Learning about predicate adjectives and attributives is crucial because it enhances understanding of sentence structure and clarity in communication. Predicate adjectives, which follow a linking verb, provide descriptions of the subject, helping to form complete thoughts and convey specific attributes about the subject, such as in “The sky is blue.” Attributive adjectives, placed directly before the noun, offer immediate detail and specificity within a noun phrase, as in “a beautiful sky.” Mastering these concepts improves writing and speaking skills, ensuring that descriptions are accurately and effectively integrated into sentences.
Predicate Adjectives
Predicate adjectives follow a linking verb and modify the subject of the sentence. They describe the subject and are the part of the sentence’s predicate. The main function of the predicate adjective is to provide additional information about the subject after the linking verb as a characteristic, property, or description.
For example,
I am [happy] = 나는 [행복하다].
The food is [delicious] = 음식이 [맛있다].
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives are placed directly before the noun they modify within the noun phrase. The main function of the attributive adjective is to provide specific information about the noun without the need for a linking verb. It limits the range or class of the following noun which carries the particular properties of the adjective.
For example,
I am a [happy] boy = 나는 [행복한] 소년이다.
He wears a [nice] suit = 그는 [멋진] 양복을 입고 있다.
The predicate adjective provides a physical description of the subject. However, the attributive adjective indicates that the subject is not just any kind of, but the subject with a specific characteristic.
Unlike English adjectives, which take the same form regardless of whether they are used as predicate adjectives or attributives, stative verbs in Korean take the noun-modifying suffixes when they are used as attributive stative verbs.
1. Noun-Modifying Suffixes for Stative Verbs
In Korean, noun-modifying suffixes for stative verbs (also known as descriptive verbs) are used to modify nouns and provide additional information about their state or condition. The primary suffix for this purpose is “-은/ㄴ,” which attaches to the verb stem.
Attributive Stative Verbs (It applies to all tenses)
Noun modifying suffixes: -은 (after a consonant), -ㄴ (after a vowel)
For example,
1. 나는 [작은] 집에 살고 있습니다. (I live in a small house)
2. [많은] 사람들이 돈을 좋아해요. (Many people like money)
3. 우리는 [싼] 물건만 샀습니다. (We bought cheap items only)
4. 내 동생은 키가 [큰] 사람이다. (My younger brother is a tall person
5. [건강한] 삶을 위해 운동을 합니다. (I excercise for a healthy life)
These suffixes are crucial in Korean grammar for creating descriptive phrases that specify the state or quality of nouns, making sentences more informative and expressive.
2. Noun-Modifying Suffixes for Action Verbs
Noun-modifying suffixes for action verbs are used to turn verbs into adjectives that can modify nouns, indicating an action related to the noun. Aside from the opposite order of modifying clauses and their modified nouns and the lack of relative pronouns, noun-modifying clauses with action verbs are very similar to English relative clauses.
I saw my friend [who is driving a car at night]
나는 [밤에 운전하는] 내 친구를 봤다
My friend = modified noun
Who is driving a car at night = relative clause
My mother met the person [whom I saw at the mall yesterday]
제 어머니는 [제가 어제 몰에서 본] 사람을 만났습니다.
The person = modified noun
Whom I saw at the mall yesterday = relative clause
In the sentence above, each noun-modifying clause is a subordinate clause that contains a complete idea but is missing one piece of information. This missing information is given by the preceding noun in English and the following noun in Korean.
It is important to note that a noun-modifying clause with an action verb in Korean uses a different suffix depending on the tense of the clause.
Modifying Action Verbs
Present : ~는 (after a consonant or a vowel)
Past : ~은 (after a consonant), ~ㄴ (after a vowel)
Future : ~을 (after a consonant), ~ㄹ (after a vowel or “ㄹ”)
For example,
Present
1. [내가 보는 차는] 비싸다. (The car that I am watching is expensive)
2. [형이 가는 길은] 위험해 보입니다. (The road that my older brother goes looks dangerous)
3. [내 친구가 먹은] 음식은 맛없어 보인다. (The food that my friend ate doesn’t look delicious)
Past
1. [내가 본 차는] 비쌌다. (The car I watched was expensive)
2. [형이 간 길은] 위험해 보였습니다. (The road that my older brother went looked dangerous)
3. [내 친구가 먹은] 음식은 맛없어 보였다. (The food that my friend ate didn’t look delicious)
Future
1. [내가 볼 차는] 비싸다. (The car I will watch is expensive)
2. [형이 갈 길은] 위험해 보입니다. (The road that my older brother will go looks dangerous)
3. [내 친구가 먹을] 음식은 맛없어 보였다. (The food that my friend will eat doesn’t look delicious)
3. Noun-Modifying suffixes Indicating Temporary State or Habitual Action in the Past
To express a temporary state or habitual action in the past, noun-modifying suffixes are used with stative and action verbs. The suffixes indicate an action or state that was ongoing or repeated in the past but may not be completed or continued in the present.
Stative Verbs
Temporary State : ~(았)던 (if the preceding syllable contains the vowel “오” or “아), otherwise, ~(었)던
1. [예뻤던/예쁘던] 꽃이 시들었다. (The beautiful flower was whitered)
2. 키가 [작았던] 친구랑 추억이 많았다. (I had many memories with my friend used to be short)
3. 우리 집은 [추웠던] 곳이었습니다. (Our house used to be a cold place)
4. [어려웠던] 문제였다. (It used to be a difficult problem)
5. 이곳은 [밝았던] 장소였습니다. (This place used to be a bright place)
Action Verbs
Temporary Habitual Action : ~(았)던 (if the preceding syllable contains the vowel “오” or “아), otherwise, ~(았)던
1. 나는 공부를 [잘했던/잘하던] 학생이었습니다. (I used to be a student who studies well)
2. 이곳은 우리 가족이 자주 [먹었던/먹던] 가게다. (This place is a restaurant where our family used to eat often)
3. 책을 읽으러 자주 [갔던/가던] 도서관이었다. (It was a library where I used to go often to read books)
4. 한국은 내가 [살았던/살던] 나라입니다. (South Korea is a country where I used to live)
5. 이 옷은 내 동생이 [입었던/입던] 옷이다. (These are the clothes that my younger sister used to wear)
The suffixes “-(았/었)던” imply that the following noun used to be in the temporary state of having the preceding stative verbs. However, if they are attached to an action verb, they indicate that the following noun used to be the target of the habitual action that had continued for some time in the past but is no longer true afterward.