Learn Korean: 누구 + Noun

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 누구 + Noun. We use this to ask who something belongs to as in Whose bag is this? and Whose money is that? In Korean, we use the same question word for who questions (누구). All we do is add the noun and attach 이다 to it as in (이게) 누구 가방이야? and (그게) 누구 돈이에요? When there is no specific noun as in Whose this/that?, we use 것 as a substitute. We say 누구 거야/거예요? The full form (것) is only used in formal situations as in 누구 것입니까? We also use this pattern as a response to a compliment to show that we take after the person who gives it. For example, I uploaded a new profile picture on Facebook and my friend commented 존나 잘생겼네 (You’re fucking handsome). I replied 당연하지. 누구 친군데? (Of course. Whose friend I am?) My point is I am handsome because I am his friend. He is handsome too. In this case, the 인데(요) ending sounds natural. If the noun ends in a vowel, use ㄴ데(요) just like the example.

누구 도시락이야?

Whose lunch box is this?

누구 집이에요?

Whose house is that?

누구 아들인데요?

Who son I am? (I am your son so I am smart)