Lesson 21
The verb ending in this lesson has an incredibly versatile meaning. While the basic structure ends in -데, the words or phrases which come right before -데 change a bit.
Conjugation
- -는데 is used after action verbs, after 있다 and 없다, and after -았 or -겠.
- -은데 is used after descriptive verbs which have a final consonant in the verb stem, except for the consonant ㄹ.
- -ㄴ데 is used after descriptive verbs which end in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ(in this case, ㄹ is dropped), and after 이다 and 아니다.
Ex)
하다 → 하는데
있다 → 있는데
먹다 → 먹는데
작다 → 작은데
좁다 → 좁은데
예쁘다 → 예쁜데
멀다 → 먼데
Variety of Usages
The way this ending can be used is very diverse.
Usage 1
Explaining the background or the situation before making a suggestion, a request, or a question.
Ex)
내일 일요일인데, 뭐 할 거예요?
= It is Sunday tomorrow + (-ㄴ데) + what are you going to do?
Usage 2
Explaining the situation first before explaining what happened.
Ex)
어제 자고 있었는데, 한국에서 전화가 왔어요.
= I was sleeping yesterday + (-는데) + I got a phone call from Korea.
Usage 3
Showing a result or situation which is contrasting to the previous action or situation.
Ex)
아직 9시인데 벌써 졸려요.
= It is still 9 o’clock but I am already sleepy.
The second part (after -는데) can be omitted when the meaning is easily implied.
Ex)
준비 많이 했는데(요)...
= I prepared a lot, but…
Usage 4
Showing surprise or exclamation.
Ex)
멋있는데(요)!
= Oh, that is cool!
Usage 5
Asking a question (expecting some explanation about a situation or behavior).
Ex)
지금 어디에 있는데(요)?
= So where are you now?
Usage 6
Expecting an answer or a response.
Ex)
지금(요)? 지금 바쁜데(요).
= Now? I am busy now, so…
Sample Sentences
내일 친구 생일인데, 선물을 아직 못 샀어요.
= It is my friend’s birthday tomorrow, but I have not been able to buy a present.
이거 일본에서 샀는데, 선물이에요.
= I bought this in Japan, and it is a present for you.
오늘 뉴스에서 봤는데, 그거 진짜예요?
= I saw it in the news today. Is that for real?
이거 좋은데요!
= I like this! / This is good!
어? 여기 있었는데.
= Huh? It was here...
영화 재미있었는데, 무서웠어요.
= The movie was interesting, but it was scary.
영화 봤는데, 무서웠어요.
= I saw a movie, and it was scary.
저 지금 학생인데, 일도 하고 있어요.
= I am a student now, but I am working, too.