Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-ㄴ/는대요
they say that … (contracted indirect speech)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Shortened form of -ㄴ/는다고 해요 for passing on information: statement -ㄴ/는대요 / -대요, question -냬요, command -(으)래요, suggestion -재요, noun (이)래요. Very common in speech.
Forming it
| 가다 | → 간대요 |
| 먹다 | → 먹는대요 |
| 바쁘다 | → 바쁘대요 |
| 학생 | → 학생이래요 |
Don't confuse hearsay -대요 with -데요 (reporting your own past observation).
Examples
일기 예보에서 내일은 비가 많이 온대요.
The weather forecast says it will rain a lot tomorrow.
친구가 오늘 저녁에 같이 밥 먹재요.
My friend says let's have dinner together tonight.
Compared with similar patterns
-ㄴ/는다고 하다 is the full form, used in both speech and writing. -ㄴ/는다면서요? asks the listener to confirm what you heard.