Learn Korean: Active Verb + 누가 그래

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Active Verb + 누가 그래(?). We use this when someone makes a statement which is questionable or faulty. The main verb should be an active verb. For example, I and my friends were discussing to go on a trip to Southeast Asia. I suggested Thailand since none of us have been there yet. Suddenly, a clueless friend asked if he can bring his snowboard. That was truly a facepalm moment. I said Who told you / that it snows in Thailand? Who did you hear from that from? You’re mistaken. The part (that it snows in Thailand) is what we assumed he heard from someone. If we convert it into a direct statement, it is It snows in Thailand. In Korean, we say 태국에서 눈이 오다. We take the verb stem (오) and attach ㄴ다고. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use 는다고. Then, we add 누가 그래(요) which means Who told you that? The actual sentence is 태국에서 눈이 온다고 누가 그래(요)?

내가 고양이를 좋아한다고 누가 그래?

Who told you that I like cats? That’s not true.

 

여기서 비 안 온다고 누가 그래요?

From whom did you hear that it doesn’t rain in this area?

우리 개 고기 먹는다고 누가 그래?

Who told you that we eat dog meat?