1. Basics of Korean Grammar
Korean is an agglutinative language, meaning that grammatical information is attached to a root word in the form of suffixes. The typical sentence order is SubjectObjectVerb (SOV), and the verb always appears at the end of a clause. The language does not use articles (a, an, the) and does not mark plurals in the same way English does; context often clarifies number.
Key points to remember:
- Word order is flexible for emphasis, but the verb must stay final.
- Particles attached to nouns indicate their grammatical role.
- Politeness levels are expressed through verb endings.
2. Particles ()
Particles are short suffixes that follow nouns or pronouns. They are essential for indicating the function of a word in a sentence.
Subject Particles
| Particle | Usage |
|---|---|
| (i) | Attached to nouns ending in a consonant. |
| (ga) | Attached to nouns ending in a vowel. |
Object Particles
| Particle | Usage |
|---|---|
| (eul) | After consonant-ending nouns. |
| (reul) | After vowel-ending nouns. |
Topic Particles
The topic particle marks what the sentence is about and often differs from the subject particle.
I am a student.
(I) + (topic) + (student) + (copula)
Location & Direction Particles
- (e) location or time
- (eseo) location of an action
- / (ege/hante) indirect object (to someone)
3. Verb Conjugation
Verbs are conjugated for tense, mood, and politeness. The root of a verb is found by removing the infinitive ending -.
Present Tense (Informal Low)
(to eat)
Present Tense (Formal Polite)
Past Tense (Informal Low)
Past Tense (Formal Polite)
Future Tense (Informal Low)
Future Tense (Formal Polite)
Note that irregular verbs (such as , , and ) have special conjugation patterns.
4. Honorifics ()
Honorific forms show respect toward the subject or listener. They appear mainly in verb endings and certain nouns.
Verb Honorific Marker ()-
Polite Levels
- (banmal) informal, used among close friends or to younger people.
- (jondaetmal) polite, typical in most everyday situations.
- (formal) highly formal, used in speeches, news, or formal writing.
Choosing the correct level depends on the relationship, social context, and setting.
5. Common Sentence Structures
Descriptive Sentences
Adjectives work like verbs and can be conjugated.
The weather is nice.
Using / for Contrast
I am a student, and my friend is a teacher.
Expressing Ability
I can speak Korean.
Giving Reasons
Because it rained, I stayed at home.
Connecting Two Actions
Use - to link verbs.
I ate and then studied.
6. Further Resources
- National Institute of Korean Language official definitions and dictionaries.
- Talk To Me In Korean structured lessons for all levels.
- Duolingo Korean free gamified practice.
- Books: Integrated Korean series, Korean Grammar in Use (Beginner & Intermediate).
- Apps: Memrise, Anki (customizable flashcards for particles and conjugations).
