How about we get dinner later? (Making Suggestions)

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?

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?

While ~는 게 어때요? is the standard way to make a suggestion, a subtle change to ~는 건 어때요? adds a specific nuance of contrast or presenting an alternative idea.

~는 게 어때요?: A General Suggestion

This is the most common and neutral form for proposing an activity. It simply asks for the other person's opinion on a single idea.

Use this when you're making the first suggestion in a conversation or when the suggestion flows naturally from the context.

Example: 그럼 우리 저녁 먹고 가는 게 어때요? (Then how about we get dinner before we go?)

~는 건 어때요?: Suggesting an Alternative

This form, using ~는 건 (a contraction of ~는 것은), is often used to propose a different option, especially after a previous suggestion was met with hesitation.

It highlights the new idea as a contrast to the one before. Think of it as, "Well, if not that, then how about this?"

Example: After Minjun expresses reluctance to go out for a movie, Yuna suggests: 그럼 집에서 넷플릭스 보는 건 어때? (Then how about watching Netflix at home?).

저녁 먹고 가는 게 어때요? / 집에서 넷플릭스 보는 건 어때?

To make your suggestions sound more natural, you can combine ~는 게 어때요? with introductory phrases that provide context or a reason.

Starting with 그럼 (Then / In that case)

그럼 is frequently used to link your suggestion to what was just said. It shows that your idea is a logical next step based on the conversation.

Example: After agreeing they are both hungry, Jihun says, 그럼 우리 저녁 먹고 가는 게 어때요? (Then how about we get dinner before we go?).

Providing Context or Reason

Stating a reason before your suggestion makes it more persuasive and relevant. You can use phrases like ~는데 (since/so) or 이럴 땐 (in a situation like this).

Example with ~는데: 학교 앞에 새로 생긴 파스타집이 있는데 가 보는 게 어때요? (There's a new pasta place in front of the school, so how about we check it out?)

Example with 이럴 땐: 오늘 날씨가 진짜 좋잖아? 이럴 땐 공원에서 산책하는 게 어때? (The weather is so nice today, isn't it? On a day like this, how about taking a walk in the park?)

그럼 우리 저녁 먹고 가는 게 어때요? / 이럴 땐 공원에서 산책하는 게 어때?

The politeness level of this suggestion pattern can be easily adjusted by changing the ending of 어때요?.

Polite Form: ~는 게 어때요?

Context: This is the standard polite form you'll use in most daily situations. It's perfect for speaking with colleagues, classmates, new acquaintances, or anyone you use 해요체 (polite, informal speech) with. It's friendly but still shows respect.

Example: 점심 먹고 커피 마시는 게 어때요? (How about we get coffee after lunch?)

Casual Form: ~는 게 어때?

Context: This is the 반말 (casual speech) version. Use it only with close friends, younger siblings, or people you have an established casual relationship with. Using this with someone who expects politeness can be considered rude.

Polite: 가는 게 어때요? / Casual: 가는 게 어때?