Korean Grammar Lesson 2

Welcome to Lesson 1! In this unit, we will learn how to identify objects and status using the equative verb 이다 (To be), and how to describe locations, positions, and possession using 있다 (To exist/have) and spatial location nouns.

1. Grammar Focus 01: Noun + 이다 (To be)

이다 attaches directly to the end of a noun to make it the predicate of a sentence, expressing that the subject and predicate are the same thing.

Formal vs. Informal Polite Conjugation Matrix

• Formal Polite Style (입니다 / 입니까?): Constant regardless of whether the noun ends in a vowel or consonant.

• Informal Polite Style (예요 / 이에요):

  • Appends 예요 when the noun ends in a vowel (e.g., 사과 → 사과예요).

  • Appends 이에요 when the noun ends in a consonant (e.g., 책상 → 책상이에요).

Core Conversational Examples

• 무엇입니까? → What’s this?

• 의자입니다. → It’s a chair.

• 한국 사람입니까? → Is she/he Korean?

• 네, 한국 사람입니다. → Yes, she/he is Korean.

2. Grammar Focus 02: Noun + 있다 (To exist / To have)

있다 has two main semantic usages in beginner Korean:

1) Specifying Location (“To be located in/on/at”)

Typically formatted as Noun이/가 Noun(place)에 있다 or Noun(place)에 Noun이/가 있다. The negative counterpart is 없다 (not to exist).

Essential Spatial Vocabulary (위치 표현)

• 위 (wi) / 아래·밑 (arae·mit): On / Under

• 앞 (ap) / 뒤 (dwi): In front of / Behind

• 옆 (yeop): Beside / Next to

• 왼쪽 (oenjjok) / 오른쪽 (oreunjjok): Left side / Right side

• 안 (an) / 밖 (bak): Inside / Outside

• 가운데 (gaunde) / 사이 (sai): In the middle / In between

2) Expressing Possession (“To have”)

Used to indicate that you own an item or have a certain relationship.

• 남자 친구가 있어요. → I have a boyfriend.

• 자전거가 있어요. 차가 없어요. → I have a bicycle. I don’t have a car.

📥 [Free Subscriber Download] Korean Grammar Guide Lesson 2 Worksheet

Print out this beautiful academic blue worksheet to complete your exercises offline! Below is a preview of your self-study task sheet:

Korean_Grammar_Guide_Lesson_2_Worksheet 2

Exercise 1: Conjugate with Proper Forms of 이다

Fill in the blank tracking boxes using 예요, 이에요, 입니다, or 입니까?

1. A: 무엇입니까?    B: 가방______________.

2. A: 학생입니까?    B: 네, 학생______________.

3. A: 누구예요?      B: 친구______________.

4. A: 시계______________?    B: 네, 시계______________.

Exercise 2: Spatial Particle & Position Practice

Complete the following sentences using appropriate location indicators based on English guides:

1. 개가 의자 __________ 있어요. (The dog is on the chair.)

2. 우리 집이 신촌 __________ 있어요. (Our house is in Sinchon.)

3. 책상 __________ 책장이 있어요. (The bookshelf is behind the desk.)

4. 집 __________ 고양이가 있어요. (The cat is outside the house.)

Exercise 3: Expressing Possession (있다 / 없다)

1. I have an older sister. I don’t have a younger sibling.

   
   

   → 나는 언니가 _______________. 동생이 _______________.

2. A: 컴퓨터가 있어요?

   
   

       B: 네, _______________.