Learn Korean: 얼마나 + Verb + 는데

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 얼마나 + Verb. This is the third time we are talking about 얼마나. In the previous notes, we learned that it is a question word similar to how much as in How much do you need? or How far is it? in the case of adjectives. What you probably don’t know yet is the fact that it be used in a plain statement too, usually with the 는데 form of the verb. We use this when the other person seems to have a different reaction to something and we want to point out the real deal. For example, I bought some local snacks from Thailand and gave them away to my friends. As soon as they tried them, they complained of the weird taste. I said Oh no, these snacks are actually really delicious! You can’t say that! The main verb is 맛있다 (to be delicious). We take the verb stem and attach 는데(요). The actual sentence is (이 과자가) 얼마나 맛있는데.

지성이가 얼마나 착한데.

Jisung is very kind. (why don’t you find him attractive)

그 반지 얼마나 비싼데.

That ring is so expensive. (you can’t just reject it)

한국말 얼마나 쉬운데.

Korean is very easy. (someone says she gave up learning Korean because it is hard)