Modifying Nouns with Verbs (-는, -ㄴ/은, -ㄹ/을)

In Korean, you can use a verb to describe a noun, much like an adjective. This creates a descriptive clause that tells you more about the noun, such as "the person who is reading " or "the food I ate ".

A key difference from English is word order. In Korean, the modifying verb phrase always comes before the noun it describes.

English: the book that I will read

Korean: 제가 읽을 책

The verb's ending changes to show the tense of the action (present, past, or future). Let's look at how to form these for each tense.

To describe a noun with an action that is currently happening or is a general, repeated action, you attach -는 to the action verb stem.

This form is simple because it's the same for all action verbs, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Formation Rule

Action Verb Stem + -는 + Noun

Verb · Stem · Modifier Form · Example

가다 · 가 · 가는 · 가는 사람 (a person who goes/is going)

먹다 · 먹 · 먹는 · 먹는 음식

만들다 · 만들 · 만드는 · 만드는 사람 (a person who makes/is making)

Note on 있다/없다: The descriptive verbs 있다 (to exist/have) and 없다 (to not exist/not have) are exceptions. They behave like action verbs in this case and take -는 . For example, 재미 있는 영화.

To describe a noun with an action that was completed in the past, you attach -ㄴ or -은 to the action verb stem.

The form you use depends on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Formation Rules

Verb stem ending in a vowel: + -ㄴ

Verb stem ending in a consonant: + -은

Verb · Stem Ends In · Modifier Form · Example

보다 · Vowel (보) · 본 · 본 영화

살다 · ㄹ (살) · 산 · 서울에 산 사람

읽다 · Consonant (읽) · 읽은 · 읽은 책