Transformative Endings in Korean: Learn -기, -는, -고, -게 with Real-Life Examples

Table of Contents

- Chapter 1: What Are Transformative Endings?

- Chapter 2: Detailed Explanation for Each Ending

- Chapter 3: Comparison with Other Ending Types

- Chapter 4: Real-Life Examples Using Transformative Endings (전성어미)

- Chapter 5: Practice and Quiz

- Appendix: All Answer Keys

📘 Chapter 1: What Are Transformative Endings?

Transformative endings (전성어미) are special grammatical endings in Korean that change the role of a verb or adjective in a sentence. Instead of simply stating an action or state, these endings transform that action or state into something nominal, descriptive, quoted, or purpose-driven, allowing speakers to expand sentences with greater flexibility, creativity, and nuance.

 

1. Why Are Transformative Endings Important?

Unlike final endings (종결어미) that end a sentence or connective endings (연결어미) that link clauses, transformative endings reshape the predicate. Hence, it functions in different grammatical roles—as a noun, adjective, quote, or goal.

Ending Type	Function	Example	Meaning
-기	Nominalization	걷기는 좋아요.	Walking is nice.
-는/-은/-던	Modifier	읽는 책이 재미있어요.	The book I’m reading is fun.
-고	Quoting	가기 싫다고 했어요.	They said they don't want to go.
-게	Purpose/Result	조용히 하게 만들었어요.	I made them be quiet.

 

2. Real-Life Utility: Transformative Endings in Action

① Everyday Life

- "운동하기가 싫어요."
→"I don’t want to work out." (Nominalized action as subject)

- "먹는 음식이 달라요."
→ "The food I eat is different." (Descriptive modifier)

- "친구가 오고 싶다고 했어요."
→ "My friend said they want to come." (Quoted thought)

- "늦지 않게 일찍 잤어요."
→ "I slept early so I wouldn’t be late." (Purpose/result)

 

② K-Drama Example

"널 만나게 된 건 운명 같아."
→ “It feels like fate that I got to meet you.”
→ Use of -게 된 shows a resulting transformation from action to condition.

 

3. How It Works: From Verb to New Role

Here’s how a simple verb like 보다 (to see) transforms through each type:

Transformative Ending	Sentence	English
-기 (nominal)	보기는 했어요.	I did see it.
-는 (modifier)	보는 사람	The person who is watching
-고 (quote)	보고 싶다고 했어요.	(They) said they want to see it.
-게 (purpose)	잘 보이게 정리했어요.	I organized it so it’s easy to see.

 

① Grammar Function Chart

Ending	Turns Verb Into	Usage Role	Common Contexts
-기	Noun	Subject/Object	Thoughts, preferences (e.g., 하기 싫어요)
-는/-은/-던	Adjective-like modifier	Clause Describer	Current/past descriptions (e.g., 마시는 커피)
-고	Quoted clause	Reported speech/thought	Conversation, narration (e.g., 가고 싶다고)
-게	Adverb/purpose form	Manner, result, intention	Instruction, indirect cause (e.g., 작게 말했어요)

 

4. Why Learn Transformative Endings First?

Transformative endings help you:

- Build longer, richer sentences

- Vary your speech style (formal/informal)

- Express thoughts, reasons, and goals

- Understand Korean more deeply through dramas, lyrics, and everyday speech

 

5.  Summary

Transformative endings allow verbs and adjectives to change roles within a sentence, adding versatility and depth. Whether you’re naming an action (-기), describing something (-는/-은/-던), reporting a thought (-고), or stating a purpose (-게), these endings empower you to communicate like a native speaker.

📘 Chapter 2: Detailed Explanation for Each Ending

In this section, we’ll explore the four most common transformative endings one by one. You’ll see how they function grammatically, how to use them in everyday Korean, and what kinds of expressions they create. Tables and real-life examples will help make these patterns easy to remember and apply.

1. “-기”: Turning Actions into Nouns (Nominalization)

The “-기” ending transforms a verb or adjective into a noun, allowing the action or state to function as a subject, object, or topic in a sentence.

Base Verb	With -기	Meaning
걷다	걷기	walking
먹다	먹기	eating
배우다	배우기	learning

 

📌 Usage Pattern:
[Verb/Adjective stem] + “-기” → turns into a noun

 

📌 Real-Life Examples:

- 운동하기가 너무 힘들어요.
→ Exercising is too hard.

- 한국어 배우기는 재미있어요.
→ Learning Korean is fun.

 

🐾 Tip: Often used in topic statements or general comments.

 

2. “-는/-은/-던”: Creating Descriptive Phrases (Attributive Clauses)

These endings modify nouns and describe actions related to the noun, similar to relative clauses in English. The choice among “-는,” “-은,” and “-던” depends on tense and aspect.

Ending	Tense/Aspect	Example	Meaning
-는	Present (ongoing)	읽는 책	The book [someone is] reading
-은	Past (completed)	본 영화	The movie [someone] watched
-던	Past (repetitive/incomplete)	다니던 학교	The school someone used to attend

 

📌 Usage Pattern:
[Verb stem] + “-는/-은/-던” + Noun

 

📌 Real-Life Examples:

- 요즘 읽는 책이 뭐예요?
→ What book are you reading these days?

- 전에 본 드라마 기억나요?
→ Do you remember the drama we watched before?

- 다니던 회사에 다시 가고 싶어요.
→ I want to return to the company I used to work for.

 

🐾 Tip: These forms are essential for describing things, people, and memories in Korean in a natural way.

 

3. “-고”: Quoting Speech, Thought, and Emotion

The “-고” ending is often used to quote indirect speech, thoughts, or emotional states. It attaches to the verb or adjective that is being quoted.

Sentence Type	Structure	Example
Indirect Speech	[Verb stem] + -고 말하다 / 생각하다	가고 싶다고 말했어요  They said they want to go
Emotion	[Adj stem] + -고 느끼다	슬프다고 느꼈어요  I felt sad

 

📌 Usage Pattern:
[Clause] + -고 + 말하다 / 생각하다 / 느끼다 / 하다

 

📌 Real-Life Examples:

- 가기 싫다고 했어요.
→ They said they don’t want to go.

- 그 사람이 착하다고 생각했어요.
→ I thought that person was kind.

- 행복하다고 느꼈어요.
→ I felt happy.

 

🐾 Tip: This is the foundation of indirect speech in Korean.

 

4. “-게”: Expressing Purpose, Result, or Manner

The ”-게” ending modifies the verb it attaches to and often describes how, why, or with what result an action is done.

Usage	Structure	Example	Meaning
Manner	[Adj stem] + -게	예쁘게 웃어요	Smiles beautifully
Purpose	[Verb stem] + -게 하다	공부하게 했어요	Made me study
Result	[Verb stem] + -게 되다	친해지게 됐어요	Ended up becoming close

 

📌 Usage Pattern:

[Adj/Verb] + -게 + 하다/되다/말하다/걷다 (etc.)

 

📌 Real-Life Examples:

- 크게 말하세요.
→ Please speak loudly.

- 늦지 않게 도착했어요.
→ I arrived on time (so I wouldn’t be late).

- 친구를 만나게 돼서 기뻐요.
→ I’m glad I got to meet my friend.

 

🐾 Tip: The -게 되다 form expresses unintentional or natural outcomes.

 

5. Summary Table: Transformative Ending Functions

Ending	Function	Example	English Meaning
-기	Turns action into a noun	먹기	eating
-는/-은/-던	Modifies a noun (relative clause)	읽는 책 /     봤던 영화	the book I’m reading /      the movie I watched
-고	Quotes, speech, or thought	간다고 말했어요	said that they are going
-게	Describes purpose, manner, and result	크게 말해요 / 알게 됐어요	speaks loudly / came to know

📘 Chapter 3: Comparison with Other Ending Types

How are Transformative Endings (전성어미) different from other verb endings?

To fully understand 전성어미, it's essential to compare them with other major categories of Korean verb endings: Final Endings (어말어미) and Connective Endings (연결어미). While all three affect how sentences are built, each plays a unique role in grammar structure and meaning.

 

1. Visual Summary: Ending Categories in Korean

Ending Type	Korean Term	Function	Sentence Role	Example
Transformative	전성  어미	Changes verb to noun/adjective/adverb	Part of a clause, not standalone	먹기, 말한 사람, 웃게 하다
Connective	연결  어미	Links two clauses logically	Bridge between clauses	먹고, 웃어서, 달리면
Final	어말  어미	Ends a sentence	Final verb phrase	먹어요, 웃었다, 달립니다

 

2. 전성어미 vs 어말어미 (Transformative vs Final Endings)

Final endings (어말어미) complete a thought and typically appear at the end of a sentence.

In contrast, transformative endings often appear in the middle of a sentence, turning a verb into a noun, modifier, or adverbial.

Transformative Endings	Final Endings
노래하기 즐거워요. → Singing is fun.	노래해요.  → I sing.
일찍 오게 했어요.  → (I) made (them) come early.	일찍 왔어요.  → (They) came early.

 

🧭 Key Difference:

- 전성어미 changes the form and function of the verb.

- 어말어미 finalizes the sentence meaning.

 

3. 전성어미 vs 연결어미 (Transformative vs Connective Endings)

Connective endings (연결어미) link two verbs or clauses in a cause-and-effect, sequence, condition, or contrast relationship.

Meanwhile, transformative endings restructure the grammatical role of the verb to act like a noun or descriptor.

Transformative Endings	Connective Endings
읽는 책이 좋아요.  → The book (I am) reading is good.	책을 읽고 잤어요.  → I read a book and then slept.
공부하게 돼요.  → I end up studying.	공부해서 피곤해요.  → I’m tired because I studied.

 

🧭 Key Difference:

- 연결어미 shows a logical connection between two actions.

- 전성어미 transforms the verb into a different grammatical role.

 

4. Real-Life Examples in Context

Korean Sentence	Ending Type	English Translation
걷는 사람이 많아요.	전성어미	Many people are walking. (걷는 = walking person)
걷고 있어요.	연결어미	I’m walking. (걷고 = linking verb to “있어요”)
걸어요.	어말어미	I walk. (Complete sentence)

 

🧭 Dialogue Comparison

A: 오늘 뭐 해?
B: 나 운동하기 전에 밥 먹었어. (전성어미)
→ I ate before exercising.

 

B 운동하고 밥 먹었어. (연결어미)
→ I worked out and then ate.

 

B 나 운동했어. (어말어미)
→ I worked out.

 

Each choice reflects a different structure and nuance!

 

5. Summary: How to Tell Them Apart?

Question	Transformative	Connective	Final
Does it end the sentence?	❌	❌	✅
Does it turn the verb into another form?	✅	❌	❌
Does it link two ideas or actions?	❌	✅	❌
Can it appear before a noun or be modified itself?	✅	❌	❌

🎯 Key Takeaways

- 전성어미 = form change → noun, adjective, adverb.

- 연결어미 = logical link → cause, sequence, contrast.

- 어말어미 = sentence end → tense, speech level, mood.

 

Understanding these distinctions is crucial for mastering Korean sentence building and writing naturally across all levels.

 

📘 Chapter 4: Real-Life Examples Using Transformative Endings (전성어미)

Transformative endings (전성어미) aren’t just grammar terms—they show up constantly in everyday Korean. Whether you’re watching dramas, texting a friend, or writing an essay, you’re likely using -기, -는/-은/-던, -고, or -게 without even realizing it.

Let’s explore over 20 real-life examples across different contexts: casual and formal speech, current and past events, and expressive or practical communication. You'll also find tables to help compare usages.

 

1. Everyday Casual Conversations

Korean Sentence	English Translation	Ending	Function
공부하기 싫어.	I don’t want to study.	-기	Turning an action into a noun
운동하기는 좋은데 시간이 없어.	I want to work out, but I don’t have time.	-기	Emphasis on the action itself
자고 가게 해	Let him sleep here before leaving.	-게	Suggesting a result or option
지금 듣는 노래 뭐야?	What’s the song you’re listening to?	-는	Modifying a noun with present action
어제 만든 쿠키 맛있었어.	The cookies you made yesterday were delicious.	-은	Modifying with the past tense
엄마가 밥 먹으라고 했어요.	Mom said to eat a meal.	-고	Indirect quotation
일찍 일어나게 알람 맞춰 줘.	Set the alarm so I can wake up early.	-게	Purpose/result

 

2. Formal Contexts (Work, News, Education)

Korean Sentence	English Translation	Ending	Function
회의를 일찍 시작하기로 결정했습니다.	We decided to start the meeting early.	-기	Noun phrase for action
작성한 보고서를 제출해 주세요.	Please submit the report you wrote.	-은	Describing a completed task
학생들이 발표하게 하겠습니다.	I’ll have the students give presentations.	-게	Expressing purpose or command
상사가 퇴근하지 말라고 했어요.	My boss told me not to leave work.	-고	Quoting indirectly
읽고 있는 책이 뭐예요?	What book are you reading?	-는	Current action modifier
처음 시작하기가 어려워요.	Starting something for the first time can be challenging.	-기	Abstract noun (starting)

 

3. From Songs and Drama Lines

Source	Korean	English	Transformative
BTS “봄날”	보고 싶다, 이렇게 말하니까 더 보고 싶다.	I miss you—saying it makes me miss you even more.	-고
IU “좋은 날”	이런 얘기하게 돼서 미안해.	I’m sorry for ending up saying this.	-게
K-Drama	네가 웃는 게 좋아.	I like it when you smile.	-는
K-Drama	도와주기로 했잖아.	You promised you’d help.	-기
K-Drama	네가 울었던 그 날.	That day you cried.	-던

 

4. Present vs. Past Transformation

Situation	Korean	English	Ending
Present Action	지금 듣는 음악	The music I’m listening to now	-는
Completed Past	어제 들은 음악	The music I listened to yesterday	-은
Ongoing Past (Reflective)	예전에 듣던 음악	The music I used to listen to	-던

These distinctions are especially helpful in narration or expressing emotions over time, as they are frequently used in storytelling and K-Drama dialogues.

 

5. Spoken Patterns You’ll Hear Often

Korean Phrase	Meaning	Note
가기 싫다고 했어.	(They) said they don’t want to go.	Indirect quote
운동하게 만든 영상	A video that made me work out	-게 used for cause/result
일찍 일어나기 위해 노력 중이야.	I'm trying to wake up early.	-기 used with “위해”
나를 웃게 만드는 사람	Someone who makes me smile	-게 as a result of influence

 

6. Summary Chart: Transformative Ending in Action

Ending	Form	Core Meaning	Sample Phrase
-기	Verb stem + 기	Turns action into a noun	공부하기 좋아
-는/-은/-던	Verb stem + modifier	Makes descriptive clauses	읽는 책, 쓴 편지, 울던 날
-고	Full clause + 고	Quoting or linking speech/thought	간다고 말했어
-게	Verb stem + 게	Manner, purpose, or result	크게 웃다, 늦게 자다

 

7. Final Tip

When in doubt, test the transformed phrase by swapping it with a noun or inserting it into a noun-like slot.

📌 Example:

- "걷기" can be tested by replacing it with "활동" (activity):
→ 걷기는 건강에 좋아요. ↔ 활동은 건강에 좋아요.

 

If you're hearing, reading, or speaking Korean, 전성어미 is already part of your life—this section helps you recognize it, use it, and feel more confident in building rich Korean sentences naturally.

📘 Chapter 5: Practice and Quiz

Build fluency with transformative endings through interactive practice. This section includes real-life dialogues, visual aids, and various exercise types designed to help learners recognize and apply the four major 전성어미 (-기, -는/은/던, -고, -게) with ease.

 

Quiz Type 1: Identify the Ending

Instructions: Read each sentence and choose which transformative ending type it contains.

Sentence	Ending Type
아침에 일찍 일어나기는 힘들어요.	☐ -기 ☐ -고 ☐ -게 ☐ -는
친구가 운동을 하는 모습을 봤어요.	☐ -기 ☐ -는 ☐ -고 ☐ -게
엄마가 늦게 오겠다고 했어요.	☐ -기 ☐ -게 ☐ -고 ☐ -던
그렇게 말하니까 마음이 아프게 들렸어요.	☐ -게 ☐ -기 ☐ -고 ☐ -는

 

Quiz Type 2: Fill in the Blank

Instructions: Complete each sentence using the appropriate transformative ending. The verb/adjective stem is given in parentheses.

① 저는 요리를 (좋아하다) __________ 때문에 자주 집에서 요리해요.

② 그 사람이 (운전하다) __________ 차가 바로 그 빨간색이에요.

③ 친구가 너무 피곤하다고 (말하다) __________ 그냥 집에 갔어요.

④ 발표를 (잘하다) __________ 연습을 많이 했어요.

 

🧭 Tip: Think about whether the verb needs to become a noun (-기), a modifier (-는/-은/-던), a quoted expression (-고), or a way/manner (-게).

 

Quiz Type 3: Sentence Transformation

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence using the appropriate 전성어미.

Original Sentence	Transform it Using the Ending
저는 매일 운동해요. (Nominalize)	→ ___________________________
그녀는 웃는다. (Make it a descriptive phrase for '소리')	→ ___________________________
그는 "가기 싫어"라고 말했어요. (Use indirect speech)	→ ___________________________
아이가 천천히 걷다. (Express manner)	→ ___________________________

Quiz Type 4:  Real-Life Dialogue Completion

Instructions: Choose the correct ending to complete the dialogues naturally.

①

A: 뭐 하는 거예요?
B: 사진을 (찍다) __________ 친구한테 보내려고요.
☐ -기 ☐ -게 ☐ -고 ☐ -는

 

②

A: 영화 어땠어요?
B: 지루했는데, (끝까지 보다) __________ 나왔어요.
☐ -고 ☐ -기 ☐ -게 ☐ -던

 

Quiz Type 5: Final Challenge - Can you spot and correct the error?

❌ 그는 먹기 음식을 만들었어요.
🔍 Correction: __________________________________

 

🔄 Answer Key Preview

It will be provided at the end of the post.

 

📢 Coming Up Next

Master the subtle art of switching verb endings in Korean!
In our next post, we’ll dive into real-life examples showing how Korean verb and adjective endings change depending on politeness, tense, formality, and nuance. Whether you're adjusting speech levels, transforming clauses, or spotting stylistic shifts in dramas and lyrics, this post will teach you how to flexibly and accurately use Korean endings in any context.

 

Appendix: All Answer Keys

Quiz Type 1: Identify the Ending – Answer Key

Sentence	Correct Ending	Explanation	English Translation
아침에 일찍 일어나기는 힘들어요.	-기	Nominalizing the action of "waking up early"	"Waking up early in the morning is hard."
친구가 운동을 하는 모습을 봤어요.	-는	Modifier that describes "모습 (appearance)"	"I saw the appearance of my friend working out."
엄마가 늦게 오겠다고 했어요.	-고 (+ -게)	Quoting reported speech	"Mom said she would come late."
그렇게 말하니까 마음이 아프게 들렸어요.	-게	Expressing the manner or result of "hurting"	"When you said that, it sounded hurtful."

 

Quiz Type 2: Fill in the Blank – Answer Key

#	Completed Sentence	Ending Used	English Translation
①	저는 요리를 좋아하기 때문에 자주 집에서 요리해요.	-기	"Because I like cooking, I often cook at home."
②	그 사람이 운전하는 차가 바로 그 빨간색이에요.	-는	"The car that person is driving is that red one."
③	친구가 너무 피곤하다고 말하고 그냥 집에 갔어요.	-고	"My friend said they were too tired and just went home."
④	발표를 잘하게 연습을 많이 했어요.	-게	"I practiced a lot to do well in the presentation."

 

Quiz Type 3: Sentence Transformation – Answer Key

Original Sentence	Transformed Sentence	Explanation
저는 매일 운동해요.	운동하기를 매일 해요.	Action is nominalized with -기
그녀는 웃는다.	웃는 소리	Descriptive phrase using -는 to modify "소리"
그는 "가기 싫어"라고 말했어요.	그는 가기 싫다고 말했어요.	Indirect speech using -고
아이가 천천히 걷다.	아이가 천천히 걷게 했다.	Expressing manner/result using -게

Quiz Type 4: Real-Life Dialogue Completion – Answer Key

#	Correct Answer	Explanation	English Translation
①	찍고	“-고” for linking to the purpose ("to send")	"I'm taking a photo and planning to send it to a friend."
②	끝까지 보고	“-고” for sequential action	"It was boring, but I still watched it to the end."

Quiz Type 5: Final Challenge – Answer Key

❌ 그는 먹기 음식을 만들었어요.
✅ Correction: 그는 먹는 음식을 만들었어요.

➡️ Explanation: The noun "음식 (food)" should be modified with a descriptive form. "먹는" (using -는) correctly modifies the noun, meaning "the food (someone) eats." "먹기" is a noun itself and doesn’t work as a modifier here.