SENTENCE ORDER Both of these two sentences mean “I bought” but 내가 샀다

puts more emphasis on the subject of the sentence, “I”.

In regards to the order of a sentence, there are four basic types
in Korean. There are: In the sentence, 내가 샀다, it is more concerned about
+ Subject + Noun ‘who’ bought.
+ Subject + Verb On the other hand, 나는 샀다, it is more concerned about
+ Subject + Adjective ‘what’ I did.
+ Subject + Object + Verb

1. Subject + Noun SUBJECT PARTICLES - 은/는 and 이/가

+ 나는 학생이다 은/는 and 이 / 가 are used for the subject of a sentence but
I am a student 는/은 introduces a topic or a subject whereas 이/ 가 identifies a
+ 리사는 선생님이다. subject.
Lisa is a teacher
The topic particle, 은/는 , is used in cases when we make a
2. Subject + Verb
general or factual statement whereas 이/가 is not.
+ 주영은 달려요.
Ju-young runs Example:
* 사과는 빨갛다.
3. Subject + Adjective
An apple is red
+ 그는 크다.
* 사과가 빨갛다.
He is big.
The apple is red
4. Subject + Object + Verb
TOPIC PARTICLE 은/는 VS SUBJECT PARTICLE 이/가
+ 나는 사과를 먹었다.
I ate apple. For beginners, we also need to know 은/는 are used for

5. Subject + Time + Verb 1. When you introduce a noun

+ 저는 1:00 시에 가요. Ex. 저는 이민수입니다. I am Lee Minsu.
I go at 1:00
2. When you compare two nouns
6. Subject + Place + Verb Ex. 민수 씨는 사과를 좋아해요. 그런데 유진씨는 사과를 안
+ 저는 로빈손에 가요.
좋아해요.
I go to Robinson. (Minsu likes apples, but Yujin doesn’t like apples)
GRAMMAR AND PARTICLE USAGE Ex. 민수 씨가 사과는 좋아해요. 그런데 바나나는 안 좋아해요.
(Minsu likes apples, but he doesn’t like bananas.)
Particles are functional words that do not have any meaning in
themselves. 3. When you ask about new information, it is safe to use 이/가
and when you answer the question, you should use 은/는.
They are like helpers in that they are attached to the end of
nouns to indicate what that noun is and how it functions in a Ex. A. 이름이 뭐예요? What is your name?
sentence. B. 제 이름은 이민수예요. My name is Lee Minsu.

TOPIC PARTICLE - 은/는

은/는 is used for a subject or topic of a sentence. ADDITIVE PARTICLE - 도
는 is used for nouns without a final consonant 은 is used for It is similar to subject particles 은/는 and 이 / 가 in that it is used
nouns with a final consonants for subject (or topic). However, 도 adds the meaning of ‘too’ or
‘also’ to a subject.
Example:
Example:
* 나는 학생이다 – I am a student
* 나도 학생이다.
* 하늘은 높다 – The sky is high I am a student, too
* 그도 친절하다.
Note: There are no articles in the parts of speech in Korean. “A,
He is also kind.
an and the” which are used to identify and specify a noun in
English and other languages are absent in Korean grammar.
OBJECT PARTICLE - 을/를
IDENTIFIER PARTICLE - 이/가 It is attached to a noun to tell us that noun is an object in a
sentence, an object which the verb describes.
이 / 가 is used similarly as 은/는 in that that indicate a subject
but 이/가 is used when it is necessary to identify the person or 을 for nouns with final consonants
thing that is talked about in a sentence. 를 is used for nouns without a final consonants
 가 is used for words without a final consonant
 이 is used for words with final consonant Example:
* 나무를 심었다 (planted a tree)
Example: * 빵을 샀다 (bought some bread)
* 나는 가방을 샀다 – I bought a bag.
* 내가 가방을 샀다 – I bought a bag. TIME AND PLACE PARTICLE - 에
It is used for any words related to time and place or destination.
Note: 나 is changed to 내 when it is used before 가. 에 is used for words either with or without a final consonants.
Example: PARTICLES - 에서 / 까지 (FROM, TO; IN/AT)
* 샘은 한국에 갔다 – Sam went to Korea
에서 and 까지 are used after places/times just like “FROM” and
* 준수는 5 월에 왔다 – Junsu came in May “TO” in English.

Note: When 에 is used as Place Particle, it is usually used with Examples:

‘go’ and ‘come’ to indicate a place to which you’re going or 집에서 학교까지
coming, and 에 functions like ‘to’ in English. From home to school
1 시에서 2 시까지
When 에 is used as Time Particle, WHEN, NOW, TODAY,
YESTERDAY or TOMORROW is not followed by the time particle From 1pm to 2pm

에.
Particles – 에서 (At/In)
THE DATIVE PARTICLE - 께 / 에게 / 한테 Is attached to a noun to indicate the location or place where the
This is mainly used for someone/something to whom you are action takes place.
giving something.
Note: When you what to say you did something at a particular
 께 is a honorific form place ‘for a certain period of time’, 에서 is used for that location
 에게 is a formal form or place. In this case, the function of 에서 is similar to “IN, AT or
 한테 is an informal form ON” in English.

Examples:
Examples:
공원에서 배드민턴을 쳤다
* 아버지께 선물을 드렸다
In the park, we played badminton.
To my father, I gave a present.
방에서 공부를 했다
* 아빠에게선물을 드렸다
In my room, I studied.
To my dad, I gave a present.
* 누나한테 물을 주었다
* 에서 is also means “from somewhere.”
To older sister, I gave water.
Example: 필리핀에서 왔어요.
Particle - (으)로부터 / 에게서 / 한테서 I am from the Philippines.
This is used when you are receiving something from someone.
 (으)로부터 is an honorific form Particles - 만 (only)
 에게서 is formal 만 essentially means “only” and it is used after a noun.
 한테서 is informal Example:
* 아빠만 TV 를 보셨다.
Examples: Only dad watched TV.
* 대통령으로부터 상을 받았다 * 물만 마셨다.
From the president, I received a prize. I drank only water.
* 어믐에게서 편지를 받았다
From mum, I received a letter. Possessive Particle - 의
* 형한테서 소식을 들었다 It functions like the English suffix “s” or like the word “of.”
From older brother, I heard news. Indicates possessiveness to the word it is attached with. Add 의
to the noun.

DIRECTION PARTICLE - 으로 / 로 으로 Note: 의 is read as (에).

is used for words which have a final consonants 로 for words
Example:
without a final consonants (Exception: If a noun ends with ‘ㄹ’ in
I 나 + 의 = 나의 my
their final consonants, you don’t put (으로) but instead use 로.)
You 너 + 의 = 너의 your
Example:
트럭으로 by truck Example: 필리핀의 수도는 마닐라이다.
Philippine’s capital is Manila.
차로 by car
연필로 by/with a pencil However, in most spoken Korean, they are simplified for easier
pronunciation.
(으)로 has several meanings,
Example:
1. 으로 / 로 (with, by, in) is used for tools/ methods/
나의 -- 내
transportation with which you do something.
너의 -- 네 (pronounced 니)
Example:
가위로 종이를 잘랐다 For all possessives, only 내 and 네 (니) are commonly used in
With scissors, I cut a paper. spoken Korean. In most cases 의 is omitted. Example:
My car = 내 차
2. 으로 / 로 (for, to, toward) is used for a
direction/destination/place for which you are headed. Example: Your shoes = 네 신발 ( pronounced 니 신발)
짐은 집으로 갔다.
Jim went home.
하고 : ‘AND’ and ‘WITH’ 와/과 or (이)랑 When the place particle 에 is followed by 있다 / 없다 it means
- 하고 Has two meaning, which are ‘and’ between two nouns “TO BE (in a place).”
and ‘with someone/animal.’
Example:
Example: 뉴욕은 미국에 있 어요.
수박하고 사과를 안 먹어요. 선생님은 학교에 있어요.
I don’t eat watermelons and apples.
ELIMINATING THE SUBJECT
The formal form of – 하고 is 와/과. 와 is used after a vowel and Koreans make their sentences as short as possible.
Example:
과 is used after a consonant.
저는 아침식사를만 먹었어요.
They would say:
Example: 아침식사를만 먹었어요.
수박과 사과를 안 먹어요. I don’t eat watermelons and apples.
들
오렌지와 수박을안 먹어요. I don’t eat orange and
Koreans rarely distinguish singular and plural.
watermelons.
For example if you say:
(이)랑 is very casual form, so you only use it in casual situation.
저는 사과를 샀어요 .
랑 is used after a vowel and 이랑 is used after a consonant.
This could mean:
Example: “I bought an apple” or “I bought apples.”
수박이랑 사과를 안 먹어요. I don’t eat watermelons and
apples. 들 can be attached to a noun to make it plural. However adding
오렌지랑 수박을안 먹어요. I don’t eat orange and 들 to a noun that is not referring to a person is unnatural.
watermelons.
Instead 들 is usually attached to the word “person” (사람) or
other words with the meaning of people (Ex. actors, workers,
doctors, etc.)
THIS, THAT , THAT 이 / 그 / 저

Note: attaching 들 to objects sounds awkward.

Depending on where the object is located relative to the speaker
and listener.
Ex. 배우들은 그들의 영화를 보통 좋아하지 않아요.
이 – “this” is used when the object is closer to the speaker than
the listener. 몇
그 – “that” is used when the object is closer to the listener than In Korean, you could use the word 몇 which can replace a
the speaker. number.
저 – “that” when an object is equally away from the speaker and
the listener. When 몇 replaces a number, it has the meaning of
“some___”
Examples:
* 이 것은 무 엇 입니까? 몇 명의사람을 만났어요.
What is this thing? I met some people.
* 그 음식은 매워요.
고
That food is spicy.
1. And Then
* 저 여자는 진짜 예쁩니다.
A single subject governs two clauses. 고 is attached to a stem to
That girl over there is really beautiful.
the final verb of the first clause.
저는 밥을 먹고 갈거예요.
TO BE 이다
2. And
To be (something); to equal.
Two clauses with different subjects express coordinated actions
Often categorized as Korean adjective, but placed in their own
grammatical category distinct from both verbs and adjectives. or description. 고 is attached to the final verb of the first clause.
저는 한국어를 공부하고, 그는 영여를 공부해요.
A special type of verb that links the subject of a sentence with
predicate. 3. – ing
In English, this pattern would be translated to be am, is, are,
being, was were, been. 고 is attached to the stem of the verb and is followed by 있다 (to
have/ to exist) 저는 한국말을 공부하고 있습니다.
입니다 / 입니까? - FORMAL NOUN ENDING
이에요 / 예요- POLITE NOUN ENDING
To Have / To Exist / To be in a Place
있다 / 없다
When the subject particle 가 / 이 is followed by 있다 / 없다 it
means “TO HAVE/TO EXIST.”

Example:
카티는 남자친구가 있어요.
바다에 물고기가 있어요.