Korean Grammar: 문법

Stage 1 · Sentence 문장

Word Order — SOV 어순

Korean follows Subject → Object → Verb (SOV) order. The verb always comes LAST.

• English (SVO): I eat rice.
• Korean (SOV): 나는 밥을 먹어요. (I rice eat.)
• Tip: Listen for the final word — that's the verb, the action!

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

Which sentence is correct Korean for 'I eat rice'?

Answer: 저는 밥을 먹어요 (저는 밥을 먹어요 · 저는 먹어요 밥을 · 먹어요 저는 밥을 · 밥을 먹어요 저는)

Stage 2 · Particles 조사

Korean Particles 조사

Particles attach to nouns to show their role: topic, subject, object, location. They replace fixed word order.

• 은/는 → Topic marker (은 after consonant, 는 after vowel)
• 이/가 → Subject marker (이 after consonant, 가 after vowel)
• 을/를 → Object marker (을 after consonant, 를 after vowel)
• 에 → Location / Direction
• 에서 → Location of action
• 의 → Possessive ('s / of)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

은/는 marks the ___

Answer: Topic (Topic · Subject · Object · Location)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

To mark 밥 (rice) as the OBJECT: 밥___ 먹어요

Answer: 을 (을 · 은 · 이 · 에)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'I study at school': 학교___ 공부해요

Answer: 에서 (에서 · 에 · 를 · 도)

To mark 이름 (name) as the TOPIC: 제 이름___ 민수예요

Answer: 은 (은 · 는 · 이 · 가)

Stage 3 · Conjugation 활용

Verbs — Dictionary Form 동사 기본형

All Korean verbs in dictionary form end in 다 (da). Remove 다 to get the verb stem, then add an ending.

• 가다 (to go) → stem: 가-
• 먹다 (to eat) → stem: 먹-
• 공부하다 (to study) → stem: 공부하-
• 하다 (to do) → stem: 하-

Present Tense: -아요 / -어요 현재형

Add -아요 after ㅏ or ㅗ stems. Add -어요 for all others. 하다 verbs use -해요.

• 가다 → 가요 (go · ㅏ stem)
• 오다 → 와요 (come · ㅗ stem)
• 먹다 → 먹어요 (eat · other)
• 마시다 → 마셔요 (drink · other)
• 공부하다 → 공부해요 (study · 하다)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

하다 (to do) → polite present form?

Answer: 해요 (해요 · 하요 · 하아요 · 했어요)

Past Tense: -았어요 / -었어요 과거형

Add -았어요 after ㅏ/ㅗ stems and -었어요 for others. 하다 → 했어요.

• 가다 → 갔어요 (went)
• 오다 → 왔어요 (came)
• 먹다 → 먹었어요 (ate)
• 마시다 → 마셨어요 (drank)
• 공부하다 → 공부했어요 (studied)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

Past tense of 먹다 (to eat)?

Answer: 먹었어요 (먹었어요 · 먹아요 · 먹어요 · 먹을 거예요)

Future Tense: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 미래형

Add -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the verb stem to talk about future plans or predictions.

• 가다 → 갈 거예요 (will go)
• 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (will eat)
• 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요 (will study)

Check your understanding

가다 (to go) → future tense?

Answer: 갈 거예요 (갈 거예요 · 갔어요 · 가요 · 가고 있어요)

Stage 4 · Negation 부정문

Making Sentences Negative 부정문

Short negation: 안 + verb. Long negation: verb stem + 지 않아요. Cannot: 못 + verb.

• 안 먹어요 (don't eat — short form)
• 먹지 않아요 (don't eat — long form)
• 못 가요 (can't go — unable to)

Check your understanding

'I don't eat' — short negation form

Answer: 안 먹어요 (안 먹어요 · 먹지 않아요 · 못 먹어요 · 안 먹었어요)

Stage 5 · Questions 의문문

Forming Questions 의문문

Korean questions use the SAME word order as statements — just add rising intonation (↑) or a question mark.

• 뭐 / 무엇 — What
• 누구 — Who
• 어디 — Where
• 언제 — When
• 왜 — Why
• 어떻게 — How
• 얼마 — How much
• 몇 — How many

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'Where' in Korean?

Answer: 어디 (어디 · 뭐 · 왜 · 언제)

Stage 6 · Patterns 문형

Essential Sentence Patterns 핵심 문형

Master these 6 patterns to express the most common ideas in Korean conversations.

• ~이에요/예요 — is/am/are (noun): 학생이에요 (I'm a student)
• ~고 싶어요 — want to: 한국에 가고 싶어요 (I want to go to Korea)
• ~ㄹ/을 수 있어요 — can: 한국어를 할 수 있어요 (I can speak Korean)
• ~아/어야 해요 — must: 공부해야 해요 (I must study)
• ~(으)면 — if/when: 비가 오면 집에 있어요 (If it rains, I stay home)
• ~때문에 — because of: 비 때문에 못 가요 (Can't go because of rain)

Check your understanding

Pattern for 'I want to go to Korea': 한국에 ___

Answer: 가고 싶어요 (가고 싶어요 · 가야 해요 · 갈 거예요 · 갈 수 있어요)

Stage 7 · Connectors 접속사

Connectors 접속사

These 4 conjunctions connect sentences. Place them at the START of the second sentence.

• 그리고 — And / And then (adds information or sequence)
• 그래서 — So / Therefore (cause → result)
• 그렇지만 — But / However (strong contrast, formal)
• 그런데 — But / By the way (soft contrast, casual — most common!)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

Soft contrast or topic shift — most common in spoken Korean?

Answer: 그런데 (그런데 · 그렇지만 · 그래서 · 그리고)

Stage 8 · And/With 와/랑

And, With -하고, -(이)랑, 와/과

Use these particles between nouns (not sentences) to mean 'and' or 'with'.

• -하고 — after any noun, neutral/casual: 친구하고 갔어요 (went with a friend)
• -(이)랑 — 이랑 (consonant) / 랑 (vowel), very casual: 오빠랑 놀았어요 (played with older brother)
• -와/과 — 와 (vowel) / 과 (consonant), formal/written: 선생님과 상담했어요 (consulted with teacher)

Stage 9 · To/From 한테

To/From Someone -한테, -한테서

Use person-directional particles when giving to or receiving from people, not places.

• -한테 — to (a person): 친구한테 전화했어요 (called my friend)
• -한테서 — from (a person): 선생님한테서 배웠어요 (learned from teacher)
• -에게 / -에게서 — formal equivalents
• -께 — to (honorific, for elders): 선생님께 드렸어요

Stage 10 · Time 시간

Telling Time 시간 말하기

Use NATIVE Korean numbers for hours (시) and SINO-KOREAN numbers for minutes (분). AM = 오전, PM = 오후.

• Hours (시): 한(1), 두(2), 세(3), 네(4), 다섯(5)... + 시
• Minutes (분): 일(1), 이(2), 삼(3), 사(4), 오(5)... + 분
• Half past: 반 — 세 시 반 = 3:30
• Example: 오후 두 시 삼십 분 = 2:30 PM

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'3:30' is read in Korean as...

Answer: 세 시 삼십 분 (세 시 삼십 분 · 삼 시 삼십 분 · 세 시 서른 분 · 삼 시 서른 분)

Stage 11 · Counters 단위

Counters 단위 명사

Korean uses specific counters after [Noun] + [Number]. Native Korean numbers (한, 두, 세...) are used with most counters.

• 개 — general objects: 사과 세 개 (3 apples)
• 명 — people (neutral): 학생 두 명 (2 students)
• 분 — people (honorific): 손님 두 분 (2 guests)
• 마리 — animals: 고양이 한 마리 (1 cat)
• 권 — books: 책 세 권 (3 books)
• 잔 — cups/drinks: 커피 두 잔 (2 coffees)
• 번 — times/turns: 세 번 (3 times)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

Counter for people (neutral)?

Answer: 명 (명 · 분 · 마리 · 개)

Stage 12 · Progressive 진행형

Present Progressive -고 있어요

Add -고 있어요 to the verb stem to say someone IS CURRENTLY doing something (the Korean '-ing' form).

• 먹다 → 먹고 있어요 (is eating)
• 가다 → 가고 있어요 (is going)
• 공부하다 → 공부하고 있어요 (is studying)
• 읽다 → 읽고 있어요 (is reading)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'is studying' → 공부하다 + -고 있어요 =

Answer: 공부하고 있어요 (공부하고 있어요 · 공부고 있어요 · 공부하고 있다 · 공부해요)

Stage 13 · Self-Intro 자기소개

Self Introduction 자기소개

Key vocabulary: 이름 (name), 나이 (age), 나라 (country), 직업 (job), 취미 (hobby), 고향 (hometown).

• 안녕하세요! 저는 [name]이에요/예요.
• 저는 [나라]에서 왔어요. (I'm from [country].)
• 저는 [직업]이에요. (I'm a [job].)
• 제 취미는 [hobby]예요. (My hobby is [hobby].)
• 잘 부탁드려요! (Nice to meet you!)

Stage 14 · Dates 날짜

Dates and Months 날짜

Korean dates use Sino-Korean numbers in Year → Month → Day order. June = 유월, October = 시월 (exceptions).

• 일월(1월), 이월(2월), 삼월(3월), 사월(4월), 오월(5월), 유월(6월)
• 칠월(7월), 팔월(8월), 구월(9월), 시월(10월), 십일월(11월), 십이월(12월)
• Date format: 2026년 6월 16일 (June 16, 2026)
• 오늘이 며칠이에요? — What is today's date?

Stage 15 · Adverbs 부사

Degree Adverbs 정도 부사

Degree adverbs go directly before the word they modify: 조금 (a little), 정말 (really), 아주 (very), 많이 (a lot).

• 조금 / 좀 — a little (좀 is softer/casual)
• 정말 — really / truly (neutral)
• 진짜 — really (casual, stronger feel)
• 아주 — very
• 많이 — a lot / much
• 별로 + negative — not really (별로 안 좋아요 = I don't really like it)
• 전혀 + negative — not at all (전혀 모르겠어요 = I have no idea at all)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'I don't really like it' — 별로 ___

Answer: 안 좋아해요 (안 좋아해요 · 좋아해요 · 좋아했어요 · 좋아하고 있어요)

Stage 16 · Nominalizer 명사화

Nominalizer: -는 것 -는 것

Adding -는 것 to a verb stem creates a noun phrase — 'the act of doing ~'. It makes verbs act like nouns.

• 먹는 것 — the act of eating
• 배우는 것 — the act of learning
• 한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요 — Learning Korean is interesting
• 요리하는 것을 좋아해요 — I like cooking (the act of cooking)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'Learning Korean is interesting' — 한국어를 ___ 재미있어요

Answer: 배우는 것이 (배우는 것이 · 배워요 · 배우고 · 배웠어요)

Stage 17 · Comparatives 비교

Comparatives 비교 표현

Structure: [A]이/가 [B]보다 더 [adjective]. 보다 means 'than' and 더 means 'more'.

• 한국어가 영어보다 더 어려워요 — Korean is harder than English
• 오늘이 어제보다 더 더워요 — Today is hotter than yesterday
• 더 can be dropped in casual speech: 한국어가 영어보다 어려워요

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

How to say 'more' in a Korean comparison?

Answer: 더 (더 · 많이 · 아주 · 보다)

Stage 18 · Like 좋다/좋아하다

좋다 vs 좋아하다

좋다 uses subject particle (이/가): 한국어가 좋아요. 좋아하다 uses object particle (을/를): 한국어를 좋아해요.

• 좋다 — to be good / feel good (state): 커피가 좋아요 (I like coffee / Coffee is good)
• 좋아하다 — to like (active preference): 커피를 좋아해요 (I like coffee)
• Both translate as 'I like' but 좋다 focuses on the feeling, 좋아하다 on the preference

Check your understanding

'I like coffee' using 좋아하다 — 커피___ 좋아해요

Answer: 를 (를 · 가 · 에 · 도)

Stage 19 · Still/Already 아직/이미

Still & Already 아직 · 이미 · 벌써

아직 + negative verb = still not. 벌써 = already (sooner than expected). 이미 = already (neutral, formal).

• 아직 안 먹었어요 — Haven't eaten yet (still not)
• 아직 여기 있어요 — Still here (ongoing)
• 벌써 도착했어요? — Already arrived? (surprised)
• 이미 알아요 — I already know (neutral)

Check your understanding

'아직' means?

Answer: Still / Not yet (Still / Not yet · Already · Even · More)

Stage 20 · Indefinite 막연

Someone, Something 막연한 대상

Combine question words with context to express indefinite ideas like 'someone' or 'nothing'.

• 누군가 — someone: 누군가 왔어요 (Someone came)
• 무언가 / 뭔가 — something: 뭔가 이상해요 (Something is strange)
• 어딘가 — somewhere: 어딘가에 있어요 (It's somewhere)
• 아무도 + negative — no one: 아무도 없어요 (No one is here)
• 아무것도 + negative — nothing: 아무것도 몰라요 (I know nothing)

Check your understanding

'No one is here' — 아무도 ___

Answer: 없어요 (없어요 · 있어요 · 알아요 · 와요)

Stage 21 · Imperative 명령형

Imperative: -(으)세요 명령형

Add -(으)세요 to a verb stem to make a polite request or command.

• 가다 → 가세요 (please go)
• 앉다 → 앉으세요 (please sit)
• 먹다 → 드세요 (please eat — honorific)

Check your understanding

앉다 (to sit) → polite request form?

Answer: 앉으세요 (앉으세요 · 앉세요 · 앉아세요 · 앉지 마세요)

Stage 22 · Don't 금지형

Don't: -지 마세요 금지형

Add -지 마세요 to a verb stem to politely tell someone NOT to do something.

• 말하다 → 말하지 마세요 (please don't speak)
• 가다 → 가지 마세요 (please don't go)
• 먹다 → 먹지 마세요 (please don't eat)

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

'Please don't speak' in Korean?

Answer: 말하지 마세요 (말하지 마세요 · 말해 주세요 · 말하세요 · 말 안 해요)

Stage 23 · Method 방법

Method: -(으)로 방법

-(으)로 marks method or means — 'by' or 'with' a tool/way of doing something.

• -으로 after a consonant, -로 after a vowel or ㄹ: 버스로 가요 (go by bus)
• 지하철로 와요 (come by subway)
• 한국어로 말해요 (speak in Korean)

Check your understanding

'I go by bus' — 버스___ 가요

Answer: 로 (로 · 으로 · 에서 · 를)

Stage 24 · Good/Poor 잘함/못함

Good/Poor At 잘하다 · 못하다

잘하다 = good at. 못하다 = poor at. Both attach after the object particle 을/를.

• 한국어를 잘해요 (good at Korean)
• 수학을 못해요 (bad at math)
• 수영을 잘 못해요 (not very good at swimming)

Check your understanding

'good at Korean' — 한국어를 ___

Answer: 잘해요 (잘해요 · 못해요 · 좋아해요 · 잘 못해요)

Stage 25 · All/More 다/더

All, More: 다, 더 다 · 더

다 = all/everything. 더 = more. Both are simple adverbs placed before the verb.

• 다 먹었어요 — ate everything / all of it
• 더 주세요 — please give (me) more
• 다 and 더 are used very differently depending on context

Check your understanding

'I ate it all' — ___ 먹었어요

Answer: 다 (다 · 더 · 좀 · 잘)

Stage 26 · -도 Advanced 도

All, More & -도 -도 응용

-도 has 4 advanced uses beyond simple 'also': emphasis, emphatic negation, and 'both...and'.

• 아이도 알아요 — even children know (emphasis: unexpected inclusion)
• 하나도 없어요 — not even one (emphatic negation: 하나도 + negative)
• 먹기도 해요 — sometimes eats / also eats (-기도 하다)
• 좋기도 하고 나쁘기도 해요 — both good and bad

Words and phrases

Check your understanding

Which sentence means 'Even children know it'?

Answer: 아이도 알아요 (아이도 알아요 · 아이가 알아요 · 아이를 알아요 · 아이는 알아요)

What you have learned

Grammar Complete! — 문법 완료!

You've mastered all 26 grammar stages — from SOV word order and particles to advanced -도 patterns. Start applying these in real conversations!