--- title: Korean grammar --- Status: 🌿
Table of contents
### Formal vs Casual {#formal} There are two ways of communicating in Korean μ‘΄λŒ“λ§ - formal one. More polite, good `default` mode. 반말 - informal one - to be used with friends Usually the difference is adding -μš” 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 ν–ˆμ–΄μš”? -> What did you do? ###### What + noun = what kind of -> 무슨 + noun example: 무슨 μ±… μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”? - what kind of books do you like? ### Time {#time} AM = μ˜€μ „ PM = μ˜€ν›„ hour = μ‹œ minutes = λΆ„ time format: μ˜€μ „/μ˜€ν›„ + NK number + μ‹œ + SK number + λΆ„ year = λ…„ month = μ›” day = 일 date format: SK + λ…„ + SK + μ›” + SK + 일 ### Counting {#counting} what + NK number + counting word example: μ±… λ‹€μ„― ꢌ = five books |word|what it counts|comments| |---|---|---| |μ‚΄|age (years old)|can't use 개| |λͺ…|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|| |케레|a pair|| |μž₯|paper, page, ticket|also works for e-tickets| |ꢌ|book|| |λŒ€|car, phone, tv|from what I understand "expensive" things| |쑰각|piece|| |솑이|flower|| |μ»΅|cup|for cheap/take-away coffee etc| |μž”|glass|for expensive/proper coffee cup etc| ### Subject markers {#subject} **-은/-λŠ”** "unlike other things" "different from other things" **example** μ΄κ±°λŠ” 사과 μ˜ˆμš”. (The other things are not apples, but) this is an apple. -이/-κ°€ **example** 이 책이 μ’‹μ•„μš”. This book is good (there are no other books as good as this one) ### Object markers {#object} -을/-λ₯Ό ### Present tense {#present} 1. Ends with ㅏ or γ…— = add μ•„μš” 2. Doesn't end with ㅏ or γ…— = add μ–΄μš” 3. Ends with ν•˜ = add μ—¬μš” ### Past tense {#past} 1. Ends with ㅏ or γ…— = add μ•˜μ–΄μš” 2. Doesn't end with ㅏ or γ…— = add μ—ˆμ–΄μš” 3. Ends with ν•˜ = add μ˜€μ–΄μš” ### Future tense {#future} Add -(으)γ„Ή κ±°μ˜ˆμš”. or Add -(으)γ„Ή κ²Œμš” to focus more on actions or decisions as a reaction/result of what the other person says or thinks ### Present progressive (-ing) {#ing} Add -κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš” ### Want {#want} Add -κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš” ### Negation {#negation} 1. μ•ˆ before verb 2. negative verb ending -지 μ•Šλ‹€ ### Verb into noun {#verbintonoun} 1. Drop λ‹€ 2. Add κΈ° **example** 보닀 - to see λΆ€κΈ° - seeing or add `-(으)γ„΄/λŠ”/(으)γ„Ή 것 ` **for action verbs** 1. present tense: verb stem + -λŠ” 것 2. past tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„΄ 것 3. future tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„Ή 것 **for descriptive verbs** 1. present tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„΄ 것 2. future tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„Ή 것 ### Can/cannot do {#cancannot} 1. Drop λ‹€ 2. Add (으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆλ‹€/μ—†λ‹€ ### Descriptive verbs {#descriptiveverbs} verb stem + μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ + ν•˜λ‹€ **example** μŠ¬νΌμš” - I am sad μŠ¬νΌν•΄μš” - "to feel sad"/"express such emotions" (for feelings only descriptive form can be used for other people) ### Place {#place} -에 = at, to, in **example** 학ꡐ에 κ°”μ–΄μš” - I went to school -μ—μ„œ = at, in, from used to 1. Describe where action is taking place (λ„μ„œκ΄€μ—μ„œ κΆλΆ€ν–ˆμ–΄μš” = I studied in the library) 2. Describe "from place" (μ„œμšΈμ—μ„œ μ™”μ–΄μš” = I came from Seoul) ### From/to {#fromto} ##### From 1. -μ—μ„œ -> for location 2. -λΆ€ν„° -> for time ##### To κΉŒμ§€ (for both location and time) ##### From/to someone 1. -ν•œν…Œ = to/from someone 2. -ν•œν…Œμ„œ = from someone ### And/But/Therefore/So {#andbut} ##### And 1. 그리고 = and, and then. 2. -ν•˜κ³  = and (used for nouns) 3. -(이)λž‘ = and (for nouns), also "with" 2 and 3 can be combined with "같이", which means "together" ##### But 1. κ·Έλ ‡μ§€λ§Œ - gives "disappointment" vibes 2. 그런데 - can be used as "and" 3. 근데 - shorter form, used in speaking ##### Therefore/so κ·Έλž˜μ„œ ### Also/too {#also} -도 저도 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš” - I like it too *도 can emphasise different things in a sentence* -기도 ν•˜λ‹€ 먹기도 ν•΄μš” - I also eat ### Only {#only} -만 μ•„μΉ¨μ—λŠ” μ»€ν”Όλ§Œ λ§ˆμ…”μš” (I only drink coffee in the morning) μ•„μΉ¨μ—λ§Œ 컀피 λ§ˆμ…”μš” (I drink coffee only in the morning) Only + verb 1. verb in noun form 2. add -만 ν•˜λ‹€ ### Irregulars {#irregulars} |ends with|change| |---|---| |γ……|remove γ……| |γ„·|γ„· => γ„Ή| |last vowel γ…— + γ…‚| remove γ…‚, add μ˜€μ•„| |last vowel not γ…— + γ…‚| remove γ…‚, add μš°μ–΄| |vowel in 2nd last syllable ㅏ/γ…— + γ…‘|γ…‘ => ㅏ| |vowel in 2nd last syllable not ㅏ/γ…— + γ…‘|γ…‘ => γ…“| |last vowel ㅏ/γ…— + λ₯΄|λ₯΄ => γ„Ή + 라| |last vowel not ㅏ/γ…— + λ₯΄|λ₯΄ => γ„Ή + 러| but! - μž…λ‹€ -> μž…μ–΄μš” -> μž„μ„ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (to wear) - μž‘λ‹€ -> μž‘μ•„μš” -> μž‘μ„ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (to catch) - μ”Ήλ‹€ -> μ”Ήμ–΄μš” -> 씹을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (to chew) - 쒁닀 -> μ’μ•„μš” -> 쒁을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (to be narrow) - λ„“λ‹€ -> λ„“μ–΄μš” -> 넓을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (to be wide) ### More than {#morethan} A보닀 더 = more than A μˆ˜λ°•μ€ 사과뢀닀 더 μ»€μš” = A watermelon is bigger than an apple ### If/in case {#if} - λ§Œμ•½ - (optional) in case/if - -(으)λ©΄ = verb ending for "if" - ends with no λ°›μΉ¨ or γ„Ή -> add -λ©΄ - ends with λ°›μΉ¨ other than γ„Ή -> add -으면 _examples_: 1. λ§Œμ•½ μ§€κΈˆ 자면, 일찍 일어 λ‚  수 μžˆμ–΄μš” - If I sleep now, I can wake up early 2. μ§€κΈˆ 자면, 일찍 일어 λ‚  수 μžˆμ–΄μš” - 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. λˆ„κ΅¬ (who) + -γ„΄κ°€ = λˆ„κ΅°κ°€ (someone) 2. 뭐 (what) + -γ„΄κ°€ = λ­”κ°€/무언가 (something) 3. μ–΄λ”” (where) + -γ„΄κ°€ = μ–΄λ”˜κ°€ (somewhere) 4. μ–Έμ œ (when) + -γ„΄κ°€ = μ–Έμ  κ°€ (someday) Even when intended meaning is "someday", μ–Έμ œ can be used instead of μ–Έμ  κ°€. Same goes for 뭐/μ–΄λ””/λˆ„κ΅¬. *examples:* 1. λˆ„κ΅¬ λ§Œλ‚  κ±°μ˜ˆμš”? - whom will you meet? 2. λˆ„κ΅°κ°€ λ§Œλ‚  κ±°μ˜ˆμš”? - will you meet somebody? 3. 뭐 μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄μš”? - what did you find? 4. λ­”κ°€ μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄μš”? - did you find something? ### Imperative {#imperative} Fixed expressions using '-μ„Έμš”' - μ–΄μ„œμ˜€μ„Έμš” - Welcome - μ•ˆλ…•νžˆ κ°€μ„Έμš” - goodbye - μ•ˆλ…•νžˆ κ³„μ„Έμš” - goodbye - μ•ˆλ…•νžˆ μ£Όλ¬΄μ„Έμš” - goodnight 1. If you want to tell somebody to do something - Verb ending with vowel or γ„Ή - add -μ„Έμš” - Verb ending with consonant other than γ„Ή - add -μœΌμ„Έμš” 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" - μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ£Όμ„Έμš” *examples*: 1. μ•„μ΄μŠ€ν¬λ¦Ό μ‚¬μ„Έμš” - please buy yourself some icecream 2. μ•„μ΄μŠ€ν¬λ¦Ό 사 μ£Όμ„Έμš” - please buy **me** some ice cream μ€˜μš” is less formal μ£Όμ„Έμš”, but more polite than just -μ„Έμš”. ### Have to/Should/Must {#haveshouldmust} -μ•„μ•Ό/μ–΄μ•Ό/μ—¬μ•Ό + λ˜λ‹€/ν•˜λ‹€ ### Method/way {#methodway} -(으)둜 1. Made with x - 뭐둜 이거 λ§Œλ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš”? - what did you make this with? 2. Come by x - 였늘 νƒμ‹œλ‘œ μ™”μ–΄μš”? - did you come by taxi today? 3. Do x using y - μΉ΄λ“œλ‘œ λ‚Ό κ±°μ˜ˆμš” - I will pay by card 4. Get hurt/sick - μ‚¬κ΅¬λ‘œ λ‹€μΉ˜λ‹€ - to get hurt in an accident 5. To be famous for x - ν”„λž‘μŠ€λŠ” 치즈둜 유λͺ…ν•΄μš” - France is famous for its cheese 6. Path - 이 길둜 κ°€λ‹€ - to go this path ### All/more {#allmore} - λ‹€ - all - 더 - more ### Don't do it {#dontdoit} add -지 λ§ˆμ„Έμš” ### 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 - (λ°₯을) λ¨Ήλ‹€ - λ°₯(을) λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” - I eat - λ­”κ°€ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” - I eat something 2. To draw - (그림을) 그리닀 - κ·Έλ¦Ό 그렀료 - I draw - 강아지 κ·Έλ €μš” - I draw a dog 3. To dance - (좀을) μΆ”λ‹€ - 좀을 μΆ°μš” - I dance - νž™ν•©μ„ μΆ°μš” - I dance hip-hop 4. To sing - (λ…Έλž˜λ₯Ό) λΆ€λ₯΄λ‹€/ν•˜λ‹€ - λ…Έλž˜ λΆˆλŸ¬μš” - I sing - μΌ€μ΄νŒ λΆˆλŸ¬μš” - I sing K-pop ### Too much/very {#toomuchvery} λ„ˆλ¬΄ - 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: λ„ˆλ¬΄ λ”μ›Œμš”: 1. It is too hot 2. It is very hot ### Linking verbs {#linkingverbs} #### -κ³  -κ³  can be used to link verbs. Only last one needs to specify tense, others - just replace `λ‹€` with `κ³ ` It's used to connect **independent** clauses or actions together to form once sentence. example: 곡원에 κ°€κ³  책을 μ½μ—ˆμ–΄μš” -> I went to the park and I read a book. (listing things done in a day) #### -μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ„œ -μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ„œ 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 + μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ„œ + result (λΉ„κ°€ μ™€μ„œ λͺ» κ°”μ–΄μš” -> It rained, so I cannot go) 2. An action + μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ„œ + another action that takes place after first action (곡원에 κ°€μ„œ 책을 μ½μ—ˆμ–΄μš” -> I went to the park and read a book. Reading a book was after park) 3. An action + μ•„/μ–΄/μ—¬ μ„œ + the purpose of or the plan after the action (케이크λ₯Ό μ‚¬μ„œ μΉœκ΅¬ν•œν…Œ 쀄 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”. -> I'm going to buy a cake and give it to a friend) 4. fixed expressions 1. according to -> -에 따라(μ„œ) (λ‰΄μŠ€μ— λ”°λΌμ„œ 였늘 λΉ„κ°€ 올 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” -> According to the news, it will rain today.) 2. for example -> 예λ₯Ό λ“€μ–΄μ„œ (예λ₯Ό λ“€μ–΄μ„œ μ΄λ ‡κ²Œ ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš” -> For example, you can do like this) ### Shall we?/I wonder... {#shallweiwonder} -(으)γ„Ή κΉŒμš”? 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. -μ―€ (no space) 2. 정도 (after word, with space) 3. μ•½ (before word, with space) `μ•½` 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 = μˆ˜μ—… 전에 - before Sunday = μΌμš”μΌ 전에 ο»Ώο»Ώ- before 1o'clock = 1μ‹œ 전에 - an hour ago = ν•œ μ‹œκ°„ 전에 with verb = change a verb into a noun (-κΈ°) - κ°€κΈ° 전에 = before going - 사기 전에 = before buying - λ¨ΉκΈ° 전에 = before eating **examples** - ο»Ώο»ΏFinish your work before you go home = 집에 κ°€κΈ° 전에 일 λλ‚΄μ„Έμš” - Eat before you study = 곡뢀 ν•˜κΈ° 전에 λ°₯ λ¨ΉμœΌμ„Έμš” - Don't use it before you pay. = λˆμ„ λ‚΄κΈ° 전에 쓰지 λ§ˆμ„Έμš”. ### Before verb {#beforeing} change verb into noun (-κΈ° form) + 전에 κ°€λ‹€ -> κ°€κΈ° -> κ°€κΈ° 전에 (before going) 사닀 -> 사기 -> 사기 전에 (before buying) λ¨Ήλ‹€ -> λ¨ΉκΈ° -> λ¨ΉκΈ° 전에 (before eating) 집에 κ°€κΈ° 전에 (before going home) 집에 κ°€κΈ° 전에 일 λλ‚΄μ„Έμš” - finish your work before going home 곡뢀 ν•˜κΈ° 전에 λ¨ΉμœΌμ„Έμš” - eat before you study ### Plural marker {#pluralmarker} noun + λ“€ 컀피듀이 μžˆμ–΄μš” (more than 1) 컀피가 μžˆμ–΄μš” (1 or more than 1) _do not use with counting verbs_ incorrect: '컀피 4μž”'λ“€ (sounds like 1 or more sets of 4 coffee cups) ### But still, nevertheless {#butstillnevertheless} #### κ·Έλž˜λ„ it means "but still"/"however"/"nonetheless"/"nevertheless" example: It is raining! Are you still going? = λΉ„κ°€ μ™€μš”! κ·Έλž˜λ„ 갈 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”? 그래 + 도 = "even if you do that"/"even if that happens"/"if you do that, too" + the meaning of "still" ### To look like/to seem like {#looklikeseemlike} **λΉ„μŠ·ν•˜λ‹€** = to be similar A is similar to B A은/λŠ” B(이)λž‘/Bν•˜κ³  (use with) λΉ„μŠ·ν•˜λ‹€ Lemon is similar to kiwi ν‚€μœ„λž‘ 레λͺ¬μ€ λΉ„μŠ·ν•΄μš” / 레λͺ¬μ€ ν‚€μœ„λž‘ λΉ„μŠ·ν•΄μš”. **κ°™λ‹€** = to be the same A is the same as B A은/λŠ” B(이)λž‘/Bν•˜κ³  (use with) κ°™λ‹€ A**λž‘** κ°™μ•„μš” - it is the same as A BλŠ” A**λž‘** κ°™μ•„μš” - B is the same as A A**ν•˜κ³ ** BλŠ” κ°™μ•„μš” - A and B are the same ##### with verbs -(으)γ„΄/λŠ”/(으)γ„Ή 것 κ°™λ‹€ - present tense: verb stem + λŠ” 것 - present tense for action verbs - past tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„΄ 것 - present tense for descriptive verbs - past tense for action verbs - future tense: verb stem + -(으)γ„Ή 것 - future tense for action and descriptive