Korean grammar · Beginner (A1)
More particles: 도, 만, 의, 하고, 보다, 부터/까지, 한테
Also and only, my and 's, and and with, comparisons with 보다, 더 and 제일, from and until, and particles for giving or saying things to a person.
도 (also) and 만 (only)
도 means “also, too” and 만 means “only”. Both have one form, and both replace 은 / 는, 이 / 가 and 을 / 를: (jeodo), me too; (keopiman), only coffee. After other particles, such as 에 or 에서, they are added on: (jumareman), only at weekends.
도 with a negative verb means “(not) either”, and (jeodoyo) is the everyday way to say “me too”.
- 저도 학생이에요.Jeodo haksaengieyo.I'm a student too.
- 저도요.Jeodoyo.Me too.
- 물만 주세요.Mulman juseyo.Just water, please.
- 주말에만 운동해요.Jumareman undonghaeyo.I only exercise at weekends.
- 저는 고기도 안 먹어요.Jeoneun gogido an meogeoyo.I don't eat meat either.
의: ’s and of, and the short forms 제, 내
의 links an owner to a thing, like English “’s”: owner first, then the thing. In speech it is usually left out: (chingu dongsaeng), my friend's younger brother or sister. When it is said, it usually sounds like e.
With “I” and “you”, 의 merges into a short form: + 의 → (je, my), casual + 의 → (nae), + 의 → (ne, your, often said ). For your family, your home and your country, Koreans say (uri, our) even when talking about their own: (uri eomma), my mum.
| Pronoun | Possessive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (jeo) I, polite | (je) my | (je ireum) my name |
| (na) I, casual | (nae) my | (nae gabang) my bag |
| (neo) you, casual | (ne) your | (ne chingu) your friend |
| (uri) we | (uri) our, my | (uri jip) our house, my home |
- 제 이름은 하윤이에요.Je ireumeun Hayunieyo.My name is Hayun.
- 이거 제 가방이에요.Igeo je gabangieyo.This is my bag.
- 우리 엄마는 선생님이에요.Uri eommaneun seonsaengnimieyo.My mum is a teacher.
And, with: 하고, 와/과, (이)랑
Three particles join two nouns with “and”, and also mean “with” (someone). 하고 has one form and is the everyday choice. 와 / 과 is more formal and common in writing. (이)랑 is casual and friendly. Don't use them between verbs or sentences: for that, see -고 and (geurigo).
“With” someone is often followed by (gachi, together): (chinguhago gachi gayo), I'm going with a friend.
| Particle | After a consonant | After a vowel | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하고 | (ppanghago uyu) | (uyuhago ppang) | everyday |
| 과 / 와 | (ppanggwa uyu) | (uyuwa ppang) | formal, written |
| 이랑 / 랑 | (ppangirang uyu) | (uyurang ppang) | casual, friendly |
- 사과하고 딸기 주세요.Sagwahago ttalgi juseyo.Apples and strawberries, please.
- 주말에 동생이랑 영화를 봐요.Jumare dongsaengirang yeonghwareul bwayo.I'm watching a film with my younger brother at the weekend.
Comparing: 보다, 더, 제일
보다 means “than” and goes after the thing you compare with: (Seouri Busanboda keoyo), Seoul is bigger than Busan. Korean adjectives have no “-er” form; add (deo, more) if you like, but it isn't required after 보다.
For “the most”, put (jeil) or the slightly more formal (gajang) before the adjective or verb: (jeil joayo), it's the best.
- 서울이 부산보다 커요.Seouri Busanboda keoyo.Seoul is bigger than Busan.
- 이 방이 더 넓어요.I bangi deo neolbeoyo.This room is bigger.
- 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요.Keopiboda chareul deo joahaeyo.I like tea more than coffee.
- 이게 제일 맛있어요.Ige jeil masisseoyo.This one is the tastiest.
From and until: 부터, 까지
부터 means “from” a time and 까지 means “until”, “up to” or “by”. For “from” a place, use 에서: (Seoureseo Busankkaji), from Seoul to Busan.
까지 alone often means “by”, a deadline: (naeilkkaji), by tomorrow. 부터 can also mean “first”, where you start: (igeotbuteo haseyo), do this first.
- 아홉 시부터 여섯 시까지 일해요.Ahop sibuteo yeoseot sikkaji ilhaeyo.I work from nine to six.
- 서울에서 부산까지 비행기로 한 시간 걸려요.Seoureseo Busankkaji bihaenggiro han sigan geollyeoyo.It takes an hour from Seoul to Busan by plane.
- 내일까지 연락 주세요.Naeilkkaji yeollak juseyo.Please get in touch by tomorrow.
To a person: 한테, 에게, 께
For places and things, “to” is 에. For people and animals, use 한테 in speech and 에게 in writing or formal speech: (chinguhante jeonhwahaeyo), I'm phoning a friend. For someone you respect, the honorific 께 is used: (halmeonikke deuryeosseoyo), I gave it to my grandmother.
“From” a person is 한테서 or 에게서, and 한테 alone is also common in speech: (chinguhanteseo munjaga wasseoyo), I got a text from a friend.
| Particle | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 한테 | to a person, everyday speech | (dongsaenghante jwosseoyo) I gave it to my brother. |
| 에게 | to a person, writing and formal speech | (gogaegege bonaetseumnida) We sent it to the customer. |
| 께 | to someone you respect | (seonsaengnimkke yeojjwobolgeyo) I'll ask the teacher. |
| 한테서 / 에게서 | from a person | (eommahanteseo deureosseoyo) I heard it from my mum. |
| 에 | to a place, a company | (hoesae jeonhwahaesseoyo) I phoned the company. |
- 친구한테 전화해요.Chinguhante jeonhwahaeyo.I'm phoning a friend.
- 친구한테서 문자가 왔어요.Chinguhanteseo munjaga wasseoyo.I got a text from a friend.
- 할머니께 선물을 드렸어요.Halmeonikke seonmureul deuryeosseoyo.I gave my grandmother a present.