Quoting

Introduction

TODO: THIS IS NOT COMPLETE OR NECESSARILY CORRECT

There are two ways to quote someone in English:

• Literally: Did you say, "Go home?"
• Non-literally: Did you tell me to go home?

Notice how in English we just use the words directly, and put quote marks around them for literal quotes, and change the verb to the infinitive form (to X) for non-literal quotes.

Korean is the same way. Either you can quote literally, or you can quote non-literally.

Literal Quotes

• (literal quote) + (하다, 말하다, 말씀하다, etc...):

You can simply put an action verb (하다 or some form of "to say") behind the literal text. In speaking, there is a slight pause and a change in intonation that is made to keep the two separate. In writing, actual quote marks are used.

• (someone) + (to say / do) + 는 데, (literal quote).

In Scriptures

In scriptures and other ancient texts, you'll see the following pattern:

• (someone) + Subject Marker + (some form of 가로다), (literal quote).

However, it's not really certain how literal the quote is. Sometimes the ending doesn't seem to match what you would think they would have literally said, so I guess you can interpret it as "Someone said that...". Perhaps this is a more accurate rendering of what was actually written than what we were lead to believe in English. Maybe all of the quotes are not literal at all, but just close approximations.

Non-Literal Quotes

Non-literal quotes require that you use the Book Form and 고.

1. You can optionally start with the speaker as the Topic or Subject.
2. You can add any context to how the thing was said, or to whom, before the quote.
3. Then you take the quote and change it into its Book Form. To review:
   • Statements end in 다, ㄴ다, or 는다 (or 라 or 이라 for 이다/아니다)
   • Questions end in 냐 or 느냐.
   • Commands end in 라 or 으라.
4. Usually, but optionally, add 고 after the book form ending.
5. Then you optionally add a verb such as to do, to say, etc... If you're using a formal level of speech, this is necessary. In 반말 it's optional. Don't forget to add 요 if you're speaking in polite, informal form whether you use a verb or not.
6. Then you add whatever endings to "to do" or "to say" are needed.

Beginners will get confused when 고 is dropped. It's a crutch, so don't get used to it. Look instead for Book Form in the middle of a sentence. That's the dead giveaway.

Examples:

• Something very formal
• Something formal with a question marker in front
• Something formal with a predicate phrase not related to the quote at all.
• Someone said we must do something (very common)
• 왜 우리 가면 안된다고 했을까요?

Why did they ask us not to go?

• 천화한다고?

He said he'd call?

Abbreviations

There are a number of abbreviations. Note that these are generally only used for short quotes, when the emphasis is not the quote at all but something else. They also only appear in informal speaking forms.

• 래/으레: Command form
• ㄴ대/대/는대: Statement form

(내/느내 for question is very rare. I've never heard it.)

Think of this as a contraction of Book Form + 고 and you'll be fine.

Examples:

• 누가 먹으레?

Did someone tell you to eat?

Decoding a Quote

First, you have to recognize the flags that Koreans throw up when they are quoting something. This is the book form ending in the middle of a sentence, the abbreviated ending, or 고.

In speaking, Koreans use a different intonation than that otherwise would. The 고 usually has a rising pitch, or sometimes a short pause after it. They also tend to take the literal quote and say it in the original intonation, which sounds kind of weird because the intonation around the quote seems to be doubled.

Is this any different than the way English speakers do it? We have a brief paused after, "He said,", and then we try to match the intonation as best as we can.

As with any other Korean pattern, you'll know you have it mastered when "-ㄴ다고 했다" is just another ending you've grown familiar with, and there are 8-10 others you can readily call on that mean something similar.