는 게 어때요 grammar

 Korean grammar ‘Verb-는 게 어때요?’

The literal translation of ‘Verb-는 게 어때요?’ is ‘How about …?’.There are many ways of saying this but 는 게 어때요 is the most basic form. 어 때요? comes from the verb 어떻다 which means to be how?

‘Verb-는 게 어때요?’ is used after a verb stem. This expression is a combination of the adnominal suffix ‘‘, and ‘게’ which is the short form of ‘것이’ and ‘어때요?’ which is the combination of ‘어떻다’ and ‘어요?’ So, ‘는 게 어때요?’ as one expression, it used to advise or encourage someone to do something. 게 is a shortened form 줄임말 of 것이.

First let’s see example (먼저 예문 볼게요). First, let’s look at a short conversation.

나우나: 민조시, 어디 안 좋아요? Minjo, do you feel bad? / What’s wrong with you?

민조: 네, 약간 감기 기운이 있는 것 같아요. Yes, I think I’m catching a cold.

나우나: 그럼, 병원에 가는 게 어때요? Then, how about going to the hospital?

민조: 아무래도 그래야겠어요. I think I should do that.

‘V-는 게 어때요?’ is used in this conversation.

Let’s look at some more examples.

‘병원에 가는 게 어때요?’ ‘How about going to the hospital?’

Here, ‘가는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of the verb ‘가다’ and ‘는 게 어때요?’

The speaker is recommending the other person to go to the hospital.

Let’s look at the next example.

‘한국어 책을 읽는 게 어때요?’ 

How about reading a Korean book?

Here, ‘읽는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of the verb ‘읽다’ and ‘는 게 어때요?

The speaker is encouraging the other person to read Korean books.

Korean grammar conjugation

Now let’s look at the combination information.

Whether a verb stem has the final consonant or not, 는 게 어때요?’ is used for both cases. For example, if you look at the verb ‘읽다’  which has the final consonant, remove ‘다.’ Then there is the final consonant before ‘다’. Then ‘는 게 어때요?’ is used after that. So, you can say ‘읽는 게 어때요?’

Now, let’s look at the word’ ‘가다’ which does not have the final consonant.

First, remove ‘다.’ Then there is no final consonant before ‘다.’ Then ‘는 게 어때요?’ is used after that. So, you can say ‘가는 게 어때요?’

When a verb stem ends with the final consonant ‘ㄹ’ delete ‘ㄹ’ and attach ‘는 게 어때요?’ For example, when you look at the verb ‘만들다’, remove ‘다.’ Then there is the final consonant ‘ㄹ’ before ‘다’. Then, delete ‘ㄹ,’ and attach ‘는 게 어때요?’ after that. So, you can say ‘만드는게 어때요?’

Let’s look at the verb ‘놀다. Remove ‘다’. Then the final consonant is ‘ㄹ’ before ‘다’. Then, delete ‘ㄹ’ and then attach ‘는 게 어때요? So, you can say ‘노는 게 어때요?

는 게 어때요 grammar practice

So far, we’ve looked at the combination information.

Let’s practice by looking at some more examples.

‘길이 막히는데 지하철을, 타다’ ‘

How about taking the subway as the road is blocked?’

 How would you say it?

‘길이 막히는데 지하철을 타는 게 어때요?’

Here, ‘타는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of the verb ‘타다’ and ‘는 게 어때요?’

‘길이 막히는데 지하철을 타는 게 어때요?’ 

How about taking the subway as the road is blocked?

‘날이 추운데 따뜻한 옷을, 입다’

‘It’s cold, so why don’t you wear warm clothes?’

 How would you say it?

‘날이 추운데 따뜻한 옷을 입는게 어때요?’

Here, ‘입는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of the verb ‘입다’ and ‘는 게 어때요?’

‘날이 추운데 따뜻한 옷을 입는 게 어때요?’ 

It’s cold, so why don’t you wear warm clothes?

‘오늘은 집에서, 놀다’ 

How about playing at home today?

 How would you say it?

‘오늘은 집에서 노는 게 어때요?’

‘노는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of the verb ‘놀다 and ‘는 게 어때요?’ after removing ‘ㄹ’

‘오늘은 집에서 노는 게 어때요?’ How about playing at home today?

Now let’s look at a short dialogue.

Nauna and Minjo are talking in the car. Minjo is driving. 

Nauna asks a question.

Nauna: 민조시, 졸려요? Minjo, are you sleepy?

Minjo: 네, 점심을 먹었더니 좀 졸리네요. 

Yes, I feel a little sleepy after having lunch.

Nauna:  그러면 휴게소에서 잠깐 쉬었다가 가는 게 어때요?

Then how about taking a break at the rest area and then going?

Minjo: 아무래도 그렇게 해야겠어요. I think I have to do that.

는 게 어때요 summary

The grammar we’ve learned  is ‘verb 는 게 어때요?’

In summary, whether a verb stem has the final consonant or not, ‘는 게 어때요?’ is used.

So ‘읽다’ becomes ‘읽는 게 어때요?’

‘가다’ becomes ‘가는 게 어때요?’

When a verb stem ends with the final consonant ‘ㄹ’

delete ‘ㄹ’ and attach ‘는 게 어때요?

So ‘만들다’ becomes ‘만드는 게 어때요?’

가는 게 어때요?’ is a combination of  the verb ‘가다’ and ‘는 게 어때요?’