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Korean Basic Korean Grammar Syllabus

The Basic Korean Grammar syllabus for Korean in full: 3 chapters and 7 topics, every one listed below, plus 49 Basic Korean Grammar flashcards with answers.

3Chapters
7Topics
49Flashcards

Basic Korean Grammar syllabus: all 3 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Sentence Structure

     2 topics
    • Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) Order
    • Particles in Korean

  2. Basic Verb Conjugation

     3 topics
    • Present Tense
    • Past Tense
    • Future Tense

  3. Basic Adjectives

     2 topics
    • Descriptive Adjectives
    • Conjugation of Adjectives

Korean Basic Korean Grammar flashcards β€” 49 questions with answers

  1. What is the basic word order of a standard Korean sentence?

    Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). The verb always comes at the end of the sentence, e.g. "I apple eat" (μ €λŠ” 사과λ₯Ό λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”).

  2. In Korean SOV order, where must the verb (or predicate) always be placed?

    At the very end of the sentence/clause. The final verb is grammatically mandatory and cannot be moved.

  3. How does Korean word order differ from English word order?

    English is SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) while Korean is SOV (Subject-Object-Verb). In Korean the verb comes last instead of in the middle.

  4. Because Korean marks grammatical roles with particles, how flexible is the order of the subject and object?

    The subject and object can be reordered (e.g. Object-Subject-Verb) without changing meaning, because particles show each word's role. Only the verb's final position is fixed.

  5. Why can words be moved around in a Korean sentence without losing meaning?

    Because particles (attached to nouns) mark each word's grammatical function, so the role of a word is known from its particle, not its position.

  6. In the sentence μ €λŠ” 학ꡐ에 κ°€μš” ("I go to school"), identify the SOV/adverbial structure.

    μ €λŠ” = subject (I), 학ꡐ에 = place/adverbial (to school), κ°€μš” = verb (go). The verb κ°€μš” comes last.

  7. What is a particle (쑰사) in Korean grammar?

    A short suffix attached to the end of a noun (or pronoun) that indicates its grammatical role in the sentence, such as subject, object, topic, or location.

  8. Which particles mark the subject, and how do you choose between them?

    이 after a consonant, κ°€ after a vowel. E.g. 책이 (book-SUBJECT), μΉœκ΅¬κ°€ (friend-SUBJECT).

  9. Which particles mark the topic, and how do you choose between them?

    은 after a consonant, λŠ” after a vowel. E.g. 책은 (book-TOPIC), μΉœκ΅¬λŠ” (friend-TOPIC).

  10. Which particles mark the object (direct object), and how do you choose between them?

    을 after a consonant, λ₯Ό after a vowel. E.g. 책을 (book-OBJECT), 사과λ₯Ό (apple-OBJECT).

  11. What is the difference between the topic particle (은/λŠ”) and the subject particle (이/κ°€)?

    이/κ°€ simply marks the grammatical subject or introduces new information; 은/λŠ” marks the topic, sets the general subject of discussion, and is used for contrast or emphasis.

  12. What does the particle 에 indicate, and give an example.

    에 marks a location, destination, or time (a static/non-action context). Example: 학ꡐ에 κ°€μš” (go to school), 3μ‹œμ— (at 3 o'clock).

  13. What is the difference between 에 and μ—μ„œ as location particles?

    에 marks a destination or static location/existence (going to, being at); μ—μ„œ marks the location where an action takes place. E.g. 집에 μžˆμ–΄μš” (be at home) vs. μ§‘μ—μ„œ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” (eat at home).

  14. Which particle means "and" (connecting two nouns) and how is it chosen?

    κ³Ό after a consonant, 와 after a vowel (formal); ν•˜κ³  or (이)λž‘ are more casual. E.g. λΉ΅κ³Ό 우유 (bread and milk).

  15. What do the particles μ—κ²Œ / ν•œν…Œ indicate?

    They mark the recipient of an action, meaning "to" a person. ν•œν…Œ is informal, μ—κ²Œ is standard. E.g. μΉœκ΅¬μ—κ²Œ μ€„κ²Œμš” (I'll give it to my friend).

  16. What does the particle 도 mean?

    "Also / too / even." It replaces the subject/topic/object particle. E.g. 저도 (me too), 이것도 (this one too).

  17. How is the present tense formed in the polite informal (ν•΄μš”) style from a verb stem?

    Drop λ‹€ from the dictionary form to get the stem, then add μ•„μš” (if the last stem vowel is γ…— or ㅏ) or μ–΄μš” (otherwise). ν•˜λ‹€ becomes ν•΄μš” (irregular contraction).

  18. Conjugate κ°€λ‹€ (to go) into present-tense polite ν•΄μš” form, and explain the contraction.

    κ°€λ‹€ β†’ stem κ°€ + μ•„μš” = κ°€μ•„μš”, which contracts to κ°€μš” (identical vowels merge).

  19. Conjugate λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) into present-tense polite ν•΄μš” form.

    Stem λ¨Ή- (last vowel γ…“, not γ…—/ㅏ) + μ–΄μš” = λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” ("eat/eats").

  20. What single Korean present-tense form covers English "I eat," "I am eating," and "I do eat"?

    The one present tense form (e.g. λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”) covers simple present, present continuous, and emphatic present; Korean does not conjugate these separately.

Show the other 29 Basic Korean Grammar flashcards

  1. How is the present tense formed in the formal polite (ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€) style?

    Add μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ to a consonant-final stem, or γ…‚λ‹ˆλ‹€ to a vowel-final stem. E.g. λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ λ¨ΉμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€, κ°€λ‹€ β†’ κ°‘λ‹ˆλ‹€.

  2. How is the past tense formed in Korean (ν•΄μš” style)?

    Add the past-tense infix μ•˜/μ—ˆ to the stem, then μ–΄μš”. Use μ•˜ if the last stem vowel is γ…—/ㅏ, otherwise μ—ˆ; ν•˜λ‹€ becomes ν–ˆ. So the ending is μ•˜μ–΄μš” / μ—ˆμ–΄μš” / ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.

  3. Conjugate κ°€λ‹€ (to go) into the past tense polite form.

    κ°€ + μ•˜μ–΄μš” = κ°”μ–΄μš” ("went"). The κ°€μ•„ contracts to κ°”.

  4. Conjugate λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) into the past tense polite form.

    λ¨Ή + μ—ˆμ–΄μš” = λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄μš” ("ate").

  5. Conjugate ν•˜λ‹€ (to do) into the past tense polite form.

    ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ ν–ˆμ–΄μš” ("did"). The stem ν•˜ + μ˜€ contracts to ν–ˆ.

  6. How do you conjugate the past tense of the copula/adjective 'to be' 이닀?

    이닀 β†’ μ΄μ—ˆμ–΄μš” (after consonant) / μ˜€μ–΄μš” (after vowel) in ν•΄μš” style; formally μ΄μ—ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. E.g. ν•™μƒμ΄μ—ˆμ–΄μš” (was a student).

  7. How is the future tense expressed with –(으)γƒͺ κ±°μ˜ˆμš”?

    Add –을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” to a consonant-final stem or –ㄹ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” to a vowel-final stem. E.g. λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ 먹을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”, κ°€λ‹€ β†’ 갈 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” ("will eat / will go"). It shows intention or probability.

  8. What future-tense ending expresses a strong intention or a promise, and give an example.

    –(으)γƒ―κ²Œμš” expresses the speaker's will/promise (first person). E.g. μ œκ°€ ν• κ²Œμš” (I'll do it), κ°ˆκ²Œμš” (I'll go).

  9. What does the future/presumptive ending –겠– express?

    It expresses intention, conjecture, or probability about the future. E.g. 내일 λΉ„κ°€ μ˜€κ² μ–΄μš” ("it will probably rain tomorrow"); μž˜λ¨Ήκ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€ ("I'll eat well").

  10. Compare –(으)γƒͺ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” and –겠– as future markers.

    –(으)γƒͺ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” states a planned or expected future action (definite plan/prediction); –겠– expresses a more immediate intention, will, or a conjecture/presumption about the future.

  11. What is a descriptive verb (ν˜•μš©μ‚¬) in Korean, and how does it differ from English adjectives?

    A descriptive verb (descriptive adjective) describes a state or quality and functions like a verb: it is conjugated for tense and politeness and can serve as the sentence's predicate without a separate 'to be' verb. E.g. μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€ = "to be pretty."

  12. In Korean, how do you say "The flower is pretty" using a descriptive adjective as the predicate?

    꽃이 μ˜ˆλΉ μš”. The adjective μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€ is conjugated to μ˜ˆλΉ μš” and acts as the verb; no separate 'is' is needed.

  13. How are Korean descriptive adjectives conjugated in the present tense (ν•΄μš” style)?

    Exactly like verbs: drop λ‹€ and add μ•„μš” (stem vowel γ…—/ㅏ) or μ–΄μš” (other), with ν•˜λ‹€-type becoming ν•΄μš”. E.g. μ’‹λ‹€ β†’ μ’‹μ•„μš”, λ§›μžˆλ‹€ β†’ λ§›μžˆμ–΄μš”, ν–‰λ³΅ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ ν–‰λ³΅ν•΄μš”.

  14. Conjugate the adjective 크닀 (to be big) into present-tense polite form, noting the γ…‘ irregularity.

    크닀 β†’ μ»€μš”. The stem vowel γ…‘ drops before β€“μ–΄μš” (γ…‘ irregular), giving μ»€μš” ("is big").

  15. When a descriptive adjective modifies a noun (attributive form) in the present tense, which ending is added?

    Add –(으)γ‚΄: –ㄴ after a vowel-final stem, –은 after a consonant-final stem. E.g. μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€ β†’ μ˜ˆμ˜γ‚΄ 꽃 (pretty flower), μ’‹λ‹€ β†’ 쒋은 μ‚¬λžŒ (good person).

  16. How does the attributive (noun-modifying) ending differ between action verbs and descriptive adjectives in the present tense?

    Descriptive adjectives use –(으)γ‚΄ (μ˜ˆμ˜γ‚΄, 쒋은), while action verbs use β€“λŠ” (λ¨ΉλŠ”, κ°€λŠ”). So "pretty flower" = μ˜ˆμ˜γ‚΄ 꽃 but "the flower that blooms" = ν”ΌλŠ” 꽃.

  17. Conjugate the adjective 덩닀 (to be hot) into present-tense polite form, noting the γ…‚ irregularity.

    덩닀 β†’ λ”μ›Œμš”. The final γ…‚ changes to 우 before the ending (γ…‚ irregular): 덩 + 우 + μ–΄μš” = λ”μ›Œμš” ("is hot").

  18. Why do Korean descriptive adjectives NOT take the present-progressive –고 μžˆλ‹€ form?

    Because they describe states, not ongoing actions. States cannot be "in progress," so –고 μžˆλ‹€ (progressive) is only used with action verbs, not descriptive adjectives.

  19. How is the past tense of a descriptive adjective formed? Give an example.

    Same as verbs: add μ•˜/μ—ˆ + μ–΄μš”. E.g. μ’‹λ‹€ β†’ μ’‹μ•˜μ–΄μš” ("was good"), μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€ β†’ μ˜ˆλΉ μ—ˆμ–΄μš” ("was pretty").

  20. What is the negation pattern using μ•ˆ, and where is μ•ˆ placed?

    μ•ˆ is placed directly before the verb/adjective to negate it ("not"). E.g. μ•ˆ κ°€μš” (don't go), μ•ˆ μ˜ˆλΉ μš” (not pretty). For ν•˜λ‹€-verbs, μ•ˆ goes before ν•˜λ‹€: 곡뢀 μ•ˆ ν•΄μš”.

  21. What is the negation pattern using –지 μ•Šλ‹€?

    Attach –지 μ•Šλ‹€ to the verb/adjective stem ("long negation"). E.g. 가지 μ•Šμ•„μš” (don't go), μ˜ˆμ˜μ§€ μ•Šμ•„μš” (not pretty). It is more formal than μ•ˆ.

  22. How does the copula 이닀 ("to be [a noun]") attach, and how is it chosen?

    이닀 attaches directly to a noun: β€“μ΄μ—μš” after a consonant, β€“μ˜ˆμš” after a vowel (ν•΄μš” style). E.g. ν•™μƒμ΄μ—μš” (is a student), μ˜μ‚¬μ˜ˆμš” (is a doctor).

  23. What verb means "to exist / to have" and what is its opposite?

    μžˆλ‹€ = "to exist / to be (located) / to have." Its opposite is μ—†λ‹€ = "to not exist / to not have." E.g. 돈이 μžˆμ–΄μš” (I have money) vs. 돈이 μ—†μ–΄μš”.

  24. How do you distinguish an action verb from a descriptive verb using the present tense?

    Action verbs can take β€“λŠ”λ‹€/–ゴ닀 (plain present) and the β€“λŠ” modifier; descriptive verbs use the plain –닀 form and the –(으)γ‚΄ modifier, and cannot take β€“λŠ”λ‹€. E.g. λ¨ΉλŠ”λ‹€ (eats) is a verb, but *μ˜ˆμ˜λŠ”λ‹€ is wrong; it stays μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€.

  25. Order these three tense endings for κ°€λ‹€ (to go): present, past, future (ν•΄μš” style).

    Present: κ°€μš” (go), Past: κ°”μ–΄μš” (went), Future: 갈 κ±°μ˜ˆμš” (will go).

  26. In the –아/μ–΄μš” conjugation rule, what determines whether you add β€“μ•„μš” or β€“μ–΄μš”?

    The last vowel of the stem: if it is γ…— (o) or ㅏ (a), add β€“μ•„μš”; for any other vowel, add β€“μ–΄μš”. Stems from ν•˜λ‹€ verbs become β€“ν•΄μš”.

  27. How do you form a present-tense yes/no question in the polite ν•΄μš” style?

    Use the same ν•΄μš”-form conjugation but with rising intonation; the form does not change. E.g. κ°€μš”? (Do you go?), μ˜ˆλΉ μš”? (Is it pretty?).

  28. What is the plain (dictionary) present-tense ending for an action verb, and give an example?

    –ゴ닀 after a vowel stem, β€“λŠ”λ‹€ after a consonant stem. E.g. κ°€λ‹€ β†’ κ°„λ‹€ (goes), λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ λ¨ΉλŠ”λ‹€ (eats). Descriptive adjectives instead keep the plain –닀 (μ˜ˆμ˜λ‹€).

  29. Summarize the key difference between Korean verbs and descriptive adjectives in terms of function and conjugation.

    Both are conjugated for tense/politeness and can be the predicate, but action verbs describe actions and take β€“λŠ”λ‹€/β€“λŠ” forms and the progressive; descriptive adjectives describe states, take –(으)γ‚΄ to modify nouns, and cannot take β€“λŠ”λ‹€ or the progressive –고 μžˆλ‹€.

Korean Basic Korean Grammar FAQ

What is in the Korean Basic Korean Grammar syllabus?

Korean Basic Korean Grammar is split into 3 chapters: Sentence Structure, Basic Verb Conjugation and Basic Adjectives. Together they contain 7 topics.

How many chapters are in Korean Basic Korean Grammar?

3 chapters, containing 7 topics. The largest chapter is Basic Verb Conjugation, with 3 topics.

Are there flashcards for Korean Basic Korean Grammar?

Yes β€” a 49-card Basic Korean Grammar deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.