Basic Korean Grammar (Topik)

1. / Is used to make a noun the subject of the sentence. (=I)

2. Used with a noun to enumerate the same thing.
3. / attached to a noun to show the object of the sentence
4. / attached to a verb to add respect.
5. connects two or more verbs together.
6. / Indicates the place you are going to or coming from.
7. ?/ ? Expresses suggestion to the listener.
8. / speaker wants the listener to do something.
9. Indicates that a subject or state is negative.
10. A verb that ends in followed by ,, is deleted.
11. wish or hope for an action to take place.
12. Indicates the speakers intention.
13. / Gives a command to the listener.
14. ?/ ? (2) Asks an opinion from the listener about the speakers action.
15. finishing point of time or place
16. ? Speaker seeks for the listeners agreement or to ascertain the listeners meaning.
17. / can express declarative, a question, an imperative or a suggestion
18. Indicates the time or place when an action or situation takes place. Not used with
,,,,,.
19. ~ starting point ~ ending point
20. (2) Indicates the order of the action. Not used with past tense //.

21. // Places the verb in past tense.

22. Bacham some verbs changes to except for , which change to .
verbs like ,, and Descriptive verbs like , which follow normal
conjugation.
23. Used to show the opposite meaning of the first clause. But
24. / Used with a descriptive verb to modify the following noun.

25. // Asking for a favor of some one or the speaker is providing help to someone
else. For verbs use often goes to , and in formal language use
.
26. Used with humans or animals, indicates the noun as the object of the action./
/ ~formal language.
27. Abnormal ending , , modifying noun. When action is completed use / when
action is ongoing use when making a prediction use /.
28. / Used with a noun to show direction.
29. //. Basically means Therefor. You cant use // & in front of //

30. / Indicates a means, direction, reason, status etc.

31. ~ Starting point and ending point.
32. // first clause is the reason for the second clause. * the second clause cannot
contain the imperative or propulsive lets
33. / First clause indicates the reason or cause for the next clause.
34. Negative imperative or pro positive of lets .
35. / Indicates the speakers intention , vow, promise for the future.
36. / enumerative of two or more objects or choice of them.
37. ,/ used when the speaker expects an answer from the listener. In certain
situations.

38. / used with personal noun when an action of a verb indicates from a person.
Formal speech
39. / indicates the first clause is the assumption or condition of the second clause.
40. / (1) if the person is a first or second person, it indicates the speakers
intention or future fact. In this case, it is only used with an action verb.
41. only or just
42. , / it indicates that the following clause is the opposite result or situation
from the fact in the first clause. Also, it is used to refer to two contradictory facts.
43. / indicates the possibility of an action.
44. / used with an action verb, indicates the ending of the first clause and the
subsequently result in the second clause.
45. (2) this is used to express the assumption or supposition based on the situation or
the state at moment of speaking.
46. used with a noun to compare two objects.
47. / indicates the assumption of the action or state that will take place in the
future.
48. / speaker realized something with exclamation remark.
49. used with an action verb and indicates that the action is ongoing.
50. / used with an action verb and expresses a plan or intention.
51. indicating a period, meaning during a time
52. / used with an action verb, indicates the time when the action occurs. When the
action has been completed use // .
53. used with many types of objects or enumerated nouns, meaning *among
54. ~ it attaches to a noun to indicate quality, time or place etc.
55. Not being able to
56. indicates one action took place before another action.

57. AV not being able to not being able to.

58. translated to because or so
59. / means the action or state is not limited. Used with , , , ,
60. / used with an action verb and shows a certain time has passed after the
performance has taken place in the first clause.
61. , / used with an action verb to make comparison. Person suggests
information in the first clause before asking a question in the second clause.
62. , , it is used with a descriptive and shows that the status of the object
has changed.
63. */ it shows intention or purpose, being used with and action verb. The
performance in the second clause is made in order to do the main action in the first
clause.
64. *// used with a descriptive verb indicating emotion and changes the
descriptive verb to an action verb. Only used with third person.
65. predicts some ones feeling or emotion through hearing a certain story.
66. // (have you been to/havent been to) used with an action verb to show
experience.
67. // (You Must/Must) it emphasizes the needs or duties used with a verb.
68. / used with an action verb to show past experience.
69. , / (and it is/ and is) adds evolution of an object while explain the character
of the object.
70. is used with a noun to show that a certain action must happen first before the other
action.
71. * it is used with an action verb to describe the other verbs in detail.
72. // used with an action verb to give permission to do something.
Question form. // ?
73. / it is used with a verb to restrict or prohibit permission of something.

Korean Grammar: TIME EXPRESSIONS

-() . (since) Indicates how much time has passed since some situation or action has
occurred. Normally goes with this -() ~, -() ~ and -() ~
. When vowel or used - .
N V- . (During/while) (the subjects in the first and second part of the
sentence can be different)
V-(). (while) the subject in both first and second part of the sentence have to be
the same
V-/(1). (and, in order) it joins to actions together that are very closely related, and
without the action in the first clause the action in the second clause cannot be done.
Korean Grammar: LISTING AND CONTRAST
A/V-. (and) used to list two or more actions, states, or facts. Also the action in the first
clause happened before the action in the second clause, which corresponds to (and
(then)). Also the tense is only expressed in the second clause not the first clause.
Korean Grammar: ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY
V-() /. This expresses whether one knows how, or has the ability to
do something.
Korean Grammar: DEMANDS AND OBLIGATIONS, PERMISSIONS AND
PROHIBITIONS
V-(). (Please (do)).
V- . (please do not (do)) Used when requesting, persuading, indicating or
ordering the listener not to do something.
A/V-/ /. (must, have(to)) expresses obligation to do something or
necessity in a certain situation.
Negative form
A/V- . (do not need to do, do not have to do) expresses a particular state
of affair or behavior is not necessary.

A/V-() . (should not, may not, to not be allowed) prohibition or limitation to

a certain action.
A/V-/ . (may, be allowed to)Expresses permission or approval for a behavior.
Korean Grammar: EXPRESSIONS OF HOPE.
A/V-/ expresses a persons hope or wish that has yet been realized. Also
a desire for certain situation to be opposite of what it currently is, If past tense.
Korean Grammar: REASONS AND CAUSES
A/V-/(2). (because (of), on account of, so that) Is used to express that the
information the first clause is the reason for or the cause of the succeeding clause.
CANNOT BE USED IN IMPERATIVE OR PRO-POSITIVE SENTENCES. / and
cannot be used. Used mainly to express general reason
A/V- () (1). (so, because) Expresses the reason or cause for something. CAN BE
USED IN IMPERATIVE OR PRO-POSITIVE SENTENCES. i.e -(), -()?
And -(). / and cannot be used
Korean Grammar: TRYING NEW THINGS AND EXPERIENCES
V-/ . (try) expresses trying out or expressing an action. When used in
experiencing something, it is not used with he verb . Rather use .
V-() /. (have done, had) expresses having or not having a particular
experience in the past.
-() / + / = -/ . This means to have the
experience of having tried something.
Korean Grammar: ASKING OPINIONS AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS.
V-()?(1). (shall we?, why dont we?) is used when the speaker wants either
suggest doing something together with the listener or ask about the listeners preference
regarding something. (when answering a suggestive form () or /. The
subject is .
V-()?(2). (shall i?, do you want me to?) When the speaker wants to make a
suggestion the listener or to ask the listener for his her opinion. The subject is or
and may be omitted.

V-(). (Lets, shall we) used to suggest or propose to do something with the
listener. Cannot be used to someone who is older or higher status, you will use -()
.
V-()? (would you (mind/like to)?, why not?) Is used when politely suggesting
something to the listener or when asking about the listeners preference or intention.
V-()?(1) (want to?, how about?) Used when asking about the listeners
preference or intention or when gently making a request, does not convey polite feeling.
The answer for this can be given in -()? Or -(). Also it can be placed
with ( -()?) ? Means the same just used with negative. Polite
form -()?
Korean Grammar: INTENTION AND PLANA
A/V-()/. ((i) will/am going to, (i) plan to) Expresses the intention or will of the
speaker. The negative - or -
1. When is expresses intention or will, it cannot be used in the third person,
instead ( )
2. -. (should, will) also be used to convey information that something is about to
occur.
V-(). ((I) will do) is used when the speaker want to express a decision or
intention to another person, similar to a promise, and also when actually making a
promise to do something with the other person. It is also used simply to express that the
speaker will do something.
NOTE. The difference between V-() and V-() . V-() a
relationship exists with the listener, and the subjects intention of thought is expressed
while taking the listener into consideration. Whereas V-() no relationship
exists with the listener, and the subjects thought, intention, or plan is expressed indirectly.
V-()(2). (be going to, will) Expresses the fact the speaker has the will or
intention to do something. It used in colloquial language among intimates and does not
confer a feeling of politeness.
Korean Grammar: BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND EXPLANATIONS
A/V-() /(2). (so, therefor or and)Is used when the first clause expresses the

reason or background situation for the second clause and also when the first clause
provides content introducing the second clause.
NOTE. With adjectives use / . When with verbs use .
V-() (2). (when, (do something) only to discover) Expresses the discovery of the
fact described in the second clause as the result of the performing the action described in
the first clause. Only verbs. NOTE. When expresses the result of an action (discover)
and cannot precede it.
Korean Grammar: PURPOSE AND INTENTION
V-() /. (in order) Expresses going or coming to a place to preform an
action, with the action stated in the first clause and the place in the second clause. Only
movement verbs such as , , are used after -().
V-(). ((in order) to, so that) Expresses the intention or plan of the speaker.
Specifically it indicates the speaker will do what is stated in the second clause to
accomplish what is stated in the first clause.
V-() . (plans to, intend to) Expresses the subjects intention or plan that has
yet to be acted upon. The pass tense of this expression is only used when the result is
what was not expected.
N / (), V- (). (for the sake of (in order) to)This pattern is used when
pro-forming an action for the sake of something or to accomplish something. Specifically,
it indicates the speaker will do what is stated in the second clause for the sake of what is
stated in the first clause.
NOTE. V- () cannot be used directly to adjectives. However if -/ has
added to an adjective, making it a verb, then it can be used with V- ()
V- . Expresses the making a promise with another person and is made by
adding - to verb stem. This can also express making a promise to ones self, a
resolution or solution to something.
Korean Grammar: CONDITIONS AND SUPPOSITIONS
V() (-() ). (if you want to, if your intention is to..) Used to express a
plan or intention to do something in the first clause, with the condition required to full fill
that plan or intention given in the second clause.

A/V-/. (even if, regardless whether) indicates that the situation in the second
clause occurs regardless of what the action or state described in the first clause.
Korean Grammar: CONJECTURE
A/V-(2). (looks like, sounds, appears) Is an expression of supposition about a
certain situation or state.
- intuitive, instantaneous supposition made with no reason or basis.
A/V-() (2).(think, will) Expresses the speakers supposition based on a
personal experience or something seen or heard that provides a basis for the belief.
NOTE. When used for supposition it cannot be used in question form.
Supposition based on information known only by the speaker.
A/V-()?(3). (i wonder if, do you think) Expresses in question form the
supposition of an action or state that has yet to happen.
A/V-()//() . (looks/sounds like, appears that) Used when supposing
that something happened in the past or when supposing the occurrence of an action or
situation yet to occur. Use for past, for present, / for future, and / for
present with adjectives.
- supposition based on intuitive, subject reason that can be used in all cases, regardless
of whether there is a reason or basis.
Korean Grammar: CHANGES IN PART OF SPEECH
A/V- (ing). Functions to turn verbs and adjectives into nouns
A-. (in a manner, -ly)Functions as an adverb in a sentence and expresses the
purpose, basis, degree, method of, or some thought about the action that follows.
A-/. (appears (to be), seems)
A-/. (become, turn) Expresses change of state over time.
V- . Expresses a change from one state to another or a change in a situation as a
result of someone elses action or the environment, regardless of the subject.
Korean Grammar: CONFIRMING INFORMATION

A/V-()/. (who/what/where/when/how/whether + clause) Is a connective ending

used when connecting a clause requiring additional information to the following verb.
Use for past, for present, / for future, and / for present with adjectives.
A/V-? (isnt/arent..?, dont/doesnt) used when the speaker wants to confirm with
the listener or to obtain the listeners agreement about something already known.
Adjectives and Present tense verbs . Past tense /. Future tense ()
.
Korean Grammar: DISCOVERY AND SURPRISE
A/V-/. (i see (that), indeed, how, or simply !) Is used to express surprise or
wonder upon learning something new either by direct observation or experience or by
hearing about it from someone else.
Adjectives -. Verbs . Nouns (). Past tense /.
Korean Grammar: ADDITIONAL ENDINGS
A-() ?, V-? (is/were.there?, is/was it?, are/were you? Do/did
you?) Are used politely and gently to ask somebody a question.
Adjectives () ? is used. For verbs for future tense verbs use -()
? Use / for present with adjectives. For past tense adjectives use /?
A/V-()/. (in my case) It used to express ones disagreement with or opposition
to what somebody says.
(.and?,.but?) It is also used to express expectation of or waiting for a response From
another subject.
(Im surprised to learn that Is so) is also used to express the speakers surprise at
discovering or feeling something unexpected when observing.
Korean Grammar: QUOTATIONS
Direct quotation. / verbs follow the quotation marks. When asking about what
someone said or wrote is used instead. Remember to use quotations.
Indirect Quotations.
;

DECLARATIVE somebody said.

Present tense
Verb. -()
Adjective. -
Noun. -()
Past. V/A -/
Future. V/A -()
INTERROGATIVE ask question
Noun -()
V/A -()
SUGGESTIVE
Verb. -
IMPERATIVE.
Verb. -()
Verb. //
Verb. //
Extra Beginners Korean Grammar:
-/ . Plan or intention of the speaker, and the plan is still under
consideration.
same as but sentences are joined
. Seeking permission to do something
. Saying that you dont have permission to do something
with an action of a verb is completed and the next action is directly opposite to
that action. .

. Showing a new action takes place before the previous action is complete.
used to show the performance in the second clause is done by maintaining or
using the content in the first clause .
. Is used in it replaces . .