Asking a question with uncertainty ~(으)ㄴ가/나(요) [G12.1]

~(으)ㄴ가/나(요) is used to ask a question about something that you are not sure of.

It is a rather indirect question and thus more cautious and polite thereby because the speaker is actually referring to what goes in his/her mind, rather than requesting a direct answer from the listener.

  (의사가 진찰을 한다.)
민지: 많이 안 좋은가요?
의사:

큰 병은 아니고 심한 독감에 걸리셨네요.
기침을 너무 많이 해서 목이 많이 상했어요.
  (잠시 후 병원 근처 약국에서)
약사:

약 여기 있습니다. 식후에 한 알씩 하루에 세 번 드세요.
시간 지켜서 드셔야 해요.
민지: 이 약을 먹으면 졸리나요?
약사: 아니요, 괜찮으실 거예요.

 

[NOTE]

1. Just as in the case of ~(으)ㄴ가/나 봐요, adjectives and the Copula (-이다) take ~(으)ㄴ가(요), and verbs take ~나(요). With ~었/았-, it is invariantly ~나(요).

 

2. In colloquial language, even adjectives are taking ~나(요) more and more.

3. In the Southern dialects (경상 and 전라 사투리), which are rather conservative to historical change, ~는가(요) is still used for verbs insead of ~나(요); that is,

 

어떤가요?

 

 

 

 

Speaking activities

Ask each other the following quetions as if you are asking yourself.

1. Is your place far from the campus?

2. When is K202 midterm?

3. Is there a review session for the midterm tomorrow?

4. How would the weather be tomorrow? Is tomorrow also cold?

5. Did you study a lot for the midterm?

6. Do you go to the KCC meeting tomorrow?