Nominalizing Verbs in Korean — -기 and -는 것 Explained Simply

<h2>Why Nominalize a Verb?</h2> <p>In English, we do it all the time without thinking: "swimming is good for your health," "I like reading." The verb becomes a subject or object. In Korean, you can't just drop a verb into those positions — you need to <strong>nominalize</strong> it, meaning turn it into a noun.</p> <p>After 12 years in Seoul, I can tell you this is one of the most commonly used structures in daily life. And the good news: there are only two main forms to learn.</p> <h2>The Two Tools: -기 and -는 것</h2> <h3>-기: The Short Nominalization</h3> <p>Add <strong>-기</strong> (gi) to the verb stem:</p> <table> <tr><th>Verb</th><th>Stem</th><th>+ -기</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>읽다 (ikda)</td><td>읽-</td><td>읽기 (ikgi)</td><td>reading</td></tr> <tr><td>쓰다 (sseuda)</td><td>쓰-</td><td>쓰기 (sseugi)</td><td>writing</td></tr> <tr><td>듣다 (deutda)</td><td>듣-</td><td>듣기 (deutgi)</td><td>listening</td></tr> <tr><td>말하다 (malhada)</td><td>말하-</td><td>말하기 (malhagi)</td><td>speaking</td></tr> <tr><td>달리다 (dallida)</td><td>달리-</td><td>달리기 (dalligi)</td><td>running</td></tr> </table> <p>You might recognize these forms — they're also used for language skills on the [TOPIK](/en/blog/topik-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-korean-exam) test: 읽기, 쓰기, 듣기, 말하기.</p> <h3>-는 것: The Long Nominalization</h3> <p>Add <strong>-는 것</strong> (neun geot) to the verb:</p> <table> <tr><th>Verb</th><th>+ -는 것</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>먹다 (meokda)</td><td>먹는 것 (meongneun geot)</td><td>the act of eating / what one eats</td></tr> <tr><td>보다 (boda)</td><td>보는 것 (boneun geot)</td><td>the act of seeing / what one sees</td></tr> <tr><td>배우다 (baeuda)</td><td>배우는 것 (baeuneun geot)</td><td>the act of learning</td></tr> <tr><td>사랑하다 (saranghada)</td><td>사랑하는 것 (saranghaneun geot)</td><td>the act of loving</td></tr> </table> <p>In spoken Korean, 것 often contracts to <strong>거</strong> (geo): 먹는 거 (meongneun geo).</p> <h2>When to Use -기 vs -는 것</h2> <h3>-기 is preferred with:</h3> <table> <tr><th>Expression</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>-기 쉽다</td><td>한국어는 배우기 쉬워요. (hangugeoneun baeugi swiwoyo)</td><td>Korean is easy to learn.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기 어렵다</td><td>한자는 읽기 어려워요. (hanjaneun ikgi eoryeowoyo)</td><td>Hanja are difficult to read.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기 좋다</td><td>오늘은 달리기 좋은 날이에요. (oneureun dalligi joeun narieyo)</td><td>Today is a good day for running.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기 시작하다</td><td>비가 오기 시작했어요. (biga ogi sijakaesseoyo)</td><td>It started raining.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기 전에</td><td>자기 전에 이를 닦아요. (jagi jeone ireul dakkayo)</td><td>I brush my teeth before sleeping.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기 때문에</td><td>바쁘기 때문에 못 갔어요. (bappeugi ttaemune mot gasseoyo)</td><td>I couldn't go because I was busy.</td></tr> <tr><td>-기로 하다</td><td>한국에 가기로 했어요. (hanguge gagiro haesseoyo)</td><td>I decided to go to Korea.</td></tr> </table> <h3>-는 것 is preferred with:</h3> <table> <tr><th>Expression</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>-는 것을 좋아하다</td><td>음악 듣는 것을 좋아해요. (eumak deutneun geoseul joahaeyo)</td><td>I like listening to music.</td></tr> <tr><td>-는 것이 중요하다</td><td>매일 연습하는 것이 중요해요. (maeil yeonseupaneun geosi jungyohaeyo)</td><td>It's important to practice every day.</td></tr> <tr><td>-는 것 [같다](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%99%EB%8B%A4)</td><td>비가 오는 것 같아요. (biga oneun geot gatayo)</td><td>It seems like it's raining.</td></tr> <tr><td>As subject</td><td>한국어를 배우는 것은 재미있어요. (hangugeoreul baeuneun geoseun jaemiisseoyo)</td><td>Learning Korean is fun.</td></tr> </table> <h2>The Tense Trap with -는 것</h2> <p>Unlike -기, the -는 것 form changes depending on tense:</p> <table> <tr><th>Tense</th><th>Structure</th><th>Example</th><th>Meaning</th></tr> <tr><td>Present</td><td>-는 것</td><td>먹는 것 (meongneun geot)</td><td>what one eats (now)</td></tr> <tr><td>Past</td><td>-(으)ㄴ 것</td><td>먹은 것 (meogeun geot)</td><td>what one ate</td></tr> <tr><td>Future</td><td>-(으)ㄹ 것</td><td>먹을 것 (meogeul geot)</td><td>what one will eat</td></tr> </table> <p>Examples:</p> <ul> <li>어제 먹은 것이 맛있었어요. (eoje meogeun geosi masitseosseoyo) — What I ate yesterday was delicious.</li> <li>내일 할 것이 많아요. (naeil hal geosi manayo) — I have a lot to do tomorrow.</li> </ul> <h2>Fixed Expressions with -기</h2> <p>Some expressions always use -기, never -는 것:</p> <ul> <li><strong>-기 바라다</strong>: 건강하시기 바랍니다. (geonganhasigi baramnida) — I wish you good health. (very formal)</li> <li><strong>-기 위해서</strong>: 합격하기 위해서 열심히 공부했어요. (hapgyeokagi wihaeseo yeolsimhi gongbuhaesseoyo) — I studied hard to pass.</li> <li><strong>-기는 하다</strong>: 맛있기는 해요. (masitgineun haeyo) — It IS good, I'll give you that. (concession)</li> </ul> <h2>Exercises</h2> <p>Complete with -기 or -는 것:</p> <ol> <li>한국어를 배우___은 재미있어요. (Learning Korean is fun.)</li> <li>이 노래는 부르___ 쉬워요. (This song is easy to sing.)</li> <li>매일 운동하___ 것이 중요해요. (Exercising every day is important.)</li> <li>내일 가___ 시작할 거예요. (I'll start going tomorrow.)</li> </ol> <p><strong>Answers:</strong></p> <ol> <li>배우는 것 (-는 것 as subject)</li> <li>부르기 (-기 쉽다)</li> <li>운동하는 (-는 것이 중요하다)</li> <li>가기 (-기 시작하다)</li> </ol> <h2>Final Words</h2> <p>Nominalization is the gateway to more complex and natural Korean sentences. Without it, you're stuck making simple sentences. With it, you can express abstract ideas, opinions, and feelings.</p> <p>On <a href="/en/signup">Seonsaengnim</a>, you practice these structures in real contexts — conversations, K-pop, interactive quizzes. Sign up and level up every day.</p>