Resolved questions
What is the difference?

Hi Christopher,

1)간다 and 가고 있다 are both present progressive verb endings. And I don't think there is any grammatical difference between these two. They are pretty much interchangeable. But I do feel that those two sound slightly different to my native ear. 가고 있다 is definitely more emphatic.

A) 나는 집에 간다. I'm going home.

B) 나는 집에 가고 있다. I'm going home (right now).


Notice that there's a third verb ending for the present progressive tense, "가는 중이다," which is the most emphatic.

C) 나는 집에 가고 있는 중이다. I'm in the middle of going home right now.




2) 갔어, 갔니, 갔냐, and 갔나요 can all be used in interrogative sentences (i.e. questions). They all mean the same thing: "Did Somebody go?" But again, they all have different "vibes."


갔어 is the most common, and most frequently used.

갔니 is more "casual" than 갔어. You would use it only to your close friends.

갔냐 is even more "casual." It's so casual that if you use it to an adult or a person you are not really close with, it would come off as rude. The "냐" ending used to be considered a "derogatory" form, but in these days it is okay to use this form to your close pals.

갔나요 is a polite form. If you're talking to an adult, or someone you don't know well, use this form.


I hope this clarified your question.
3) 아줌마 is a colloquial, friendly form, while 아주머니 is a polite, written from. They both mean "madam," used only to refer to married women.