-느냐에 따라: “Depending on…” in Korean Grammar

-느냐에 따라 is exactly the kind of conditional reasoning that scores well in TOPIK Writing Question 54, where a strong essay usually needs more than a single absolute stance. Use this when a result is not fixed, but subject to further conditions.

What Does -느냐에 따라 Mean?

-느냐에 따라 means “depending on how/what/whether…” – it embeds an indirect question (often built with 어떻게 “how,” 얼마나 “how much,” 무엇 “what,” or 누가 “who”) and says that whatever follows varies based on the answer to that question. It’s almost always paired with a main clause using 다르다 (“to be different”) or 달라지다 (“to become different/vary”).

This is written, formal register – you’ll see it constantly in essays, news articles, and TOPIK model answers, but it’s less common in casual spoken Korean.

How to Use -느냐에 따라 (Grammar Structure)

The ending changes based on word type:

Verb stem + -느냐에 따라

노력을 얼마나 하느냐에 따라 결과가 달라진다. The result varies depending on how much effort you put in.

Adjective stem + -(으)냐에 따라

환경이 얼마나 깨끗하냐에 따라 삶의 질이 달라진다. The quality of life varies depending on how clean the environment is.

Noun + 이냐에 따라

직업이 무엇이냐에 따라 필요한 능력도 다르다. The required skills differ depending on what the job is.

Example Sentences

1. 노력을 얼마나 하느냐에 따라 결과가 달라진다. The result varies depending on how much effort you put in.
2. 어떻게 준비하느냐에 따라 시험 결과가 다르다. The exam results differ depending on how you prepare.
3. 어떤 방법을 선택하느냐에 따라 시간이 절약될 수도, 낭비될 수도 있다. Depending on which method you choose, time can be saved — or wasted.
4. 환경이 얼마나 깨끗하냐에 따라 삶의 질이 달라진다. The quality of life varies depending on how clean the environment is.
5. 직업이 무엇이냐에 따라 필요한 능력도 다르다. The required skills differ depending on what the job is.

Practice: Try It Yourself

Write three sentences using -느냐에 따라:

1. Write about how success depends on effort — start with 노력을 얼마나 하느냐에 따라…
2. Write about how learning outcomes differ depending on study method or environment.
3. TOPIK-essay style: write a sentence about how the effects of technology differ depending on how it’s used — a very common TOPIK essay topic (기술의 영향은 어떻게 사용하느냐에 따라…).

Before moving on, check which ending you used against the word type: verb stems take -느냐, adjective stems take -(으)냐, and nouns take 이냐. This pattern is one Korean learners often flatten into a single form out of habit, so it’s worth confirming each sentence matches its word type correctly.

This kind of conditional, “it depends on…” reasoning is exactly what turns a flat TOPIK essay into a nuanced one — see it in action in our TOPIK Writing Samples.