25 essential grammar patterns for beginners — particles, verb forms, negation, and basic expressions.
-아/어요, -았/었어요, -을/ㄹ 거예요, conjugation
이에요/예요
이에요/예요 is the polite present form of the copula 'to be,' used to identify or define nouns.
-아/어요
-아/어요 is the polite informal present tense ending, the most commonly used verb form in everyday Korean.
-았/었어요
-았/었어요 is the polite informal past tense, formed by adding 았/었 to the verb stem.
-을/ㄹ 거예요
-을/ㄹ 거예요 expresses future plans or intentions, meaning 'will' or 'going to.'
은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서, 도, 의
은/는
은/는 marks the topic of a sentence — the thing being talked about or contrasted.
이/가
이/가 marks the grammatical subject of a sentence, identifying who or what performs an action or exists.
을/를
을/를 marks the direct object of a verb — the thing being acted upon.
에
에 marks a location of existence, a destination of movement, or a specific point in time.
에서
에서 marks the location where an action or activity takes place.
도
도 means 'also' or 'too' and replaces the particles 은/는, 이/가, or 을/를.
(으)로
(으)로 indicates direction, means, method, or material.
Connecting clauses and complex sentences
와/과
와/과 connects two nouns meaning 'and' or 'with.'
하고
하고 connects nouns meaning 'and' or 'with,' commonly used in spoken Korean.
-고
-고 connects two verbs or clauses meaning 'and' or 'and then.'
-지만
-지만 connects two contrasting clauses, meaning 'but' or 'however.'
때문에
때문에 expresses a reason or cause, meaning 'because of.'
-아/어서
-아/어서 connects two clauses expressing reason ('because') or sequence ('and then').
Fixed patterns and set phrases
안
안 is placed before a verb or adjective to negate it, meaning 'not' or 'don't.'
못
못 is placed before a verb to express inability, meaning 'cannot' or 'unable to.'
-고 싶다
-고 싶다 expresses a desire to do something, meaning 'want to.'
-지 마세요
-지 마세요 is the polite negative imperative, meaning 'please don't.'
-ㄹ 수 있다
-ㄹ/을 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility, meaning 'can' or 'be able to.'
-(으)세요, formal and polite speech levels
-(으)면, -아/어야 — conditional forms
보다, 만큼, 제일/가장
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