Core Grammar Rule: ~는 게 어때요?
This pattern is a gentle and friendly way to make a suggestion to someone. It translates to "How about doing...?" and is less direct than imperative commands, making it a very common and polite way to propose an activity.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: It combines a verb with ~는 것 (the act of doing something) and 어때요? (how is it?), literally asking "How is the act of doing [verb]?"
When to use: Use it when you want to suggest an action to a friend, colleague, or someone you are comfortable with. It invites their opinion rather than giving an order, which makes the conversation feel collaborative and friendly. It's perfect for planning activities together, like deciding where to eat, what to watch, or where to go.
Conjugation Rules
Rule: This pattern is attached to action verb stems. The form is always Verb Stem + ~는 게 어때요?. It doesn't change based on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Verb Stem + ~는 게 어때요?
How to Respond to Suggestions
When someone suggests something with ~는 게 어때요?, knowing how to respond naturally is key to a smooth conversation.
Accepting a Suggestion
Context: To show you like the idea and agree to it, you can use simple, positive expressions. The most common and natural response is 좋아요 (Good / Sounds good). You can also be more enthusiastic.
Example: A: 우리 영화 보는 게 어때요? (How about we watch a movie?) B: 네 좋아요. (Yes, sounds good.) / 좋은 생각이에요. (That's a good idea.)
Declining or Suggesting an Alternative
Context: If you don't like the suggestion or have another idea, it's polite to first acknowledge their suggestion before declining or offering a new one. You can use phrases like 음... 글쎄요 (Hmm... well) to soften your response. Then, you can state a reason and propose something else.
Example: A: 파스타 먹는 게 어때요? (How about we eat pasta?) B: 파스타는 어제 먹어서요. 우리 떡볶이 먹는 게 어때요? (I had pasta yesterday. How about we eat tteokbokki instead?)
Yes: 좋아요 / 좋은 생각이에요 / No: 별로예요 / 다른 거 하는 게 어때요?