Korean Grammar Reference

24 core grammar points for beginner Korean, organized by unit. Click any card to see interactive examples and detailed explanations.

Unit 1: Greetings

인사

Unit 1

copula

명사 + 이에요/예요

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

학생이에요

I am a student

Unit 1

topic-marker

명사 + 은/는

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

저는 학생이에요

I am a student

Unit 2: Classroom & Room

교실과 방

Unit 2

demonstrative

이/그/저 + 명사

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

이 책

this book

Unit 2

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

Unit 3: Store

가게

Unit 3

request

명사 + 주세요

Please give me + noun. Used for requests.

물 주세요

Water, please

Unit 3

counter

수량 + 단위(개/병/잔/그릇...)

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

사과 두 개

two apples

Unit 4: Everyday Life

일상생활

Unit 4

present-tense

동사 + 아요/어요 (현재)

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

가요

Unit 4

location-particlelocation-action

장소 + 에/에서

에 for direction/time, 에서 for action location.

학교에 가요

I go to school

Unit 5: Restaurant

식당

Unit 5

object-marker

명사 + 을/를

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

밥을 먹어요

I eat rice

Unit 5

negation

안 + 동사

Negation (choice). Put 안 before the verb.

안 먹어요

I don't eat

Unit 6: Dates & Days

날짜와 요일

Unit 6

time-particle

시간/요일 + 에

Time particle. Marks WHEN something happens.

월요일에 가요

I go on Monday

Unit 6

alsoonly

도 / 만

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

저도 학생이에요

I am also a student

Unit 6

future-tense

동사 + (으)ㄹ 거예요

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

갈 거예요

I will go

Unit 7: Time

시간

Unit 7

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

Unit 7

from-to

시간 + 부터/까지

From/until. Time ranges.

9시부터 5시까지

From 9 to 5

Unit 7

approximation

쯤 (대략/약)

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

8시쯤 일어나요

I get up around 8

Unit 7

past-tense

동사 + -았/었어요 (과거)

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

갔어요

went

Unit 7

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

Unit 7

suggestion

동사 + (으)ㄹ까요?

Suggestion. "Shall we? / Want to?"

갈까요?

Shall we go?

Unit 8: Weather

날씨

Unit 8

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

Unit 8

conjunction

형용사/상태 + -고 (나열)

Stack states: A-고 B (and).

비가 오고 추워요

It's raining and cold

Unit 8

cause

아서/어서 (이유 → 결과)

Cause → result: because A, B.

비가 와서 집에 있어요

Because it’s raining, I stay home

Unit 8

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

Unit 8

inability

못 + 동사 (불가능)

Cannot. Express inability due to circumstances/ability.

못 가요

I cannot go

Unit 0: Review 5: Ch.9-10

복습 5

Unit 0: Review 6: Ch.11-12

복습 6

Unit 0: Review 7: Ch.13-14

복습 7

Unit 0: Review 8: Ch.15-16

복습 8