Core Pattern Rule: Quoting Questions with -(느)냐고
This pattern is used to report or indirectly quote a question. It's the Korean equivalent of "(someone) asks if/what/where/why..."
Formation
The ending -(느)냐고 attaches to a verb or adjective stem, followed by a verb like 하다 (to say) or 묻다 (to ask).
Verbs: Attach -느냐고. In casual speech, this is almost always shortened to -냐고.
가다 → 가느냐고 → 가냐고 (Are you going?)
먹다 → 먹느냐고 → 먹냐고 (Are you eating?)
Adjectives: Attach -(으)냐고.
바쁘다 → 바쁘냐고 (Are you busy?)
괜찮다 → 괜찮으냐고 → 괜찮냐고 (Are you okay?)
Nouns + 이다: Attach -(이)냐고.
학생이다 → 학생이냐고 (Are you a student?)
누구다 → 누구냐고 (Who is it?)
Past Tense (-았/었-): Attach -았/었냐고.
했다 → 했냐고 (Did you do it?)
Future Tense (-(으)ㄹ 거다): Attach -(으)ㄹ 거냐고.
먹을 거다 → 먹을 거냐고 (Are you going to eat?)
너 오냐고 묻던데? / 지금 바쁘냐고 물었어. / 먹을 거냐고 물어봐. / 했냐고 물었어.
Choosing Your Quoting Verb: 하다 vs. 묻다
After the -(느)냐고 form, you need a verb to complete the quote. The most common choices are 묻다 (to ask), 물어보다 (to ask), and 하다 (to say).
묻다 / 물어보다 (to ask)
These are the most direct and clear verbs for quoting a question. 물어보다 is extremely common in spoken Korean and is often preferred over 묻다 in casual conversation. They are largely interchangeable.
Use when: You want to be explicit that a question was asked.
하다 / 그렇다 (to say)
하다 (often in the form 그래 or 그랬어) is a general quoting verb for any type of statement. While it means "to say," it can be used to quote questions when the context makes it obvious, especially if a question word like 왜 (why) or 어디 (where) is present.
Use when: The context is clear, or you're reporting speech more generally.
시간 있냐고 물어봤어. / 그 사람 누구냐고 물었어. / 왜 안 하냐고 그랬어.