Free Korean Grammar Reference: Particles, Tenses & Patterns
48 core curriculum grammar lessons from Hangul through Core 1B, organized by unit. Click any card for interactive examples and detailed explanations. No account required.
Looking for more patterns beyond the core units? Browse extended grammar patterns (connectors, particles, speech levels, TOPIK-ready forms).
Start here
Learn Hangul before grammar
Follow these seven short lessons in order. Learn the letters, build syllable blocks, and finish with 받침.
- Hangul lesson 1 of 7Start here
ㅏ ㅓ ㅗ ㅜ ㅡ ㅣ
Basic vowels
Learn the six base vowel sounds and why ㅇ appears before a vowel.
Open lesson아
a
ah (the vowel ㅏ)
- Hangul lesson 2 of 7
ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ ㅎ
Basic consonants
Combine nine basic consonants with vertical and horizontal vowels.
Open lesson가
ga
ga
- Hangul lesson 3 of 7
ㅑ ㅕ ㅛ ㅠ
Y-vowels
Add a quick y-sound to four familiar vowels.
Open lesson야
ya
ya
- Hangul lesson 4 of 7
ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅊ
Aspirated consonants
Hear and pronounce the extra puff of air in ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, and ㅊ.
Open lesson코
ko
nose
- Hangul lesson 5 of 7
ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ
Tense consonants
Distinguish tight doubled consonants from plain and aspirated sounds.
Open lesson싸다
ssa-da
cheap
- Hangul lesson 6 of 7
ㅐ ㅔ ㅒ ㅖ · ㅘ ㅙ ㅚ · ㅝ ㅞ ㅟ ㅢ
Combined vowels
Read the combined vowels that appear throughout everyday Korean.
Open lesson의사
ui-sa
doctor
- Hangul lesson 7 of 7
받침
Final consonants
Finish syllable blocks with 받침 and learn the seven final sounds.
Open lesson책
chaek
book
Unit 1: Greetings
인사
Unit 2: Store
가게
Unit 3: Classroom & Room
교실과 방
Unit 4: Everyday Life
일상생활
Unit 5: Restaurant
식당
Unit 6: Dates & Days
날짜와 요일
Unit 7: Time
시간
몇 시에 / 시+분 / 시 반
Telling time. Use 시 for hours, 분 for minutes, 반 for :30.
열두 시 삼십 분
yeol-du si sam-sip bun
12:30
시간 + 부터/까지
From/until. Time ranges.
9시부터 5시까지
a-hop-si-bu-teo da-seot-si-kka-ji
From 9 to 5
쯤 (대략/약)
쯤 = about/around (approximate time/amount).
8시쯤 일어나요
yeo-deol-si-jjeum i-reo-na-yo
I get up around 8
동사 + -았/었어요 (과거)
Past tense. -았어요 after ㅏ/ㅗ, -었어요 otherwise. 하다 → 했어요.
갔어요
gat-sseo-yo
went
동사 + -고 / 그리고 (순서/나열)
Connect actions: V1-고 V2. Often past is marked on the final verb.
밥을 먹고 농구했어요
bab-eul meok-go nong-gu-hae-sseo-yo
I ate and then played basketball
동사 + (으)ㄹ까요?
Suggestion. "Shall we? / Want to?"
갈까요?
gal-kka-yo?
Shall we go?
Unit 8: Weather
날씨
날씨 형용사 + -아요/어요
Describe weather with adjectives: 맑아요/흐려요/더워요/추워요, etc. (includes ㅂ irregular like 덥다/춥다).
맑아요
mal-ga-yo
It is clear/sunny
형용사/상태 + -고 (나열)
Stack states: A-고 B (and).
비가 오고 추워요
bi-ga o-go chu-wo-yo
It's raining and cold
아서/어서 (이유 → 결과)
Cause → result: because A, B.
비가 와서 집에 있어요
bi-ga wa-seo ji-be i-sseo-yo
Because it’s raining, I stay home
못 vs 안
못 = cannot (circumstance/ability), 안 = don’t (choice).
비가 와서 운동을 못 해요
bi-ga wa-seo un-dong-eul mot hae-yo
I can't exercise because it’s raining
못 + 동사 (불가능)
Cannot. Express inability due to circumstances/ability.
못 가요
mot ga-yo
I cannot go
Unit 9: Hospital
병원
동사 + -고 싶다
Express a want or desire. Attach -고 싶다 to a verb stem. "I want to…"
집에서 쉬고 싶어요
jib-e-seo swi-go si-peo-yo
I want to rest at home
동사 + -(으)세요 (명령/권유)
Polite imperative or suggestion. "Please do…" Use -세요 after vowels, -으세요 after consonants.
약을 드세요
yak-eul deu-se-yo
Please take the medicine
Unit 10: Korean Life
한국 생활
동사/형용사 + -ㅂ니다/습니다 (격식체)
Formal polite ending. Use -ㅂ니다 after vowels, -습니다 after consonants. Used in formal settings.
저는 한국 문화를 좋아합니다
jeo-neun han-guk mun-hwa-reul jo-a-ham-ni-da
I like Korean culture
시간 + 에 + 동사 (과거 시점)
Specify when something happened. "Last fall", "last year" etc. + 에 marks the time.
작년 가을에 한국에 왔습니다
jang-nyeon ga-eul-e han-guk-e wat-seum-ni-da
I came to Korea last fall
Unit 11: Transportation
교통
Unit 12: Telephone
전화
동사/형용사 + -지요? / -죠?
Tag question seeking confirmation. "…right?" / "…isn't it?" -죠 is the shortened form.
요즘 잘 지내지요?
yo-jeum jal ji-nae-ji-yo?
You're doing well these days, right?
동사 + -아/어서 (이유)
Give a reason. "Because…" Links cause to result. Cannot use past tense on the first clause.
약속이 있어서 못 갔어요
yak-sok-i i-sseo-seo mot gat-sseo-yo
I couldn't go because I had plans
Unit 13: Clothes & Appearances
옷과 외모
형용사 + -ㄴ/은 + 명사 (관형형)
Use adjectives to modify nouns. Remove -다, add -ㄴ (vowel) or -은 (consonant). "Pretty clothes", "long pants".
예쁜 옷이 많아요
ye-ppeun o-si ma-na-yo
There are lots of pretty clothes
빈도 부사: 자주 / 가끔 / 항상 / 별로
Frequency adverbs. 항상 (always), 자주 (often), 가끔 (sometimes), 별로 (not really, used with negation).
자주 입어요
ja-ju i-beo-yo
I wear it often
Unit 14: Invitation & Plans
초대와 약속
동사 + -(으)러 가다/오다
Express purpose of going/coming. "Go/come to do…"
축구 보러 오세요
chuk-gu bo-reo o-se-yo
Come to watch soccer
동사 + -(으)면서
Do two actions simultaneously. "While doing A, (also doing) B."
주스를 마시면서 기다리고 있어요
ju-seu-reul ma-si-myeon-seo gi-da-ri-go i-sseo-yo
I'm waiting while drinking juice
Unit 15: Family
가족
주어 높임: -(으)세요 (존댓말)
Honorific verb form for elders/superiors. Replace -아/어요 with -(으)세요 to show respect about the subject.
아버지는 산에 자주 가세요
a-beo-ji-neun san-e ja-ju ga-se-yo
My father often goes to the mountains
동사 + -(으)실 거예요 (존경 미래)
Honorific future tense. "Someone (respected) will…" Combines -(으)시- (honorific) + -ㄹ 거예요 (future).
부모님이 한국에 오실 거예요
bu-mo-nim-i han-guk-e o-sil geo-ye-yo
My parents will come to Korea
Unit 16: Travel
여행
동사 + -아/어 주세요
Polite request asking someone to do something for you. "Please do … (for me)."
사진을 좀 찍어 주세요
sa-jin-eul jom jji-geo ju-se-yo
Please take a picture (for me)
동사 + -(으)면 (조건)
Conditional "if/when". If A, then B.
시간 있으면 여기에 가 보세요
si-gan i-sseu-myeon yeo-gi-e ga bo-se-yo
If you have time, try going here
동사 + -아/어 보다 (시도)
Try doing something. "Try to…" / "Have you tried…?"
한번 가 보세요
han-beon ga bo-se-yo
Try going (there) once