(으)ㄴ/는지 = don’t know, wonder, whether or not | The most diverse grammar in Korean

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Today’s lesson is about -ㄴ/은/는지

The -ㄴ/은/는지 grammar in Korean is a connective ending that is commonly used to connect a clause with a verb that expresses knowledge (알다, 알아보다), curiosity (궁금하다), or an inquiry (질문하다).

It doesn’t really have a one size fits all translation. BUT It’s often translated as “who/what/where/how/when” in English and works with verbs such as “to know ” “to teach” “to ask ” “to investigate,” and more.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

저 여자가 누구인지 아세요?

Do you know who that girl is?

요즘 얼마나 바쁜지 모릅니다.

You don’t know how busy I’ve been these days.

Kaist에 어떻게 가는지 알아요?

Do you know how to go to KAIST?

어제 무엇을 했는지 생각 안 나요.

I can’t remember what I did yesterday.

김치찌개를 어떻게 만드는지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know how to make kimchi stew.

비가 언제 그치는지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know when the rain will stop.

민수가 어디에 갔는지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know where Minsu went.

So basically 는지 is used to express uncertainty, whether/if, or to ask indirect questions.

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The present tense form : “는지” for verbs and “ㄴ/은지” for adjectives.

Adjectives ending in consonant - 은지

Adjectives ending in vowels - ㄴ지

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

Translate

I wonder (궁금하다) if the weather is good.

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The past tense form is : “ㄴ/은지“ for verbs or 었/았/했는지

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

Translate

I don’t know why Minji came late yesterday.

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The past tense form for adjectives is 었/았/했는지

PRACTICE TIME:

Translate these sentences

I don’t remember if he was tall (or not).

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민지의 셔츠는 이렇게 작았는지 몰랐어요.

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The future tense form is : “ㄹ/을지” for both verbs and adjectives

Example:

민수가 김치 먹을지 몰라요.

I don’t know Minju will eat Kimchi.

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

I don’t know what I will wear / I don’t know what to wear.

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I don’t know how to say it in Korean.

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>sometimes the “future tense” form is translated as just “to Verb”.

I.e., I don’t know how to say it

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SECOND FORM (for Verbs): 말지

CONJUGATION:

Verbs ending in a consonant - 을지

먹을지 말지 모르겠어 – “I’m not sure whether to eat or not.”

Verbs ending in a vowel - ㄹ지

갈지 말지 모르겠어 – “I’m not sure whether to go or not.”

Example:

이거 좋을지 모르겠어요. 살지 말지 고민 중이에요.

I’m not sure if this one will be good. I’m debating whether to buy it or not.

(to be debating.. thinking - 고민하다)

“말지” is a form of the verb 말다, which means “to stop” or “to not do something.” It’s used to express indecision or doubt about whether to do something. It is only used with verbs!

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

Translate

I’m not sure whether to go to work or not.

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SECOND FORM (for Adjectives): -아닌지

For adjectives, you can use 아닌지 (to not be):

좋은지 아닌지 모르겠어 – “I’m not sure whether it’s good or not.”

예쁜지 아닌지 모르겠어 – “I’m not sure if it’s pretty or not.”

PRACTICE TIME:

Translate both sentences

I don’t know whether this movie is long or not.

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THIRD USAGE: opposites

Verb 1-(으)ㄴ/는지 Verb 2-(으)ㄴ/는지: Used when comparing two actions.

Example Sentences:

내일 날씨가 좋은지 나쁜지 알아요?

Do you know whether tomorrow’s weather is good or bad?

우리 딸이 방에서 자는지 공부하는지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know if our daughter is sleeping or studying in her room.

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

Translate

I don’t know if we will go out to eat or cook at home.

THIRD USAGE: negations

Verb 1-(으)ㄴ/는지 안 Verb 1-(으)ㄴ/는지: This is used to create “whether or not” sentences.

Example Sentences:

여자 친구가 있는지 없는지 궁금해요.

I wonder if you have a girlfriend or not.

우리 딸이 공부하는지 안 하는지 모르겠어요.

I don’t know if our daughter is studying or not.

PRACTICE SENTENCE:

Translate

Do you know whether Minji is coming or not?

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ANSWER KEY:

Answers are all in order

날씨가 좋은지 궁근해요.

민지가 어제 왜 늦게 온지 몰라요

민지가 어제 왜 늦게 왔는지 모르겠어요

그는 키가 큰지 기억 안 나요

그는 키가 컸는지 기억 안 나요

I didn’t know Minji’s shirt was/is that small.

저는 뭐 입을지 몰라요. / 모르겠어요.

한국어로 어떻게 말할지 모르겠아요.

출근할지 말지 모르겠어요

이 영화가 긴지 아닌지 모르겠어요.

민지가 오는지 안 오는지 알아요?

우리는 외식할지 집에서 요리할지 모르겠어요.

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