Korean Grammar Reference

copula

명사 + 이에요/예요

Use 이에요 after consonants, 예요 after vowels. Means "is/am/are".

학생이에요

I am a student

topic-marker

명사 + 은/는

Topic marker. Use 은 after consonants, 는 after vowels.

저는 학생이에요

I am a student

articlesindefinite-article

Articles: a / an

Use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds. Korean has no articles, so this is new! "a/an" means "one of many" (불특정).

나는 학생이에요.

I am a student.

articlesdefinite-article

Articles: the

Use "the" when both speaker and listener know which specific thing you mean. "the" = "그" (특정한 것).

그 책 줘.

Give me the book.

Unit 2: Store

가게

request

명사 + 주세요

Please give me + noun. Used for requests.

물 주세요

Water, please

counter

수량 + 단위(개/병/잔/그릇...)

Counters for counting things (general, bottles, cups, bowls, etc.).

사과 두 개

two apples

be-verbsubject-pronouns

Subject Pronouns & Be Verb

English requires a subject in every sentence (Korean often drops it). "am/is/are" = "이다". I am, You are, He/She is, We are, They are.

나는 학생이야.

I am a student.

pluralsnoun-forms

Plural Nouns: -s / -es

Add -s to most nouns for plural. Add -es after s, sh, ch, x, z. Korean doesn't change nouns for plural!

고양이 두 마리

two cats

Unit 3: Classroom & Room

교실과 방

demonstrative

이/그/저 + 명사

이 (this, near speaker), 그 (that, near listener), 저 (that over there).

이 책

this book

existencesubject-marker

명사 + 이/가 있어요/없어요

Subject + exists/doesn't exist. Use 이 after consonants, 가 after vowels.

책이 있어요

There is a book

present-tensesubject-verb-agreement

Simple Present Tense

For habits and facts. Add -s/-es for he/she/it. Korean doesn't change verbs for subjects!

나는 매일 커피를 마신다.

I drink coffee every day.

present-continuousprogressive

Present Continuous: be + -ing

Use "am/is/are + verb-ing" for actions happening right now. Korean uses -고 있다 similarly.

나는 지금 먹고 있어.

I am eating now.

Unit 4: Everyday Life

일상생활

present-tense

동사 + 아요/어요 (현재)

Present tense. Use 아요 with ㅏ/ㅗ stems, 어요 with others.

가요

location-particlelocation-action

장소 + 에/에서

에 for direction/time, 에서 for action location.

학교에 가요

I go to school

past-tenseregular-verbs

Simple Past: Regular Verbs (-ed)

Add -ed to regular verbs for past tense. Korean uses -았/었, English uses -ed for all subjects (no subject changes!).

나는 어제 요리했어.

I cooked yesterday.

past-tenseirregular-verbs

Simple Past: Irregular Verbs

Many common verbs have irregular past forms that must be memorized. go→went, eat→ate, see→saw, have→had.

나는 학교에 갔다.

I went to school.

Unit 5: Restaurant

식당

object-marker

명사 + 을/를

Object marker. Use 을 after consonants, 를 after vowels.

밥을 먹어요

I eat rice

negation

안 + 동사

Negation (choice). Put 안 before the verb.

안 먹어요

I don't eat

prepositionsplace

Prepositions of Place: in / on / at

in = 안에 (inside), on = 위에 (on surface), at = 에 (specific point). Korean uses particles; English uses prepositions BEFORE the noun.

고양이가 상자 안에 있어.

The cat is in the box.

prepositionstime

Prepositions of Time: in / on / at

at = specific time (at 3 PM), on = days/dates (on Monday), in = months/years/seasons (in March).

3시에 만나자.

Let's meet at 3 PM.

Unit 6: Dates & Days

날짜와 요일

time-particle

시간/요일 + 에

Time particle. Marks WHEN something happens.

월요일에 가요

I go on Monday

alsoonly

도 / 만

도 = also/too (inclusion), 만 = only (exclusion).

저도 학생이에요

I am also a student

future-tense

동사 + (으)ㄹ 거예요

Future tense. "Will do / going to do".

갈 거예요

I will go

questionsdo-does

Yes/No Questions with Do/Does

To make a question, add "Do" (I/you/we/they) or "Does" (he/she/it) before the subject. Korean changes sentence ending; English changes word order!

커피 마셔?

Do you drink coffee?

negationdo-does

Negatives: don't / doesn't / isn't / aren't

Add "not" after be (is not), or use "do not / does not" before other verbs. Korean adds 안/못; English adds not.

나는 학생이 아니야.

I am not a student.

Unit 7: Time

시간

time

몇 시에 / 시+분 / 시 반

Telling time. Use 시 for hours, 분 for minutes, 반 for :30.

열두 시 삼십 분

12:30

from-to

시간 + 부터/까지

From/until. Time ranges.

9시부터 5시까지

From 9 to 5

approximation

쯤 (대략/약)

쯤 = about/around (approximate time/amount).

8시쯤 일어나요

I get up around 8

past-tense

동사 + -았/었어요 (과거)

Past tense. -았어요 after ㅏ/ㅗ, -었어요 otherwise. 하다 → 했어요.

갔어요

went

conjunction

동사 + -고 / 그리고 (순서/나열)

Connect actions: V1-고 V2. Often past is marked on the final verb.

밥을 먹고 농구했어요

I ate and then played basketball

suggestion

동사 + (으)ㄹ까요?

Suggestion. "Shall we? / Want to?"

갈까요?

Shall we go?

future-tensewill

Future: will / be going to

"will" = quick decision or promise. "be going to" = planned action. Korean uses -(으)ㄹ 것이다 for both.

내가 도와줄게.

I will help you.

modalscan

Modals: can / must / should

can = ~할 수 있다, must = ~해야 하다, should = ~해야 한다 (suggestion). No -s for he/she/it!

나 수영할 수 있어.

I can swim.

Unit 8: Weather

날씨

adjective

날씨 형용사 + -아요/어요

Describe weather with adjectives: 맑아요/흐려요/더워요/추워요, etc. (includes ㅂ irregular like 덥다/춥다).

맑아요

It is clear/sunny

conjunction

형용사/상태 + -고 (나열)

Stack states: A-고 B (and).

비가 오고 추워요

It's raining and cold

cause

아서/어서 (이유 → 결과)

Cause → result: because A, B.

비가 와서 집에 있어요

Because it’s raining, I stay home

inabilitynegation

못 vs 안

못 = cannot (circumstance/ability), 안 = don’t (choice).

비가 와서 운동을 못 해요

I can't exercise because it’s raining

inability

못 + 동사 (불가능)

Cannot. Express inability due to circumstances/ability.

못 가요

I cannot go

conjunctionsconnectors

Connecting Ideas: and / but / or / because

and = 그리고, but = 하지만, or = 또는, because = 왜냐하면. English puts connectors between clauses.

나는 커피를 마시고 빵을 먹었어.

I drank coffee and ate bread.