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Lv 3Sentence-final endingIntermediate · TOPIK II

-는다

-neunda

plain present statement ending

A plain, low-register sentence-final ending attached to action-verb stems to state a present fact or habitual action, typical of diaries, narration, and news writing; it can also be used to ask oneself a question.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-ㄴ다 · -다

Meanings

  1. 1

    (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to describe an event or fact of the present.

    (아주낮춤으로) 현재 사건이나 사실을 서술함을 나타내는 종결 어미.

  2. 2

    (formal, highly addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used when asking oneself something.

    (아주낮춤으로) 자기 자신에게 물을 때 쓰는 종결 어미.

    ※ 주로 구어에서 ‘누구’, ‘무엇’, ‘언제’, ‘어디’, ‘어떻게’ 등과 함께 쓴다.

Examples

  • 내일은 또 누구를 만난다?

    Who will I meet again tomorrow, I wonder?

  • 아, 지수가 부탁한 일을 어떻게 한다?

    Ah, what should I do about the favor Jisu asked me?

  • 숙제가 많이 밀렸는데 언제 다 끝낸다?

    I've fallen so far behind on homework -- when will I ever finish it all?

  • 오랜만에 여자 친구랑 만나는데 무엇을 한다?

    I'm meeting my girlfriend after a long time -- what should we do?

  • 가게가 문을 다 닫았는데 우유를 어디서 산다?

    All the stores are closed -- where can I buy milk?

  • 내일 아이들 소풍인데 도시락은 어떻게 준비한다? 그냥 김밥이 제일이지.

    The kids have a picnic tomorrow -- how should I prepare the lunch box? Gimbap is just the best choice.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-는다’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “plain present statement ending”?