[transformative endings] -기 vs. -ㄴ/는 것

There are several forms of noun clauses.

 

• -기              : 나는 네가 노력하기를 바란다.  I hope that you try hard.
• -ㅁ/음         : 네가 노력하고 있음을 잘 알아.  I know that you are trying hard.
• -ㄴ/는 것    : 네가 노력하고 있는 것을 잘 알아.  I know that you are trying hard.

 

The three are interchangeable, but the meanings are slightly different.

 

The ending ‘-기’ implies something that has not yet happened, while the expression ‘-ㄴ/는 것’ and the ending ‘-ㅁ/음’ implies that has already happened.

 

Look at the example sentences again. In the first sentence, the speaker says 'I hope that you try hard.'. That implies 'you don't try hard for now.'. That's why '나는 네가 노력함을 바란다.' may sound a little bit awkward. 

 

Meanwhile, in the second and third sentences, the speaker says 'I know that you are trying hard.'. If you replace '-ㅁ/음' and '-ㄴ/는 것' with '-기', then the sentence '네가 노력하고 있기를 잘 알아.' seems unnatural. 

 

 

Likewise, if you are to use the future tense, then ‘-기’ is more natural than '-ㅁ/음' and ‘-ㄴ/는 것’ while when using the past tense, ‘-는 것’ is a better choice.