Detailed Explanation
Structure
Basic English sentence structure: (Chinese is also basically the same)
Subject + Verb + Object
I + eat + an apple.
Basic Korean sentence structure: (Japanese is also basically the same)
Subject + Object + Verb
I + apple + eat. (나는 사과를 먹어요.)
Of course, also like English, you can have sentences with no Object:
Subject + Verb
I + go. (나는 가요.)
And sometimes, sentences need no Subject, just an Object and verb - because the Subject is inferred from the context of the conversation. For example:
지금
(나는)사과를 먹어요.
Now(I)apple eat.
Particles
| 이/가 | Subject particle | Used to introduce a NEW subject | A: 오늘 날씨는 춥지. B: 네. 와~ 너의 제킷이 너무 예뻐!~ |
| 은/는 | Subject particle | Used to continue speaking about the current subject of discussion | A: 오늘 날씨는 춥지. B: 네, 날씨는 너무 추워!~ |
| 을/를 | Object particle | Used with ALL Objects | 어제 (나는) 영화를 봤어요. (Here the Subject "I" can be omitted.) |
| 에/에서 | Adverbial | Used after an Adverbial | 에런이 사무실에서 문서를 만드러요. |
- All particles (above) that begin with an empty consonant (ㅇ) come after nouns that end with consonants.
- All particles (above) that begin with a consonant (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄹ) come after nouns that end with vowels.
- Adverbial particles (에/에서) have their own grammar rules but can follow either consonants OR vowels.
**Of note: Even when changing the subject, if 이/가 is used by the first speaker, 이/가 can also be used by the second speaker in the first response following the subject change. Take the first two examples above:
- A: 오늘 날씨가 춥지.
- B: 네, 날씨가 너무 추워!~
And from then on, if the weather continues to be the subject of discussion, 은/는 can be used.
Particle Examples
| Consonants | 에런이 미국 사람이예요. 에런은 영어 선생님이예요. 오늘 책을 읽을 거예요. 학교에 갈 거예요. |
| Vowels | 제시카가 러시아 사람이예요. 제시카는 영화 배우예요. 어제 영화를 봤어요. 시네마에서 봤어요. |
For more practice with Particles, see Low Intermediate Grammar, Unit 3.
Sentence Spacing
Just like proper punctuation in English is imperative, so is proper spacing in Korean. For example:
- 아버지가_방에 들어가십니다. = My father is going into the room.
- 아버지_가방에 들어가십니다. = My father is going into the bag.
Just one simple spacing mistake in the sentences above completely changes the meaning of the sentences.
- Sentence 1 has the Subject marker 가 and noun 방 (room).
- Sentence 2 has no clear Subject marker and the noun looks like 가방 (bag).
Be careful of proper spacing when writing:
General Spacing Rules:
- Spaces go between independent words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc).
- Particles are included as part of the preceding word (space only after the particle, not before).
- There are some exceptions - particularly 하다 verbs can have a space, but don't need one. (Example: 공부를 하다 vs. 공부하다)
**One thing of note that I often forget. When conjugating verbs in the future tense, a space goes between the ㄹ of the verb and the 거예요 of the ending. See two examples from earlier:
- 오늘 책을 읽을_거예요.
- 학교에 갈_거예요.
For more practice with Spacing Rules, see 30-Day Challenge #15: 띄어쓰기.
For more practice with Sentence Tenses, see <upcoming> Sentences Tenses.
