Comprehensive Korean Grammar for Beginners: Lesson 1

Korean Grammar Lesson 1

1. Korean Sentence Structure

In English, the basic word order is Subject + Verb + Object (SVO). However, Korean follows a different structure. Korean sentences always end with a Predicate (Verb or Adjective).

Basic Word Orders:

• Subject + Predicate (Verb)
• Subject + Object + Predicate (Verb)

Examples:

• 캐럴이 가요. (Carol goes.) — Subject + Predicate
• 캐럴이 자요. (Carol sleeps.) — Subject + Predicate
• 에릭이 사과를 먹어요. (Eric eats an apple.) — Subject + Object + Predicate
• 에릭이 도서관에서 책을 읽어요. (Eric reads a book in the library.)

What are Particles?

In Korean, small markers called Particles are attached to nouns to show their grammatical role in a sentence:

• 이 / 가 : Attached to the Subject.
• 을 / 를 : Attached to the Object.
• 에 / 에서 : Attached to a Location/Adverbial.

Flexible Word Order: Because particles clearly flag which word is the subject or object, the word order can change depending on what the speaker wants to emphasize, as long as the verb stays at the very end!

• Example: 사과를 에릭이 먹어요. (An apple, Eric eats.)

Dropping the Subject: If the context makes it obvious who or what you are talking about, Koreans frequently omit the subject entirely.

• Q: 어디에 가요? (Where are you going?)
• A: 학교에 가요. (Going to school. / I go to school.)

2. Conjugation of Verbs and Adjectives

In Korean, both verbs and adjectives conjugate (change their endings) based on tense, politeness levels, and speech styles.

The Dictionary Form:

All verbs and adjectives in their base form end with –다 (-da). The part before -다 is called the Word Stem. When you conjugate a word, the stem stays the same, and only the ending changes.

• 가다 (to go)  가 (Stem) + –다 (Ending)

Examples of Conjugation:

• 가다 (to go):
  • 갑니다 (go/goes – Present Formal)
  • 가십니다 (go/goes – Honorific for elders)
  • 갔습니다 (went – Past Formal)
• 좋다 (to be good):
  • 좋습니다 (is good – Present Formal)
  • 좋았습니다 (was good – Past Formal)
  • 좋겠습니다 (seems to be good – Guess/Future)

3. Connecting Sentences

You can link two thoughts together using either a Conjunctive Adverb (starting a new sentence) or a Conjunctive Ending (combining them into one sentence).

1) And (그리고 / -고)

• Adverb: 바람이 불어요. 그리고 추워요. (It’s windy. And it’s cold.)
• Ending: 바람이 불고 추워요. (It’s windy and cold.)

2) But (그렇지만 / -지만)

• Adverb: 김치는 맵습니다. 그렇지만 맛있습니다. (Kimchi is spicy. But it tastes good.)
• Ending: 김치는 맵지만 맛있습니다. (Kimchi is spicy but tastes good.)

3) So / Therefore (그래서 / -아서/어서)

• Adverb: 눈이 와요. 그래서 길이 많이 막혀요. (It’s snowing. Therefore traffic is bad.)
• Ending: 눈이 와서 길이 많이 막혀요. (It’s snowing, so traffic is bad.)

4. The 4 Main Sentence Types

Korean has different sentence endings depending on whether you are making a statement, asking a question, giving a command, or making a suggestion.

We can divide these into Formal Polite Style (used in public settings, news, presentations) and Informal Polite Style (used in daily life with family, friends, and acquaintances).

1) Declarative (Making a Statement)

• Formal Polite (-ㅂ니다/습니다): 저는 학교에 갑니다. (I go to school.)
• Informal Polite (-아/어요): 저는 학교에 가요. (I go to school.)

2) Interrogative (Asking a Question)

• Formal Polite (-ㅂ니까/습니까?): 학교에 갑니까? (Do you go to school?)
• Informal Polite (-아/어요?): 학교에 가요? (Do you go to school? Spoken with a rising intonation)

3) Imperative (Giving a Command/Advice)

• Formal Polite (-으십시오): 공책에 쓰십시오. (Please write in your notebook.)
• Informal Polite (-으세요): 공책에 쓰세요. (Please write in your notebook. Note: –으세요 is much more polite than -아/어요 for commands.)

4) Propositive (Making a Suggestion / “Let’s…”)

• Formal Polite (-읍시다): 11시에 만납시다. (Let’s meet at 11 o’clock. Note: Do not use this with superiors/elders.)
• Informal Polite (-아/어요): 11시에 만나요. (Let’s meet at 11 o’clock.)

5. Korean Honorific Expressions

Korean culture values politeness and respect based on age, social status, and closeness.

1) Honoring the Subject (-시 / -으시)

If you are talking about someone older or of higher rank, add -(으)시- inside the verb stem.

• 선생님께서 한국말을 가르치십니다. (The teacher teaches Korean.)

2) Special Honorific Vocabulary

Some everyday words change completely when speaking to or about an elder:

• 자다 (sleep)  주무시다
• 먹다 (eat)  드시다 / 잡수시다
• 집 (house)  댁
• 이름 (name)  성함
• 나이 (age)  연세

Useful Polite Phrases:

• 성함이 어떻게 되세요? (May I ask your name?)
• 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (May I ask your age?)

3) The Two Forms of “To Give” (드리다 vs 주시다)

• 드리다: Used when you give something to an elder.
  • Example: 나는 선물을 어머니께 드렸어요. (I gave a present to Mom.)
• 주시다: Used when an elder gives something to you.
  • Example: 어머니께서 나에게 선물을 주셨어요. (Mom gave a present to me.)

💡 Practice Tip for Self-Study Students!

Try writing your own basic sentences using the structures above. Keep practicing the difference between the Formal Polite style and the everyday Informal Polite style!