haru Korean › Grammar › Level 2A › A-(으)ㄴ데요 · V-는데요
A-(으)ㄴ데요 · V-는데요 — ending softly with -는데요 — opening a call, a gentle answer, surprise
Ending softly with -는데요 — opening a call, a gentle answer, surprise. Korean grammar for upper beginner learners — Level 2A, lesson 9: 문의할 게 있는데요 (I have a question — calling to ask).
What it means
Put 요 after -는데 and the sentence ends there — but it still sounds open, as if the speaker is waiting for the other person to react. That is why it is everywhere on the phone. You use it to open a call or a request: 문의할 게 있는데요 'I have a question…', and the other person answers 네, 말씀하세요. You use it for a soft answer that leaves 'so …?' or 'but …' unsaid: 유나 씨 있어요? — 지금 없는데요 'she isn't here right now…'; 이 옷 어때요? — 좀 작은데요 'it's a bit small…'. And you use it to react with surprise or to pay a compliment: 와, 한국어를 정말 잘하는데요! The forms are those of -는데: adjectives -(으)ㄴ데요 (작은데요, 비싼데요), verbs and 있다/없다 -는데요 (있는데요, 모르는데요), nouns 인데요 (학생인데요); on the phone 저인데요 usually shortens to 전데요 'speaking'. Mind your tone: said flat and fast, 모르는데요 can sound curt — a soft, slightly rising tone sounds polite.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A-(으)ㄴ데요 | 형용사 — 받침 O 은데요 · 받침 X ㄴ데요 | 작다 + 은데요 → 작은데요 |
| V-는데요 | 동사 · 있다/없다 — 받침 O · X 같아요 | 있다 + 는데요 → 있는데요 |
| N인데요 | 명사 — 전화에서 저인데요 = 전데요 | 학생 + 인데요 → 학생인데요 |
Key points
- -(으)ㄴ데요 · -는데요 · N인데요 end the sentence but leave it open — the other person is expected to answer: 문의할 게 있는데요. — 네, 말씀하세요.
- Opening a call · a soft answer (지금 없는데요) · surprise (정말 잘하는데요!) — the forms of -는데 + 요
Examples
- 문의할 게 있는데요. — 네, 말씀하세요.
- 유나 씨 있어요? — 지금 없는데요.
- 이 옷 어때요? — 좀 작은데요.
- 와, 한국어를 정말 잘하는데요!
- 아까 전화했는데요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 2A, lesson 9; Yonsei University Korean 2-2, lesson 12; Sogang University Korean 2A, lesson 6; Hongik University Korean 2A, lesson 6; Ewha Womans University Korean 2-2, lesson 11.
Also in this lesson
- A-(으)ㄴ데 · V-는데 · N인데 — giving the background or a contrast — '…, so …' · '…, but …'
- V-는 중이다 · N 중이다 — in the middle of … — busy right now