Questions & Answers about beoseuga eonje oneunji arayo?
What does -는지 mean here?
The ending -는지 turns a question into an embedded/indirect question, roughly “(the fact of) when it comes.” It’s used with verbs like 알다/모르다/묻다/궁금하다 to talk about unknown information.
- 버스가 언제 오는지 알아요? = Do you know when the bus comes/is coming? Form: 오- + -는 + 지 → 오는지.
Why not just say “버스가 언제 와요?” What’s the difference?
- 버스가 언제 와요? directly asks for the time: “When does the bus come?”
- 버스가 언제 오는지 알아요? asks about the listener’s knowledge: “Do you know when the bus comes?” It’s more indirect and can feel a bit softer/polite.
Why is it “버스가” and not “버스는” or “버스를”?
- 버스가 marks “bus” as the subject of the embedded clause with 오다 (“to come”).
- 버스는 would make “bus” the topic/contrast: “As for the bus, do you know when it comes?” Use it if you’re contrasting with something else.
- 버스를 would mark an object, but 오다 doesn’t take an object here, so 버스를 is incorrect.
How does tense work with -는지?
- 언제 오는지 (present/habitual or scheduled; also near-future in context): Do you know when it comes?
- 언제 왔는지 (past): Do you know when it came?