Korean Grammar Guide: Simple Rules & Examples

Korean Grammar Overview

Master Korean grammar through our straightforward approach. Our guide breaks down Korean sentence structure, particles, and verb endings into digestible pieces. Each grammar concept is presented with a translation, helping you understand how Korean works in practice. Use this overview alongside your Korean course or as a quick reference for daily practice.

Sentence Pattern and Particles

Korean usually follows Subject-Object-Verb order, so the verb normally comes at the end of the clause.

Pattern	Example	Meaning
Subject + Object + Verb	저는 책을 읽어요.	I read a book.
Subject + Place + Object + Verb	저는 집에서 밥을 먹어요.	I eat food at home.
Subject + Adjective-Verb	날씨가 추워요.	The weather is cold.

Key idea: Korean adjectives behave like verbs, so they also appear sentence-final and conjugate for tense and politeness.

Core Particles

Particles show the role of each word in the sentence.

Particle	Main Use	Example
은/는	topic	저는 학생이에요.
이/가	subject	비가 와요.
을/를	object	물을 마셔요.
에	destination / time	학교에 가요.
에서	place of action	카페에서 공부해요.

Topic particles often frame what the sentence is about, while subject particles emphasize who or what performs the action.

Verb Endings and Politeness

The stem usually stays the same, while the ending changes for politeness and tense.

Level / Function	Example	Meaning
Standard polite (haeyo-che, 해요체)	가요	go
Formal polite	갑니다	go
Past	갔어요	went
Future / intention	갈 거예요	will go

Beginners usually learn the -아요/어요 style first because it works well in most everyday situations. This is the standard polite 해요체, not casual speech.

For everyday “want,” Korean usually uses -고 싶다. With physical objects, 갖고 싶다 is usually more natural than 원하다 in conversation.

Negation and Questions

Function	Pattern	Example
Simple negation	안 + verb	안 가요.
Inability	못 + verb	못 먹어요.
Formal negation	verb + 지 않다	가지 않아요.
Question	rising intonation or `-나요/-(으)세요?`	먹어요? / 드세요?

안 means you do not do something. 못 means you cannot do it.

Connectors and Modifiers

Pattern	Example	Use
`-고`	먹고 마셔요.	and
`-아서/어서`	배고파서 먹어요.	because / so
`-(으)면`	시간이 있으면 가요.	if / when
Relative clause before noun	제가 읽는 책	the book that I read

Unlike English, modifiers usually come before the noun they describe.

Honorifics

Korean often changes forms to show respect.

Standard	Honorific	Meaning
먹어요	드세요	eat
있어요	계세요	be / stay
말해요	말씀하세요	speak

You do not need honorifics in every sentence, but they are important when speaking to older people, customers, or teachers.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Better Form	Why
저는 먹어요 밥을.	저는 밥을 먹어요.	The verb usually comes last
저는 학교에서 가요.	저는 학교에 가요.	`에` marks destination; `에서` marks place of action
안 못 가요.	안 가요. / 못 가요.	Choose one type of negation
예뻐 차	예쁜 차	Korean modifiers come before the noun

Sentence and Grammar Structure with Examples

안녕하세요.▶︎

annyeonghaseyo.

Hello.

뭐 갖고 싶어요?▶︎

mwo gajgo sipeoyo?

What do you want?

뭐 먹고 싶어요?▶︎

mwo meokgo sipeoyo?

What do you want to eat?

뭐 마시고 싶어요?▶︎

mwo masigo sipeoyo?

What do you want to drink?

뭐 하고 싶어요?▶︎

mwo hago sipeoyo?

What do you want to do?

이거 갖고 싶어요.▶︎

igeo gajgo sipeoyo.

I want this.

뭔가 갖고 싶어요.▶︎

mwonga gajgo sipeoyo.

I want something.

뭔가 마시고 싶어요.▶︎

mwonga masigo sipeoyo.

I want to drink something.

뭔가 먹고 싶어요.▶︎

mwonga meokgo sipeoyo.

I want to eat something.

뭔가 하고 싶어요.▶︎

mwonga hago sipeoyo.

I want to do something.

좋아요.▶︎

joayo.

It is good.

괜찮아요.▶︎

gwaenchanayo.

It is OK.

나빠요.▶︎

nappayo.

It is bad.

할 거예요?▶︎

hal geoyeyo?

Will you do it?

먹을 거예요?▶︎

meogeul geoyeyo?

Will you eat?

운전할 거예요?▶︎

unjeonhal geoyeyo?

Will you drive?

이거 할 거예요.▶︎

igeo hal geoyeyo.

I will do this.

뭔가 먹을 거예요.▶︎

mwonga meogeul geoyeyo.

I will eat something.

운전할 거예요.▶︎

unjeonhal geoyeyo.

I will drive.

그거 갖고 싶어요?▶︎

geugeo gajgo sipeoyo?

Do you want it?

뭔가 갖고 싶어요?▶︎

mwonga gajgo sipeoyo?

Do you want something?

먹고 싶어요?▶︎

meokgo sipeoyo?

Do you want to eat?

할 수 있어요?▶︎

hal su isseoyo?

Can you do it?

뭔가 할 수 있어요?▶︎

mwonga hal su isseoyo?

Can you do something?

언제 할 거예요?▶︎

eonje hal geoyeyo?

When will you do it?

그거 보고 싶어요?▶︎

geugeo bogo sipeoyo?

Do you want to see it?

그거 봐도 돼요?▶︎

geugeo bwado dwaeyo?

Can I see it?

그거 보고 싶어요.▶︎

geugeo bogo sipeoyo.

I want to see it.

이 영화 보고 싶어요.▶︎

i yeonghwa bogo sipeoyo.

I want to see this movie.

그거 보여요.▶︎

geugeo boyeoyo.

I can see it.

그거 안 보여요.▶︎

geugeo an boyeoyo.

I do not see it.

그거 갖고 싶어요.▶︎

geugeo gajgo sipeoyo.

I want it.

언제 볼 수 있어요?▶︎

eonje bol su isseoyo?

When can I see it?

여기 있고 싶어요.▶︎

yeogi itgo sipeoyo.

I want to stay here.

여기서 먹고 싶어요.▶︎

yeogiseo meokgo sipeoyo.

I want to eat here.

우리는 여기 머물고 있어요.▶︎

urineun yeogi meomulgo isseoyo.

We are staying here.

얼마나 걸릴 거예요?▶︎

eolmana geollil geoyeyo?

How long will it take?

알겠어요.▶︎

algesseoyo.

I understand.

이해가 안 돼요.▶︎

ihaega an dwaeyo.

I do not understand.

무슨 말인지 모르겠어요.▶︎

museun malinji moleugesseoyo.

I do not understand you.

이해돼요?▶︎

ihaedwaeyo?

Do you understand?

제 말 이해돼요?▶︎

je mal ihaedwaeyo?

Do you understand me?

제 말 이해할 수 있어요?▶︎

je mal ihaehal su isseoyo?

Can you understand me?

무슨 말인지 이해할 수가 없어요.▶︎

museun malinji ihaehal suga eobseoyo.

I cannot understand you.

죄송해요.▶︎

joesonghaeyo.

I am sorry.

죄송하지만 그건 갖고 싶지 않아요.▶︎

joesonghajiman geugeon gajgo sipji anhayo.

I am sorry, I do not want it.

그거 못 찾겠어요.▶︎

geugeo mot chajgesseoyo.

I cannot find it.

그거 어디서 찾을 수 있어요?▶︎

geugeo eodiseo chajeul su isseoyo?

Where do I find it?

그게 어디 있는지 모르겠어요.▶︎

geuge eodi issneunji moleugesseoyo.

I do not know where it is.

그거 찾고 싶어요.▶︎

geugeo chatgo sipeoyo.

I want to find it.

그게 어디 있는지 알아요?▶︎

geuge eodi issneunji alayo?

Do you know where it is?

그거 있어요.▶︎

geugeo isseoyo.

I have it.

음식이 있어요.▶︎

eumsigi isseoyo.

I have food.

물이 있어요.▶︎

muri isseoyo.

I have water.

차가 있어요.▶︎

chaga isseoyo.

I have a car.

그거 있어요?▶︎

geugeo isseoyo?

Do you have it?

그거 갖고 싶어요?▶︎

geugeo gajgo sipeoyo?

Do you want it?

왜 그게 없어요?▶︎

wae geuge eobseoyo?

Why do you not have it?

그거 줄게요.▶︎

geugeo julgeyo.

I will give it to you.

그거 저한테 줄 수 있어요?▶︎

geugeo jeohante jul su isseoyo?

Can you give it to me?

언제 받을 수 있어요?▶︎

eonje badeul su isseoyo?

When can I have it?

그거 필요해요.▶︎

geugeo pilyohaeyo.

I need it.

쉬어야 해요.▶︎

swieoya haeyo.

I need rest.

물이 필요해요.▶︎

muri pilyohaeyo.

I need water.

그거 필요 없어요.▶︎

geugeo pillyo eobseoyo.

I do not need it.

지금 그거 필요해요.▶︎

jigeum geugeo pilyohaeyo.

I need it now.

그거 필요해요?▶︎

geugeo pilyohaeyo?

Do you need it?

언제 필요해요?▶︎

eonje pilyohaeyo?

When do you need it?

제가 가져다줄 수 있어요.▶︎

jega gajyeodajul su isseoyo.

I can bring it.

가져다드릴까요?▶︎

gajyeodadeulilkkayo?

Should I bring it?

음식 가져다드릴까요?▶︎

eumsik gajyeodadeulilkkayo?

Should I bring food?

그거 가져다줄 수 있어요?▶︎

geugeo gajyeodajul su isseoyo?

Can you bring it?

물 가져다줄 수 있어요?▶︎

mul gajyeodajul su isseoyo?

Can you bring water?

몇 시에 가져다드릴까요?▶︎

myeot sie gajyeodadeulilkkayo?

At what time should I bring it?

몇 시에 가면 될까요?▶︎

myeot sie gamyeon doelkkayo?

At what time should I come?

몇 시에 필요하세요?▶︎

myeot sie pilyohaseyo?

At what time do you need it?

몇 시에 도착할 거예요?▶︎

myeot sie dochaghal geoyeyo?

At what time will you arrive?

얼마나 오래 있을 거예요?▶︎

eolmana orae isseul geoyeyo?

How long will you stay?

두 시간 있을 거예요.▶︎

du sigan isseul geoyeyo.

I will stay for two hours.

그거 해 주시겠어요?▶︎

geugeo hae jusigesseoyo?

Could you please do it?

그거 저 대신 해 주시겠어요?▶︎

geugeo jeo daesin hae jusigesseoyo?

Could you please do it for me?

할 말이 있어요.▶︎

hal mari isseoyo.

I want to tell you something.

언제 말해 줄 거예요?▶︎

eonje malhae jul geoyeyo?

When will you tell me?

말해 줬으면 해요.▶︎

malhae jwosseumyeon haeyo.

I want you to tell me.

거기 가고 싶어요.▶︎

geogi gago sipeoyo.

I want to go there.

어디 가고 싶어요?▶︎

eodi gago sipeoyo?

Where do you want to go?

거기 못 가요.▶︎

geogi mot gayo.

I cannot go there.

시간이 없어요.▶︎

sigani eobseoyo.

I have no time.

바빠요.▶︎

bappayo.

I am busy.

바빴어요.▶︎

bappasseoyo.

I was busy.

기다리고 있어요.▶︎

gidarigo isseoyo.

I am waiting.

잠깐 기다려 주시겠어요?▶︎

jamkkan gidaryeo jusigesseoyo?

Could you wait, please?

이거 사고 싶어요.▶︎

igeo sago sipeoyo.

I would like to buy this.

차를 사고 싶어요.▶︎

chareul sago sipeoyo.

I would like to buy a car.

그거 보고 싶어요.▶︎

geugeo bogo sipeoyo.

I would like to see it.

그거 하고 싶어요.▶︎

geugeo hago sipeoyo.

I would like to do it.

마음에 들어요.▶︎

maeume deuleoyo.

I like it.

마음에 안 들어요.▶︎

maeume an deuleoyo.

I don't like it.

이 음식이 좋아요.▶︎

i eumsigi joayo.

I like this food.

이 차가 좋아요.▶︎

i chaga joayo.

I like this car.

이거 비싸요.▶︎

igeo bissayo.

This is expensive.

이거 싸요.▶︎

igeo ssayo.

This is cheap.

그 사람은 예뻐요.▶︎

geu sarameun yeppeoyo.

She is beautiful.

이 차는 예뻐요.▶︎

i chaneun yeppeoyo.

This car is beautiful.

준비됐어요.▶︎

junbidwaesseoyo.

I am ready.

준비됐어요?▶︎

junbidwaesseoyo?

Are you ready?

곧 다 준비될 거예요.▶︎

got da junbidoel geoyeyo.

Everything will be ready soon.

가능해요.▶︎

ganeunghaeyo.

It is possible.

불가능해요.▶︎

bulganeunghaeyo.

It is impossible.

질문이 있어요.▶︎

jilmuni isseoyo.

I have a question.

질문 하나 드려도 될까요?▶︎

jilmun hana deulyeodo doelkkayo?

I would like to ask you a question.

여기 있어요.▶︎

yeogi isseoyo.

It is here.

여기 없어요.▶︎

yeogi eobseoyo.

It is not here.

그거 없어요.▶︎

geugeo eobseoyo.

I do not have it.

기분이 좋아요.▶︎

gibuni joayo.

I feel good.

기분이 어때요?▶︎

gibuni eottaeyo?

How do you feel?

서둘러야 해요.▶︎

seodulleoya haeyo.

I need to hurry.

서둘러 주실 수 있어요?▶︎

seodulleo jusil su isseoyo?

Can you hurry?

중요해요.▶︎

jungyohaeyo.

It’s important.

고장 났어요.▶︎

gojang nasseoyo.

It’s broken.

이 차는 고장 났어요.▶︎

i chaneun gojang nasseoyo.

This car is broken.