in Korean?

-는가 is a sentence ending introduced at 6급 (TOPIK 6). A sentence-final ending used when the speaker is asking himself/herself or assuming something. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -는가?

Usually used as -는가 하다, -는가 싶다 or -는가 보다. The other shape is -ㄴ가, -은가 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -는가 and -ㄴ가?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same sentence ending, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -는가?

6급 — TOPIK 6, mastery. It is one of 56 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.