---
title: Korean grammar
---

<status>Status: 🌿 </status>
<details>
<summary>Table of contents</summary>
<div>

- [Formal vs Casual](#formal)
- [What](#what)
- [Time](#time)
- [Counting](#counting)
- [Subject markers](#subject)
- [Object markers](#object)
- [Present tense](#present)
- [Past tense](#past)
- [Future tense](#future)
- [Present progressive](#ing)
- [Want](#want)
- [Negation](#negation)
- [Verb into noun](#verbintonoun)
- [Can/cannot do](#cancannot)
- [Descriptive verbs](#descriptivecerbs)
- [Place](#place)
- [From/to](#fromto)
- [And/but/therefore/so](#andbut)
- [Also/too](#also)
- [Only](#only)
- [Irregulars](#irregulars)
- [More than](#morethan)
- [If/in case](#if)
- [Still/already](#stillalready)
- [Someone/Something/Somewhere/Someday](#somex)
- [Imprerative](#imperative)
- [Have to/Should/Must](#haveshouldmust)
- [Method/way](#method/way)
- [All/more](#allmore)
- [Don't do it](#dontdoit)
- [Verbs that require nouns](#vnounsreq)
- [Too much/very](#toomuchvery)
- [Linking verbs](#linkingverbs)
- [Shall we?/I wonder](#shallweiwonder)
- [Approximately, About](#approxabout)
- [Before noun](#beforenoun)
- [Plural marker](#pluralmarker)
- [But still, nevertheless](#butstillnevertheless)
- [To look like/To seem like](#looklikeseemlike)

</div>
</details>

### Formal vs Casual {#formal}

There are two ways of communicating in Korean

존댓말 - formal one. More polite, good `default` mode.
반말 - informal one - to be used with friends

Usually the difference is adding -요 to the end. Also, if there are many ways of saying/writing something, the longer one is more polite one.

### What {#what}

###### What + verb -> 뭐 + verb
example: 뭐 했어요? -> What did you do?

###### What + noun = what kind of -> 무슨 + noun
example: 무슨 책 좋아해요? - what kind of books do you like?

### Time {#time}

AM = 오전
PM = 오후
hour = 시
minutes = 분

time format: 오전/오후 + NK number + 시 + SK number + 분

year = 년 
month = 월
day = 일

date format: SK + 년 + SK + 월 + SK + 일

### Counting {#counting}

what + NK number + counting word

example: 책 다섯 권 = five books

|word|what it counts|comments|
|---|---|---|
|살|age (years old)|can't use 개|
|명|people|can't use 개|
|마리|animal|can't use 개|
|병|bottle||
|벌|clothes||
|개|"thing"|can be used for other words unless specified otherwise|
|그루|tree||
|켤레|a pair||
|장|paper, page, ticket|also works for e-tickets|
|권|book||
|대|car, phone, tv|from what I understand "expensive" things|
|조각|piece||
|송이|flower||
|컵|cup|for cheap/take-away coffee etc|
|잔|glass|for expensive/proper coffee cup etc|

### Subject markers {#subject}

**-은/-는**

"unlike other things"

"different from other things"

**example**

이거는 사과 예요.

(The other things are not apples, but) this is an apple.

-이/-가

**example**

이 책이 좋아요.

This book is good

(there are no other books as good as this one)

### Object markers {#object}

-을/-를

### Present tense {#present}

1. Ends with ㅏ or ㅗ = add 아요
2. Doesn't end with ㅏ or ㅗ  = add 어요
3. Ends with 하 = add 여요

### Past tense {#past}

1. Ends with ㅏ or ㅗ = add 았어요
2. Doesn't end with ㅏ or ㅗ  = add 었어요
3. Ends with 하 = add 였어요

### Future tense {#future}

Add -(으)ㄹ 거예요.

or

Add -(으)ㄹ 게요 to focus more on actions or decisions as a reaction/result of what the other person says or thinks


### Present progressive (-ing) {#ing}

Add -고 있어요

### Want {#want}

Add -고 싶어요

### Negation {#negation}

1. 안 before verb
2. negative verb ending -지 않다 

### Verb into noun {#verbintonoun}

1. Drop 다
2. Add 기

**example**

보다 - to see

부기 - seeing

or add `-(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 `

**for action verbs**
1. present tense: verb stem + -는 것
2. past tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄴ 것
3. future tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 것

**for descriptive verbs**
1. present tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄴ 것
2. future tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 것
### Can/cannot do {#cancannot}

1. Drop 다
2. Add (으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다

### Descriptive verbs {#descriptiveverbs}

verb stem + 아/어/여 + 하다

**example**
슬퍼요 - I am sad

슬퍼해요 - "to feel sad"/"express such emotions"

(for feelings only descriptive form can be used for other people)

### Place {#place}

-에 = at, to, in

**example**

학교에 갔어요 - I went to school

-에서 = at, in, from

used to

1. Describe where action is taking place (도서관에서 궁부했어요 = I studied in the library)
2. Describe "from place" (서울에서 왔어요 = I came from Seoul)

### From/to {#fromto}

##### From
1. -에서 -> for location
2. -부터 -> for time

##### To

까지 (for both location and time)

##### From/to someone

1. -한테 = to/from someone
2. -한테서 = from someone

### And/But/Therefore/So {#andbut}

##### And

1. 그리고 = and, and then.
2. -하고 = and (used for nouns)
3. -(이)랑 = and (for nouns), also "with"

2 and 3 can be combined with "같이", which means "together"

##### But

1. 그렇지만 - gives "disappointment" vibes
2. 그런데 - can be used as "and"
3. 근데 - shorter form, used in speaking

##### Therefore/so

그래서

### Also/too {#also}

-도

저도 좋아해요 - I like it too

*도 can emphasise different things in a sentence*

-기도 하다

먹기도 해요 - I also eat

### Only {#only}

-만

아침에는 커피만 마셔요 (I only drink coffee in the morning)

아침에만 커피 마셔요 (I drink coffee only in the morning)

Only + verb
1. verb in noun form
2. add -만 하다

### Irregulars {#irregulars}

|ends with|change|
|---|---|
|ㅅ|remove ㅅ|
|ㄷ|ㄷ => ㄹ|
|last vowel ㅗ + ㅂ| remove ㅂ, add 오아|
|last vowel not ㅗ + ㅂ| remove ㅂ, add 우어|
|vowel in 2nd last syllable ㅏ/ㅗ + ㅡ|ㅡ => ㅏ|
|vowel in 2nd last syllable not ㅏ/ㅗ + ㅡ|ㅡ => ㅓ|
|last vowel ㅏ/ㅗ + 르|르 => ㄹ + 라|
|last vowel not ㅏ/ㅗ + 르|르 => ㄹ + 러|

### More than {#morethan}

A보다 더 = more than A

수박은 사과부다 더 커요 = A watermelon is bigger than an apple

### If/in case {#if}

- 만약 - (optional) in case/if
- -(으)면 = verb ending for "if"
	- ends with no 받침 or ㄹ -> add -면
	- ends with 받침 other than ㄹ -> add -으면

_examples_:
1. 만약 지금 자면, 일찍 일어 날 수 있어요 - If I sleep now, I can wake up early
2. 지금 자면, 일찍 일어 날 수 있어요 - I can wake up early, if I sleep now


### Still/already {#stillalready}

- 아직 - still, not yet
- 아직도 - still + even/also -> "still (not) happening". Sound critical/being a little mad or angry
- 이미 - already, when you know about something
- 벌써 - when you are just finding out about somthing

### Someone/Something/Somewhere/Someday {#somex}

1. 누구 (who) + -ㄴ가 = 누군가 (someone)
2. 뭐 (what) + -ㄴ가 = 뭔가/무언가 (something)
3. 어디 (where) + -ㄴ가 = 어딘가 (somewhere)
4. 언제 (when) + -ㄴ가 = 언젠가 (someday)

Even when intended meaning is "someday", 언제 can be used instead of 언젠가. Same goes for 뭐/어디/누구.

*examples:*
1. 누구 만날 거예요? - whom will you meet?
2. 누군가 만날 거예요? - will you meet somebody?
3. 뭐 찾았어요? - what did you find?
4. 뭔가 찾았어요? - did you find something?


### Imperative {#imperative}

Fixed expressions using '-세요'
- 어서오세요 - Welcome
- 안녕히 가세요 - goodbye
- 안녕히 계세요 - goodbye
- 안녕히 주무세요 - goodnight

1. If you want to tell somebody to do something
	- Verb ending with vowel or ㄹ - add -세요
	- Verb ending with consonant other than ㄹ - add -으세요
2. Please do it for me.
	- It has much *nicer tone*
	- Has nuance of asking someone for a favour or asking someone to do sth "for you"
	- 아/어/여 주세요

*examples*:
1. 아이스크림 사세요 - please buy yourself some icecream
2. 아이스크림 사 주세요 - please buy **me** some ice cream

줘요 is less formal 주세요, but more polite than just -세요.

### Have to/Should/Must {#haveshouldmust}

-아야/어야/여야 + 되다/하다

### Method/way {#methodway}

-(으)로

1. Made with x - 뭐로 이거 만들었어요? - what did you make this with?
2. Come by x - 오늘 택시로 왔어요? - did you come by taxi today?
3. Do x using y - 카드로 낼 거예요 - I will pay by card
4. Get hurt/sick - 사구로 다치다 - to get hurt in an accident
5. To be famous for x - 프랑스는 치즈로 유명해요 - France is famous for its cheese
6. Path - 이 길로 가다 - to go this path

### All/more {#allmore}

- 다 - all
- 더 - more

### Don't do it {#dontdoit}

add -지 마세요


### Verbs that require nouns {#vnounsreq}

Some verbs require nouns to make sense. "To sing"/"To dance"/"To draw" makes no sense if it's not specified **what**

examples with most *generic* nouns:

1. To eat - (밥을) 먹다
	- 밥(을) 먹어요 - I eat 
	- 뭔가 먹어요 - I eat something
2. To draw - (그림을) 그리다
	- 그림 그려료 - I draw
	- 강아지 그려요 - I draw a dog
3. To dance - (춤을) 추다
	- 춤을 춰요 - I dance
	- 힙합을 춰요 - I dance hip-hop
4. To sing - (노래를) 부르다/하다
	- 노래 불러요 - I sing
	- 케이팝 불러요 - I sing K-pop

### Too much/very {#toomuchvery}

너무 - too much, excessively; Can be also used as very/quite/really.

In past it was used only in negative sentences, but nowadays it's possible to use in positive contexts as well. Most people use it both ways.

example:
너무 더워요: 
1. It is too hot
2. It is very hot

### Linking verbs {#linkingverbs}

#### -고
-고 can be used to link verbs. Only last one needs to specify tense, others - just replace `다` with `고` 
It's used to connect **independent** clauses or actions together to form once sentence.

example: 공원에 가고 책을 읽었어요 -> I went to the park and I read a book. (listing things done in a day)

#### -아/어/여 서
-아/어/여 서 is translated as "therefore/so" and is used to connect two or more verbs in a sentence to show logical relationship between the verbs.

1. Reason + 아/어/여 서 + result (비가 와서 못 갔어요 -> It rained, so I cannot go)
2. An action + 아/어/여 서 + another action that takes place after first action (공원에 가서 책을 읽었어요 -> I went to the park and read a book. Reading a book was after park)
3. An action + 아/어/여 서 + the purpose of or the plan after the action (케이크를 사서 친구한테 줄 거예요. -> I'm going to buy a cake and give it to a friend)
4. fixed expressions 
	1. according to -> -에 따라(서) (뉴스에 따라서 오늘 비가 올 거예요 -> According to the news, it will rain today.)
	2. for example -> 예를 들어서 (예를 들어서 이렇게 할 수 있어요 -> For example, you can do like this)

### Shall we?/I wonder... {#shallweiwonder}

-(으)ㄹ 까요?

It is used to:
1. Asking oneself a question of showing doubt about something
2. Raising a question and attracting attention of others
3. Suggesting doing something together

### Approximately, About {#approxabout}

1. -쯤 (no space)
2. 정도 (after word, with space)
3. 약 (before word, with space)

`약` can be used as `ummm` to buy time when answering a question. 1+3 and 2+3 are valid options.

### Before noun {#beforenoun}
(noun +) 전에 = before (+ noun)
- before class = 수업 전에
- before Sunday = 일요일 전에
- before 1o'clock = 1시 전에
- an hour ago = 한 시간 전에

with verb = change a verb into a noun (-기)
- 가기 전에 = before going
- 사기 전에 = before buying  
- 먹기 전에 = before eating

**examples**
- Finish your work before you go home = 집에 가기 전에 일 끝내세요
- Eat before you study = 공부 하기 전에 밥 먹으세요
- Don't use it before you pay. = 돈을 내기 전에 쓰지 마세요.

### Plural marker {#pluralmarker}

noun + 들

커피들이 있어요 (more than 1)

커피가 있어요 (1 or more than 1)

_do not use with counting verbs_
incorrect: '커피 4잔'들 (sounds like 1 or more sets of 4 coffee cups)

### But still, nevertheless {#butstillnevertheless}

#### 그래도
it means "but still"/"however"/"nonetheless"/"nevertheless"
 
example: It is raining! Are you still going? = 비가 와요! 그래도 갈 거예요?

### To look like/to seem like {#looklikeseemlike}

**비슷하다** = to be similar
A is similar to B
A은/는 B(이)랑/B하고 (use with) 비슷하다
Lemon is similar to kiwi
키위랑 레몬은 비슷해요 / 레몬은 키위랑 비슷해요.

**같다** = to be the same
A is the same as B
A은/는 B(이)랑/B하고 (use with) 같다

A**랑** 같아요 - it is the same as A
B는 A**랑** 같아요 - B is the same as A
A**하고** B는 같아요 - A and B are the same

##### with verbs
-(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같다

- present tense: verb stem + 는 것
	- present tense for action verbs
- past tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄴ 것
	- present tense for descriptive verbs
	- past tense for action verbs
- future tense: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 것
	- future tense for action and descriptive