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Korean Basic Grammar Rules

The document outlines key aspects of the Korean language, including the use of particles to indicate grammatical roles, the honorific system for showing respect, and verb conjugation for different tenses. It also covers sentence connection methods, modifiers, question forms, negation, passive voice, and indirect speech. Additionally, it highlights common sentence endings and honorific equivalents for certain nouns.

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18 views7 pages

Korean Basic Grammar Rules

The document outlines key aspects of the Korean language, including the use of particles to indicate grammatical roles, the honorific system for showing respect, and verb conjugation for different tenses. It also covers sentence connection methods, modifiers, question forms, negation, passive voice, and indirect speech. Additionally, it highlights common sentence endings and honorific equivalents for certain nouns.

Uploaded by

irisrosedolekhanhbang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Particles (조사)

Korean uses particles to indicate the role of words in a sentence.


They attach to nouns to show whether the noun is the subject, object,
or something else.

Subject Particles: 이/가 ( highlight subject )


o 이 (after consonants) / 가 (after vowels)
o Example: 학생이 (student) / 학교가 (school)

Topic Particles: 은/는 ( introduction )

o 은 (after consonants) / 는 (after vowels)


o Example: 저는 (I - topic) / 학교는 (school - topic)

Object Particles: 을/를

o 을 (after consonants) / 를 (after vowels)


o Example: 책을 (book) / 물을 (water)

Location/Time Particles: 에/에서

o 에 (to/at/in) is used to indicate time or a location where


something exists.
o 에서 (from/at) is used to indicate where an action takes
place.
o Example: 학교에 (to school) / 집에서 (at home)
2. Honorifics (존댓말)

Korean has an honorific system that shows respect toward the


subject of the sentence. You use honorifics when talking about
someone older, of higher status, or to show respect.

Adding 시/으시 to the verb stem:

o Example: 하다 (to do) → 하시다 (honorific form)


o Example: 먹다 (to eat) → 드시다 (honorific form)

Honorific markers like 께서 (subject), 께 (to), and 드리다 (to


give)

o Example: 선생님께서 말씀하셨어요. (The teacher spoke.)

3. Tense

Korean verbs change based on the tense. The three basic tenses are
present, past, and future.

Present Tense:

o Verb stem + 아요/어요/해요


o Example: 먹어요 (eat) / 가요 (go)

Past Tense:


o Verb stem + 았어요/었어요/했어요
o Example: 먹었어요 (ate) / 갔어요 (went)

Future Tense:

o Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 거예요


o Example: 먹을 거예요 (will eat) / 갈 거예요 (will go)

4. Connecting Sentences

Korean often uses conjunctions or verb endings to connect clauses


and sentences.

And/With:

o 와/과 (used after nouns) or 하고/랑


o Example: 친구와 (with a friend) / 사과하고 (and an apple)

Because:

o 아/어서 or 때문에 (noun + 때문에)


o Example: 비가 와서 (because it rains) / 일이 있어서 (because I
have work)

But:

o 그렇지만, 그런데, 하지만


o Example: 저는 학생이에요. 그런데, 공부를 안 좋아해요. (I am a
student. But I don’t like studying.)

5. Modifiers (Adjectives and Adverbs)

Adjectives as Modifiers:

o Descriptive verbs (adjectives) modify nouns by taking


the form of the verb stem + (으)ㄴ.
o Example: 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁜 꽃 (pretty flower)

Adverbs:

o Many Korean adverbs are formed by adding -게 to


adjectives.
o Example: 빠르다 (to be fast) → 빠르게 (quickly)

6. Honorifics with Verbs

Certain verbs have special honorific forms.

To Eat:

o 먹다 (plain) → 드시다 (honorific)

To Give:


o 주다 (plain) → 드리다 (honorific)

7. Questions

Question forms vary based on politeness levels.

Informal Polite:

o Verb stem + 아요/어요?


o Example: 어디 가요? (Where are you going?)

Formal Polite:

o Verb stem + ㅂ니까/습니까?


o Example: 학교에 갑니까? (Are you going to school?)

8. Negation

To negate a verb, you can use:

 안 + Verb:

o Example: 안 가요 (I’m not going)

 Verb + 지 않다:

o Example: 가지 않아요 (I’m not going)

9. Passive Voice

In Korean, passive forms are created using specific verbs or by


adding 이/히/리/기 to the verb stem.

 Example:

o 보다 (to see) → 보이다 (to be seen)


o 열다 (to open) → 열리다 (to be opened)

10. Honorifics with Nouns

When speaking respectfully, certain nouns have honorific


equivalents.

Home:

o 집 (plain) → 댁 (honorific)

Age:

o 나이 (plain) → 연세 (honorific)

11. Sentence Ending Patterns

There are several common sentence endings used to express


different meanings, such as surprise, curiosity, suggestion, or
softening a command:

-네요: Expresses surprise or realization.

o Example: 맛있네요! (It's delicious!)

-겠어요: Indicates intention or willingness.

o Example: 제가 하겠어요. (I will do it.)


-죠: Seeking agreement or confirmation.

o Example: 맞죠? (Right?)

12. Indirect Speech

Korean has specific endings to report speech indirectly.

To Say:

o 한다고 (say that)


o Example: 그는 온다고 했어요. (He said that he’s coming.)

To Ask:

o 냐고 (ask whether)
o Example: 그는 뭐 하냐고 물어봤어요. (He asked what you were
doing.)

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