Check out our updated Community
Ending Verbs with 냐, ㅑ?
Hi,
I've seen many instances where verbs are ended using 냐... or ㅑ... specifically in sentences that seem to make statements or questions that are directed at another person.
Here is an example sentence from the drama Coffee Prince: 그러길래 엄마 한테왜 덤비냐?
Here is another example that I will be better to understand:무슨 말이야?
From the context of the conversation, I understand that to read.. what you you mean?, or why do you say that?
So is 야 just a fast way of eliminating 너는 from a question? I'm so confused.
Could you please provide some very simple example sentences, using 냐? and 야?
Thank you
Apr 7, 2018 3:19 AM
Comments · 1
냐 is one of common interrogative sentence endings, with plain register (i.e. not polite).
이야 is a colloquial ending form for sentences ending with 이야, a plain form of the special particle 이다 (am/are/is - the coupler). You will see it a lot as it corresponds to the "A is B" type of structures.
More generally, this ending is called the -아/어 sentence ending form. 이야 happens to be a special case of it.
So what you mentioned are both question endings in plain register. To understand them, it's better to look at the common set of ending forms together rather than one or two in isolation. All grammar sites and books explain them, but here's a short introduction.
1. 가다 = to go (what follows applies to all verbs).
A (나는) 갑니다. (polite, formal) (당신은) 갑니까?
B 간다. (plain, impersonal) 가냐? (or 가느냐?)
C 가요. (polite but familiar) 가요?
D 가. (plain and familiar) 가?
2. 이다 = am, are, is.
A (나는) 학생입니다. (당신은) 학생입니까?
B 학생이다. 학생이냐?
C 학생이에요. 학생이에요?
D 학생이야. 학생이야?
(Colloquial endings C and D only differ in their tone between the two types of sentences)
These endings are not directrly related to whether you can drop the subject or not.
April 8, 2018
