Building Bigger Noun Blocks
When you combine a modifier form with a broad, general noun, you create a versatile noun block . This block groups a long description into a single unit that can act as the subject, object, or location in a longer sentence.
The most common general nouns used this way are:
사람 (person / people)
것 (thing / fact)
곳 (place / location)
일 (work / task / matter)
People and Things (사람, 것)
Describing People (사람)
You can use 사람 to describe someone who does an action or has a certain trait.
Finished Sentence · Noun Block
한국어를 공부해요.
(They study Korean.) · 한국어를 공부하는 사람
(people who study Korean)
매운 음식을 잘 먹어요.
(They eat spicy food well.) · 매운 음식을 잘 먹는 사람
(a person who eats spicy food well)
Describing Things (것)
것 refers to a physical object or an abstract thing.
Finished Sentence · Noun Block
제가 샀어요.
(I bought it.) · 제가 산 것
(the thing I bought)
제가 제일 좋아해요.
(I like it the most.) · 제가 제일 좋아하는 것
(the thing I like the most)
Places and Tasks (곳, 일)
Describing Places (곳)
곳 is used to describe a location where an action happens.
Finished Sentence · Noun Block
친구가 살아요.
(My friend lives there.) · 친구가 사는 곳
(the place where my friend lives)
우리가 만날 거예요.
(We will meet there.) · 우리가 만날 곳
(the place where we will meet)