Lesson 83 · Action Nouns and Short Notes: -기 & -(으)ㅁ
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 83 · Grammar
Action Nouns and Short Notes: -기 & -(으)ㅁ
Learn Action Nouns and Short Notes: -기 & -(으)ㅁ with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Both -기 and -(으)ㅁ turn predicates into noun-like expressions, but they are not freely interchangeable. -기 is common for activities, goals, and task labels; -(으)ㅁ appears often in concise notes, records, and notices.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Action stem + 기: 걷다 → 걷기; 읽다 → 읽기; 공부하다 → 공부하기. Add particles as needed: 걷기가 좋아요.
- For -(으)ㅁ: vowel + ㅁ, consonant + 음: 가다 → 감; 먹다 → 먹음. Final ㄹ + ㅁ forms ㄻ: 살다 → 삶; 만들다 → 만듦.
- Short records can include tense: 확인했음 (“checked/confirmed”). Negative state 없다 → 없음 is common on signs and forms.
Examples
매일 걷기가 좋아요.
maeil geotgiga joayo
Walking every day is good.
제 목표는 한국어 공부하기예요.
je mokpyoneun hangugeo gongbuhagiyeyo
My goal is studying Korean.
읽기 연습을 해요.
ikgi yeonseubeul haeyo
I practice reading.
시간을 확인했음.
siganeul hwaginhaesseum
Checked the time. (Note style.)
문제없음.
munjeeopseum
No problem. (Concise note.)
친구가 직접 만듦.
chinguga jikjeop mandeum
Made by a friend personally. (Note style.)
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 57
-는 것
저는 운동하는 것을 좋아해요.The everyday way to turn an action into a noun in speech. -기 suits lists and set phrases; -(으)ㅁ suits short written notes.
Review Lesson 57 →RELATED PATTERN
-기 쉽다 / 어렵다
이 책은 글씨가 커서 읽기 쉬워요.-기 + an adjective: “easy / hard to …”.
LESSON 73
-기로 하다
내일부터 일찍 일어나기로 했어요.-기 also sits inside other patterns: -기로 하다, -기 전에, -기 때문에.
Review Lesson 73 →| Pattern | Where you see it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -기 | lists, goals, titles, set patterns | 새해 목표: 운동하기 |
| -(으)ㅁ | short written notes, reports | 회의 3시로 변경됨 |
| -는 것 | everyday speech | 운동하는 것을 좋아해요 |
| -기 + adjective | easy / hard to … | 읽기 쉬워요 |
Common mistakes
Names such as 읽기 연습 (“reading practice”) naturally use 기. 확인했음 is a note-style record, not the default way to speak politely to a teacher. Ordinary conversation often prefers -는 것 or a complete polite sentence.
In speech, use -기 or -는 것 for hobbies. -(으)ㅁ is for short written notes.
In to-do lists, -기 is the natural choice.
“Easy to …” uses -기 쉽다.
-(으)ㅁ ends the note by itself. Don’t add 이에요.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank · list새해 목표: 매일 30분 ______ (운동하다)
Check answer
매일 30분 운동하기
A goal in a list → 운동하기.
- Fill in the blank이 책은 글씨가 커서 ______ 편해요. (읽다)
Check answer
이 책은 글씨가 커서 읽기 편해요.
-기 + adjective: 읽기 편해요 (easy to read).
- Choose the better form(메모) 내일 오전에 손님 (방문함 / 방문해요).
Check answer
방문함
A short written note → -(으)ㅁ.
- Choose the better form저는 친구들하고 (이야기하는 것을 / 이야기함을) 좋아해요.
Check answer
이야기하는 것을
Everyday speech → -는 것.
- Find and fix the mistake한국어 발음은 배우는 것 어려워요.
Check answer
한국어 발음은 배우기 어려워요.
“Hard to …” → -기 어렵다.
- Say it in KoreanThis app is easy to use.
Check answer
이 앱은 사용하기 쉬워요.
사용하 + 기 쉬워요.
Today’s Key Point
기 names activities/tasks; (으)ㅁ often suits records; ㄹ + ㅁ → ㄻ; register and usage matter.
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