Overview
This grammatical pattern is used to indirectly quote a declarative statement made by someone else, or to identify a noun by its name or description. It is a shortened form of the full indirect quotation markers -다고 하다 (for verbs/adjectives) and -이라고 하다 (for nouns), and is often used when the quoted content modifies a following noun or is part of a larger sentence structure.
Usage
- V+(ㄴ/는)다는: This form is attached to verb stems (action verbs and descriptive verbs/adjectives) to report a declarative statement. It signifies that the preceding clause is information that was stated or is generally known. It can be used to report someone else's words or to express one's own thoughts in a more objective or generalized manner.
- Example: 친구가 내일 시험이 어렵다는 말을 했어요. (My friend said that tomorrow's exam would be difficult.)
- N+(이)라는: This form is attached to nouns to introduce them by their name, title, or description. It functions similarly to "called X" or "which is X." It can also be used to indirectly quote a noun or a short noun phrase.
- Example: 저는 '사랑'이라는 단어를 좋아해요. (I like the word 'love'.)
Conjugation Rules
1. Verbs (V+(ㄴ/는)다는)
A. Present Tense
- Action Verbs:
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: -ㄴ다는 (ㄹ drops)
- 가다 (to go) → 간다는
- 만들다 (to make) → 만든다는
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant: -는다는
- Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives):
- Regardless of ending: -다는
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘다는
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋다는
B. Past Tense
- Attach -았/었다는 to the verb/adjective stem.
- 먹다 → 먹었다는
- 가다 → 갔다는
- 예쁘다 → 예뻤다는
- 하다 → 했다는
C. Future Tense
- Attach -(으)ㄹ 거라는 to the verb/adjective stem.
2. Nouns (N+(이)라는)
- If the noun ends in a vowel: -라는
- 의사 (doctor) → 의사라는
- 친구 (friend) → 친구라는
- If the noun ends in a consonant: -이라는
- 학생 (student) → 학생이라는
- 책 (book) → 책이라는
Knowledge Plus
This pattern is frequently used to modify a following noun, acting as a descriptive clause. For example, "~다는 소식" (the news that ~), "~다는 이야기" (the story that ~), "~라는 사람" (a person called ~). It allows for embedding quoted information smoothly within a sentence. Remember that this form is specifically for declarative statements and noun identification. For other types of indirect quotations:
- Commands: -(으)라는
- Questions: -(느)냐는
- Proposals: -자는