V+는고/(으)ㄴ고

Table of content

Soft question Pondering Usage

Soft question

It can be used to ask a question in a polite and gentle way.

Example

선물로 무엇이 좋은고?

What would be a good gift?
이게 누구 것인고?

Whose is this?
무엇을 바라는고?

What are you hoping for?

Related to

V+(으)ㄴ가(요), 나(요) (Soft question)

Pondering

I wonder, Assuming

Expresses the speaker's speculation, curiosity or assumption about something.

Example

얼마나 훌륭한 일인고!

What a wonderful thing!
일이 해결이 되다니 이 얼마나 좋은고?

Isn't it wonderful that the problem has been solved?
내가 왜 그런 말을 했는고.

Why did I say that?
내가 무슨 잘못이 있는고.

What have I done wrong?

Related to

V+(으)ㄴ가(요), 나(요) (Pondering)

Tense	Form
Present (descriptive verb)	-(으)ㄴ고(요)
Present (action verb)	는고(요)
Past (all)	-(았/었)는고(요)
Future (all)	-(으)ㄹ 건고(요)

Usage

This carries the same meanings as V+(으)ㄴ가(요), 나(요), except it is generally used with question words like "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", or "how", and not used for yes-or-no questions.

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