Everything you need to use background and mild contrast (-(으)ㄴ/는데) correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
-(으)ㄴ/는데 is a versatile connecting ending: it supplies background, marks a mild contrast, or simply leads into what comes next. It is softer than -지만 and needs no clear opposition. Key patterns: Background information: '... and yet' or '... but then'; A contrasting quality, or background; Contracted after a vowel + ㄴ데.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb, present → 는데 | V stem + 는데 Background information: '... and yet' or '... but then' | 지금 바쁜데 나중에 얘기해요. I am busy right now, so let's talk later. |
| Adjective with a consonant stem → 은데 | A contrasting quality, or background | 이 옷은 예쁜데 비싸요. These clothes are pretty, but they are expensive. |
| Adjective with a vowel stem → ㄴ데 | Contracted after a vowel + ㄴ데 | 집이 큰데 조용해요. The house is big, and it is quiet. |
| Noun + 인데 | N + 인데 It is..., but then... | 학생인데 공부를 안 해요. He is a student, but he does not study. |
Setting the scene before raising the point
Softer than -지만; it only hints at a contrast
Opening a story or leading into new information
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 바쁘는데 · 바쁘은데 · 바쁜는데 · 바쁜데
바쁜데. 바쁘다 is an adjective whose stem ends in a vowel, so it takes ㄴ데: 바쁜데 (는데 is only for verbs and 있다/없다). The sentence means "I am busy now, so shall we meet tomorrow?"
Options: ㄴ데 · 는대 · 는데 · 은데
는데. 맛있다 ends in 있다, so it always takes 는데: 맛있는데. The sentence means "This food is good, but the portion is small."
Options: 어제 가게에 가는데 값이 너무 비쌌어요. · 어제 가게에 가서 값이 너무 비쌌어요. · 어제 가게에 갔는데 값이 너무 비쌌어요. · 어제 가게에 갔은데 값이 너무 비쌌어요.
어제 가게에 갔는데 값이 너무 비쌌어요.. 갔는데 supplies past background - 'I went, and as it turned out...'
Options: 학생는데 돈이 없어요. · 학생은데 돈이 없어요. · 학생이는데 돈이 없어요. · 학생인데 돈이 없어요.
학생인데 돈이 없어요.. Noun + 인데 (이다 becomes 인데): 학생인데 means "being a student...". 는데 or 은데 never attach directly to a noun. The sentence means "I am a student, so I do not have money."
Options: 이 식당 음식이 맛있는데 같이 갈까요? · 이 식당 음식이 맛있어서 같이 갈까요? · 이 식당 음식이 맛있은데 같이 갈까요? · 이 식당 음식이 맛있지만 같이 갈까요?
이 식당 음식이 맛있는데 같이 갈까요?. Give the background - it is good - then make the invitation, which calls for 는데: 맛있는데 같이 갈까요? is 'It is good, shall we go together?'
Options: 고 · 는데 · 아서 · 은데
는데. A present verb takes 는데, giving 오는데, which sets the scene before the question. The sentence means "It is raining now. Do you have an umbrella?"
Options: 좋는데 · 좋안데 · 좋으는데 · 좋은데
좋은데. An adjective stem ending in a consonant takes 은데, giving 좋은데. The sentence means "The weather is nice. Shall we go to the park?"
Options: 는데 · 은데 · 이는데 · 인데
인데. Noun + 인데 (이다 becomes 인데). 생일인데 sets the scene: "it is my birthday". The sentence means "It is my birthday today. Do you want to have dinner together?"
Options: 본데 · 봐는데 · 봤는데 · 봤은데
봤는데. Past 았/었 + 는데 gives 봤는데 (never 봤은데). The sentence means "I saw that movie yesterday, and it was really fun."
Options: 커는데 · 크는데 · 큰는데 · 큰데
큰데. An adjective stem ending in a vowel takes ㄴ데, giving 큰데. 크는데 is the verb pattern and is wrong for an adjective. The sentence means "This is a bit big. Do you have another size?"
Options: ㄴ데 · 는데 · 으는데 · 은데
는데. Words ending in 있다/없다 always take 는데: 없는데. The sentence means "I do not have any money right now. Could you lend me some?"
Options: 그 식당에 가 보는데 음식이 아주 맛있었어요. · 그 식당에 가 본는데 음식이 아주 맛있었어요. · 그 식당에 가 봤는데 음식이 아주 맛있었어요. · 그 식당에 가 봤은데 음식이 아주 맛있었어요.
그 식당에 가 봤는데 음식이 아주 맛있었어요.. A past event as background: 았/었 + 는데, giving 가 봤는데. The sentence means "I tried that restaurant, and the food was very good."
Options: 오늘은 더우는데 어제는 시원했어요. · 오늘은 더운데 어제는 시원했어요. · 오늘은 덥는데 어제는 시원했어요. · 오늘은 덥은데 어제는 시원했어요.
오늘은 더운데 어제는 시원했어요.. 덥다 is an ㅂ-irregular adjective: ㅂ becomes 우, plus ㄴ데, giving 더운데. The sentence means "It is hot today, but yesterday was cool."
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