Korean grammar '-이/가'

1. Explanation

 : '-이/가' is used with nouns. It's attached after a noun, indicating that the noun is the subject or topic of the sentence same as '-은/는'. It helps identify which noun is the subject when there are multiple nouns in a sentence. Also you should choose between '-이' and '-가'. The choice of form depends on the noun. Nouns ending with a final consonant conjugate with '-이'. However words ending with a vowel conjugate with '-가'. Let's look at example together.

 * Different usage of '-은/는' vs '-이/가'

   -이/가 = emphasizes noun

   -은/는 = limits the range of meaning 

  * Irregular conjugation

    저/나 + 가 => 나가/저가(x) // 내가/제가(o)

    누구 + 가 => 누구가(x) // 누가(o)

 

*Source : National Institute of the Korean Langugae

 

2. Examples

 학생이 공부해요. (A student is studying.)

 *학생 student

  1) A word '학생' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅇ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 학생이

 

 형이 운전해요. (My older brother is driving.)

 *형 older brother

  1) A word '형' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅇ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 형이

 한국이 그리워요. (I miss Korea.)

 *한국 Korea

  1) A word '한국' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄱ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 한국이

 

 책이 좋아요. (I like books.)

 *책 book

  1) A word '책' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄱ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 책이

 

 음식이 맛있어요. (The food is delicious.)

 *음식 food

  1) A word '음식' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㄱ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 음식이

 

 방이 넓어요. (The room is spacious.)

 *방 room

  1) A word '방' is a noun

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅇ'

  3) It conjugates with '-이'

  4) 방이

 

 날씨가 맑아요. (The weather is clean.)

 *날씨 weather

  1) A word '날씨' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅣ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 날씨가

 

 엄마가 웃어요. (Mom is smiling.)

 *엄마 mom

  1) A word '엄마' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 엄마가

 

 그가 떠나요. (He is leaving.)

 *그 he

  1) A word '그' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅡ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 그가

 

 그녀가 화장해요. (She is doing make-up.)

 *그녀 she

  1) A word '그녀' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅣ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 그녀가

 

 공부가 어려워요. (Studying is difficult.)

 *공부 studying

  1) A word '공부' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅜ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 공부가

 

 바다가 아름다워요. (The sea is beautiful.)

 *바다 sea

  1) A word '바다' is a noun

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-가'

  4) 바다가

 

3. Practice

 Today is my birthday.

 오늘(이/가) 생일이에요. ( *오늘 today )

 

 I miss him.

 그(이/가) 생각나요. ( *그 him ) 

 

 Watermelon is delicious. 

 수박(이/가) 맛있어요. ( *수박 watermelon ) 

 

 I don't have time.

 시간(이/가) 없어요. ( *시간 time )

 

 It's snowing.

 눈(이/가) 와요. ( *눈 snow )

 

 Grandmother is an actress.

 할머니(이/가) 배우예요. ( *할머니 grandmother )

 

 Teacher is busy.

 선생님(이/가) 바빠요. ( *선생님 teacher ) 

 

 Studying is fun.

 공부(이/가) 재밌어요. ( *공부 studying )

 

4. Vocabulary

 학생 student / 공부해요 study / 형 older brother(male -> male) / 오빠 older brother(female -> male) / 운전하다 to drive / 한국 Korea / 그리워요 to miss / 책 book / 좋다 to like / 음식 food / 맛있어요 delicious / 방room / 넓어요 spacious / 날씨 weather / 맑다 clear / 엄마 mom / 아빠 dad / 웃다 to smile / 그 he / 그녀 she / 기다리다 to wait / 공부 studying / 어렵다 difficult / 바다 sea / 아름답다 beautiful / 저(polite), 나(casual) I / 누구 who / 오늘 today / 생일 birthday / 생각나다 to miss, think of / 수박 watermelon / 시간 time / 없어요 no, don't have / 눈 snow / 와요 to come / 할머니 grandmother / 할아버지 grandfather / 배우 actor, actress / 선생님 teacher / 바빠요 busy / 재밌어요 fun 

 

5. Answer

  오늘이 / 그가 / 수박이 / 시간이 / 눈이 / 할머니가 / 선생님이 / 공부가