Lay the stage before you speak: -는데

Where the picture shows up in -는데

1. 1

   the situation you lay down

   지금 회의하는데 이따 전화할게요.

   ji-geum hoe-ui-ha-neun-de i-tta jeon-hwa-hal-ge-yo

   I'm in a meeting, so I'll call you later.

2. 2

   what showed up on that ground

   어제 갔는데 문을 닫았어요.

   eo-je gan-neun-de mu-neul da-da-sseo-yo

   I went yesterday, and the place was closed.

3. 3

   one mat, another remark

   이 옷 예쁜데 좀 비싸요.

   i ot ye-ppeun-de jom bi-ssa-yo

   These clothes are pretty, but a bit expensive.

   Softer than -지만. -지만 openly sets up the opposite; -는데 just lays it down.

4. 4

   the sentence left open

   저 다음 주에 이사 가는데요.

   jeo da-eum ju-e i-sa ga-neun-de-yo

   So, I'm moving house next week…

   Ending on -는데요 leaves an unspoken 'so what should we do?' hanging.

5. 5

   the mat before a favor

   죄송한데 이것 좀 도와주시겠어요?

   joe-song-han-de i-geot jom do-wa-ju-si-ge-sseo-yo

   Sorry to bother you, but could you help me with this?

   Verbs take -는데; adjectives take -(으)ㄴ데. 예쁘다 → 예쁜데.