When you make a noun or noun clause from a verb, there are three ways to make, which are -기, -는 것, -음.
-기 is used for unfinished action or idioms; it often used with emotion adjectives or some action verbs. These are the adjectives and verbs that are often used with -기.
좋다(good) | 이곳은 보석을 보관하기에 좋습니다. | This place is good for storage jewelry. |
싫다(hate) | 혼자 있기 싫어요. | I don’t like being alone. |
쉽다(easy) | 집 찾기가 쉬웠어요. | It was easy to find the house. |
어렵다(difficult) | 집 찾기가 어려웠어요. | It was difficult to find the house. |
힘들다(difficult) | 집 찾기가 힘들었어요. | It was difficult to find the house. |
즐기다(enjoy) | 줄타기를 즐기는 사람들 | People who enjoy rope walking. |
좋아하다(like) | 식물 기르기를 좋아해요. | I like growing plants. |
싫어하다(hate) | 청소하기를 싫어합니다. | I don’t like cleaning. |
두려워하다(scare) | 학교 가기를 두려워합니다. | He was afraid of going to school. |
바라다(hope) | 모두 무사하기를 바랍니다. | I hope everyone is fine. |
희망하다(hope) | 다시 뵙기를 희망합니다. | I wish we can see each other again. |
기원하다(hope) | 사업이 잘 되시기를 기원합니다. | I wish your company’s prosperity. |
시작하다(start) | 눈이 아프기 시작했습니다. | My eyes started aching. |
약속하다(promise) | 오늘 숙제를 같이 하기로 약속했어요. | We promised to do homework together. |
As you can see, it is often used with these adjectives and verbs which are mostly related to ‘Emotion’ or ‘Unfinished’. It is also used for idioms, for example,
– 식은 죽 먹기. Piece of cake! (Eat cold porridge.)
– 하늘의 별 따기. Impossible! (Catch a star in the sky.)
-(으)ㅁ is used for finished action or an action that has already happened, so you can add the past tense in front of -음. These are the adjectives and verbs that are often used with -음.
분명하다(clear) | 뭔가를 숨기고 있음이 분명하다. | He is definitely hiding something. |
틀림없다(must be true) | 그 사람도 한몫 했음에 틀림없다. | She/he must participate too. |
드러나다(be exposed) | 민수의 이야기가 거짓임이 드러났다. | Minsu’s story is revealed in a lie. |
알려지다(come out) | 민수의 이야기가 거짓임이 알려졌다. | Minsu’s story is revealed in a lie. |
밝혀지다(be found) | 민수의 이야기가 거짓임이 밝혀졌다. | Minsu’s story is revealed in a lie. |
깨닫다(realize) | 이미 늦었음을 깨달았다. | I realized it is too late. |
알다(know) | 범죄를 저질렀음을 알고 있었다. | I knew he commit a crime. |
주장하다(claim) | 환경보호의 중요함을 주장했다. | He claimed the importance of environmental protection. |
알리다(tell) | 비가 가을이 왔음을 알려주고 있다. | The rain tells us the Fall already has come. |
As you can see, it is often used with adjectives or verbs that mostly mean ‘judgement, knowledge, fact, report or finished action’. We also use 음 to shorten the final sentence of documents, for example,
– 사실과 다르지 않음을 증명합니다. I certify that is authentic.
– 사람을 찾음. Missing! (Looking for a person)
-는 것(-는 거) is more flexible than -기 or -음. You can use -는 것 instead of -기 or -음 except for fixed grammar like -기에 좋다, -기를 바라다/희망하다/기원하다, -기 시작하다, -기로 (약속)하다, -기만 하다, -기도 하다 etc.
– 집에 혼자 있는 것이 싫어요. = 집에 혼자 있기 싫어요.
– 집 찾는 것이 쉬웠어요. = 집 찾기가 쉬웠어요.
– 청소하는 것을 싫어해요. = 청소하기를 싫어해요.
– 뭔가 숨기고 있는 것이 분명해요. = 뭔가 숨기고 있음이 분명해요.
– 범죄를 저지른 것을 알고 있었다. = 범죄를 저질렀음을 알고 있었다.
than
hello
what’s the difference between -는 것 and -는 거 ? for example what’s the difference between 웃는거 and 웃는것? I see the first one is more used than the second.
것 is formal way to say 거. 것 is for writing and 거 is for conversation.
This cleared my mind a lot. 감사합니다!