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Lesson 1 Grammar Handout: Korean Class
Lesson 1 Grammar Handout: Korean Class
1. Verb'이다' : to be
'이다' is the form which links a subject with its predicate, indicating equality or identification.
If this form is attached to the noun, there can be no pause or space between it and the Noun.
It is pronounced like a part of the Noun.
It has two different forms '-예요' and '-이에요'. '-예요' is used when the Noun ends with a
vowel, and '-이에요' is used when the Noun ends with a consonant.
2. '예' : yes
'예', which means 'yes', is often pronounced `네'. It is used as a regular response to a knock
at the door, or hearing your name called, and being greeted. The opposite of `예' is `아니오'.
This means 'no' is used in negative replies to questions, in contradictions and denials, and as
an informal reply to apologies, expressions of thanks, and compliments.
The subjective marker `-이/가' is used to indicate that the preceding noun phrase is the
subject of the sentence. ‘-가’ is used after a word which ends with a vowel, while `-이’ is used
after a consonant.
가방이 있어요.
모자가 있어요.
While the subjective marker `-이/가' indicates the subject of a sentence, the topic marker
`은/는' is used to indicate the comparison of topics. If there is no connotation of comparison
with another subject, this marker cannot be used. '-는' is used after words ending in a vowel,
`-은' is used after words ending in a consonant.
5.1. 이게,그게,저게
These are the contractions of '이것, 그것, 저것` and the subjective marker '-이'.
'이것' is 'this thing.' '이' is a demonstrative which modifies the dependent noun '-것' and it is
used only as a modifier of the following noun. '이것' indicates a thing which is close to the
speaker. '그것' indicates a thing which is far from the speaker, but close to the listener. It can
be also used as that thing or those things already under discussion. '저것' is used to indicate
a thing which is far from both the listener and the speaker.
그것+ 이 -> 그게 'that' (far from the speaker, close to the listener)
저것+ 이 -> 저게 'that over there' (far from both the listener and the speaker)
These are the contractions of '이것,그것,저것' and the topic marker '-은'.
그것+ 은 -> 그건 'that' (far from the speaker, close to the listener)
저것+ 은 -> 저건 'that over there' (far from both the listener and the speaker)
5.3. 이분,그분,저분
'이, 그, 저' can indicate persons with '분' which means person.
이분 'this person' (close to the speaker)
그분 'that person' (far from the speaker, close to the listener)
저분 'that person over there' (far from both the listener and the speaker)
This word is used for making negatives. You have already studied '이다` which indicates
equality or identification. The '이다' is attached directly to a noun, and is pronounced as one
word with the noun. When you make the negative construction of '이다', the subject marker '-
이/가' is attached directly to the noun, and then followed by the negative verb '아니다'.
The verb `있다' indicates existence, location or possession. The opposite verb is `없다'.
(Possesion)
(Location)