Korean grammar
158 beginner and intermediate grammar points, each with its meaning, how it attaches to verbs and nouns, and example sentences.
Beginner · TOPIK I (73)
- 은/는ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate that a certain subject contrasts with something else.
- 이/가ParticleA postpositional particle referring to a subject under a certain state or situation, or the agent of an action.
- 을/를ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate the subject that an action has a direct influence on.
- 에ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding statement refers to a certain place or space.
- 에서ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding word refers to a place where a certain action is being done.
- 의ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate that the referent of the following word is owned by, belongs to, is related to, originates from, or is the object of what the preceding word indicates.
- 도ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate an addition or inclusion of another thing to something that already exists.
- 만ParticleA postpositional particle used when limiting the field to one thing, excluding all the others.
- 와/과, 하고, (이)랑ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate that something is the subject of a comparison or subject of a standard.
- 에게, 한테, 께ParticleA postpositional particle that indicates whom a certain object belongs to.
- 부터, 까지ParticleA postpositional particle that indicates the start or beginning of something.
- (으)로ParticleA postpositional particle that indicates the direction of movement.
- 보다ParticleA postpositional particle that indicates the subject of a comparison when comparing different things.
- 처럼ParticleA postpositional particle used when something is similar or identical to something else in shape or level.
- 께서Particle(honorific) '가,' '이'; a postpositional particle used to indicate that the subject of an act is elevated.
- 마다ParticleA postpositional particle that means "everything without exception" or a repetition of each situation.
- 밖에ParticleA postpositional particle that means "except for that" or "other than that."
- (이)나ParticleA postpositional particle used to indicate something is being chosen though it is not satisfactory.
- -아요/어요Ending(informal addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to describe a certain fact, ask a question, give an order, or advise.
- -이에요/예요Ending(informal addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used when describing a certain fact or asking a question.
- -ㅂ니다/습니다Ending(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to explain the present action, state, or fact politely.
- -ㅂ니까/습니까?Ending(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker asks the listener politely.
- -았/었-EndingAn ending of a word used to indicate that an event happened in the past.
- -겠-EndingAn ending of a word referring to a future event or assumption.
- -(으)시-EndingAn ending of a word used for the subject honorifics of an action or state.
- -(으)세요Ending(informal addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to describe, ask a question, order, and request.
- -(으)ㅂ시다Ending(formal, moderately addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to express an intention of doing a certain action together.
- -고EndingA connective ending used when listing more than two equal facts.
- -지만EndingA connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement and add facts that are the opposite of it or different.
- -아서/어서EndingA connective ending used to indicate that the preceding event and the following one happened sequentially.
- -(으)니까EndingA connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement is the cause, reason, or premise for the following statement.
- -(으)면EndingA connective ending used to assume an uncertain fact.
- -(으)러EndingA connective ending used to express the purpose of an action such as going and coming.
- -(으)려고EndingA connective ending used to indicate that one has an intention or desire of doing a certain act.
- -(으)면서EndingA connective ending used when more than two actions or states happen at the same time.
- -(으)ㄴ데/는데EndingA connective ending used to talk in advance about a situation to follow.
- -(으)ㄹ까요?Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used by the speaker to guess and ask about something not happening yet, or unknown.
- -(으)ㄹ게요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used when the speaker promises or notifies the listener that he/she will do something.
- -(으)ㄹ래요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to indicate the speaker's intention to do something in the future, or to ask for the listener's thoughts about that.
- -네요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to indicate that the speaker is impressed by a fact he/she learned anew from a past personal experience.
- -군요/는군요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to indicate that the speaker notices or is impressed by a newly learned fact.
- -지요(-죠)Ending(informal addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker confirms and says something that the listener thought he/she already knew.
- -나요?Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to ask the listener about the preceding content.
- -게EndingA connective ending used when the preceding statement is the purpose, result, method, amount, etc., of something mentioned in the following statement.
- -기EndingAn ending of a word used to make the preceding word function as a noun.
- -거나EndingA connective ending used when one of either the preceding statement or the following statement can be chosen.
- -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹEndingAn ending of a word that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase and implies that an event or action is happening in the present.
- -(으)ㄹ 거예요ExpressionExpresses a plan or intention, or a guess about what will happen.
- -고 싶다ExpressionAn expression used to state that the speaker wants to do the act mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -고 있다ExpressionAn expression used to state that the act mentioned in the preceding statement is continued.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is possible.
- -지 않다ExpressionAn expression used to deny the act or state indicated in the preceding statement.
- -지 못하다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the speaker cannot do the act mentioned in the preceding statement, or that things did not work out as the subject intended.
- -지 말다ExpressionAn expression used to prohibit the act mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -아야/어야 하다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is the required act or condition to realize a certain incident or situation.
- -아도/어도 되다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain act is allowed or accepted.
- -(으)면 안 되다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain act or state is banned or limited.
- -(으)면 되다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that, as long as one does or reaches a certain act or state, there is no problem or it is enough.
- -아/어 보다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one does the act mentioned in the preceding statement, as a test.
- -아/어 주다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one does the act mentioned in the preceding statement for someone.
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement existed at some point in time.
- -기 전에ExpressionAn expression used to state that a certain act occurs earlier than the act in the preceding statement.
- -(으)ㄴ 후에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one does a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement and a while later, does another thing.
- -(으)ㄹ 때ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the duration, period, or occasion of a certain act or situation.
- -는 것ExpressionAn expression used to enable a non-noun word to be used as a noun in a sentence or to be used in front of '이다' (be).
- -는 중이다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain thing is in progress.
- -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the statement is a guess.
- -기 때문에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is the reason or cause for the following incident.
- -게 되다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that something will become the state or situation mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -아/어지다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -(으)면 좋겠다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the speaker's hope or wish, or the speaker's wish that the result would be different from reality.
- -기로 하다ExpressionAn expression used to decide or promise the performance of the act mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one knows how to do a certain thing.
Intermediate · TOPIK II (85)
- -아/어 있다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the state mentioned in the preceding statement is continued.
- -는 동안ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the time, for which the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement lasts.
- -자마자EndingA connective ending used to indicate that the following event or situation occurs right after the preceding event or situation.
- -다가EndingA connective ending used when an action or state, etc., is stopped and changed to another action or state.
- -아도/어도EndingA connective ending used when assuming or recognizing the truth of the preceding statement, although it is not related to or does not influence the following statement.
- -더라도EndingA connective ending used when assuming or recognizing the truth of the preceding statement, but implying that it is not related to or does not influence the following statement.
- -는 바람에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that an act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is the cause or reason for the following statement.
- -느라고EndingA connective ending used when the action of the preceding statement is the purpose or cause of the following statement.
- -도록EndingA connective ending used when the preceding statement is the purpose, result, method, amount, etc., of something mentioned in the following statement.
- -(으)ㄹ수록EndingA connective ending used to imply that as the extent of the preceding statement becomes larger, that of the following statement also changes accordingly.
- -더니EndingA connective ending used when a certain fact or situation happened after a fact or situation in the past.
- -더라고요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to refer to and convey in the present a fact the speaker learned through a past experience to the listener.
- -던EndingAn ending of a word that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase and implies that an event or action has not been completed in the past but has been stopped.
- -았/었더니ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that there is a new incident or situation, different from a past one.
- -았/었더라면ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that it is not the case now by hypothesizing a situation that is opposite of what occurred in the past.
- -았/었던ExpressionAn expression used to recall a past incident or state, and indicate that activity related to the incident or state has been suspended, and remains incomplete.
- -았/었으면ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the past situation mentioned in the preceding statement becomes the condition for the following content.
- -(ㄴ/는)다면ExpressionAn expression used to assume that someone will express his/her thought or will, which becomes the condition for the following statement.
- -다고 하다ExpressionAn expression used to pass along what the speaker heard from another person, or to present the subject's thoughts, opinions, etc.
- -(느)냐고 하다ExpressionAn expression used to convey the questions asked by the speaker or another person.
- -(으)라고 하다ExpressionAn expression used to pass along what the speaker heard from another person, or to present the subject's thoughts, opinions, etc.
- -자고 하다ExpressionAn expression used to indirectly convey someone's recommendation or suggestion.
- -대요/래요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to indirectly tell something the speaker heard from another person.
- -잖아요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to check with or correct the listener on something about a certain situation.
- -거든요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used to indicate the speaker's reasoning or the basis for the preceding content.
- -(으)ㄴ/는걸요Expression(informal addressee-raising) An expression used when the speaker says a newly learned fact with admiration.
- -(으)ㄹ걸 (그랬다)Ending(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a guess or assumption.
- -(으)ㄹ 텐데ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the speaker's strong guess about the preceding statement and add the relevant content.
- -(으)ㄹ 테니까ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the speaker's intention to do the act mentioned in the preceding statement, as a condition for the following statement.
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라ExpressionAn expression used to express that the following content is also applicable, as well as the preceding content.
- -(으)ㄹ 뿐이다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the state or situation mentioned in the preceding statement is the only option.
- -는 대신에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the states and behaviors mentioned in the preceding statement and the following statement are different or opposites.
- -는 김에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one is doing a certain act, after the act mentioned in the preceding statement or while doing a similar behavior at the same time.
- -는 반면에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the facts in the preceding statement and the following statement are opposites.
- -는 데다가ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain act or state has been added to its preceding act or state, making it worse or better.
- -(으)ㄴ 채로ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the state remains the same as when a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement occurred.
- -는 척하다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one is pretending to do something or to be something, which is not true.
- -는 편이다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that something has a certain tendency or is classified as such, instead of being sure of it.
- -(으)ㄹ 만하다ExpressionAn expression used to express that the act mentioned in the preceding statement is worth trying.
- -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다ExpressionAn expression used to express that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement almost occurred but ultimately did not occur.
- -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the speaker is certain that the content of the preceding statement has an explanation or could possibly be true.
- -(으)ㄹ까 봐ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the speaker has an intention to do the act mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -(으)ㄹ까 싶다ExpressionAn expression used to say that the speaker makes a vague guess about the content mentioned in the preceding statement, or is worried that the content might happen.
- -는 모양이다ExpressionAn expression used to guess that something is in progress or in a certain state, considering another fact or situation.
- -나 보다, -(으)ㄴ가 보다ExpressionAn expression used to guess about a fact mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -는 대로ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that something is the same as the present act or state mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -는 만큼ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the following content is proportional to the preceding content or of a similar level or quantity.
- -기 위해서ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the intention, which is the goal for doing a certain thing.
- -고 말다ExpressionAn expression used to state that it is regrettable that the act mentioned in the preceding statement finally occurred.
- -아/어 버리다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the act mentioned in the preceding statement is completely done.
- -아/어 놓다, -아/어 두다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement is completed and its result remains.
- -아/어 가다, -아/어 오다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is continued.
- -아/어 보이다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one feels or guesses something by the appearance of something mentioned in the preceding statement.
- -곤 하다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the same situation repeats.
- -게 하다, -게 만들다ExpressionAn expression used to order someone to do a certain thing or to make something work.
- -고 나다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the act denoted in the preceding statement has finished.
- -기 마련이다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that it is natural for something to occur or become a certain state.
- -기 일쑤이다ExpressionAn expression used to state that the incident mentioned in the preceding statement happens frequently.
- -기 십상이다ExpressionAn expression used to state that the current situation can easily become the situation mentioned in the preceding statement or there is a high possibility.
- -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that there is no other method or possibility other than that.
- -(으)ㄴ 지ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that a certain amount of time has passed since a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement occurred.
- -(으)ㄴ지/는지/(으)ㄹ지EndingA connective ending used to indicate an ambiguous reason or judgment about the following statement.
- -(으)므로EndingA connective ending used to indicate a reason or cause.
- -는데도ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the following situation will occur, regardless of the preceding situation.
- 에도 불구하고ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the following content is different from or the opposite of what was expected in the preceding statement.
- 에 대한/대해서ExpressionAn expression that modifies the following noun and indicates that the preceding noun is the subject of the following noun.
- 에 비하면ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the same result in the following statement, when compared with the preceding statement.
- (으)로 인해ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is the cause or reason for a certain incident.
- 을/를 위해서ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that something is for the benefit of someone or for a goal or purpose.
- 은/는 물론ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the whole sentence, including the preceding statement, is naturally so.
- -(으)며EndingA connective ending used to list more than two actions, states, or facts.
- -고서EndingA connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement comes before the following statement, or the preceding statement caused the following incident.
- -는 사이ExpressionAn expression used to indicate a certain, short time in the middle of an act or situation.
- -는 길에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the process of or opportunity for a certain thing.
- -든지EndingA connective ending used when choosing one out of two facts.
- -다시피EndingA connective ending used to mean "as - ."
- -아야지(요)Ending(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate the speaker's determination or will.
- -는 한편ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that one does a certain thing mentioned in the preceding statement, while doing another thing, simultaneously.
- -는 한ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the preceding statement becomes the premise or condition for the act or state in the following statement.
- -는 통에ExpressionAn expression used to indicate the situation or cause of the bad result mentioned in the following statement.
- -는 탓ExpressionAn expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is the reason or cause for the following negative phenomenon.
- 조차, 마저ParticleA postpositional particle to indicate an inclusion of extreme cases that are generally hard to predict.
- 뿐ParticleA postpositional particle used when there is nothing more than the content of the preceding statement or when it is only so.
- (이)야말로ParticleA postpositional particle used to emphatically state something.
- 은/는커녕ParticleA postpositional particle used to imply negation by emphasizing the preceding statement.