Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (1): N이/가

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I. Examples

이/가 is a subject marker attached to a noun, making the noun function as the subject of the sentence. When a noun ends in a vowel, 가 is used, and when it ends in a consonant, 이 is used. Depending on the context, 이/가 can also be used to emphasize the subject itself.

날씨가 좋아요. (The weather is fine.)

옛날옛적에 공주가 살았어요.
(Once upon a time, there lived a princess.)

II. Grammar Point

1. Ending in Vowel + 가 / Ending in Consonant + 이

A. Vowel

친구가 바빠요.
(My friend is busy.)

학교가 가까워요.
(The school is nearby.)

커피가 너무 뜨거워요.
(The coffee is too hot.)

B. Consonant

방이 넓어요.
(The room is spacious.)

동생이 지금 자고 있어요.
(My younger sibling is sleeping right now.)

샘이 키가 거요.
(Sam is tall.)

2. Subject Marker

브라이언이 빵을 먹어요. (Brian eats bread)

우유가 비싸요. (The milk is expensive)

3. Emphasizing the Preceding Subject

누가 디저트 준비할 거에요?
(Who is going to prepare the dessert?)
준호가 디저트 준비할 거에요.
(Junho will do it.)
–> Junho, not anybody else, will do it.

누가 안 왔어요?
(Who is not here yet?)
레아랑 지수가 안 왔어요.
(Lea and Jisoo are not here yet.)
–> Everyone is here ,except Lea and Jisoo.

4. When Introducing a New Topic

옛날에 한 가족이 살았어요.
(Once upon a time, there lived a family

저기 지수가 와요.
(There, Jisoo is coming this way.)

5. 나 / 저 / 누가

<나 + 가 –> 내가>

내가 제이슨이에요. (I am Jason.)
나가 제이슨이에요. (X)

<저 + 가 –> 제가>

제가 할게요. (I will do it.)
저가 할게요. (X)

<누구 + 가 –> 누가>

누가 청소할래요? (Who will clean up?)
누구가 청소할래요? (X)

III. Practice

날씨___ 더워요.
김밥___ 맛있어요.
영화___ 재미없어요.
꽃___ 예뻐요.

IV. See More

https://learnkoreanwithoh.tistory.com/entry/%EC%A1%B0%EC%82%AC-%EC%9D%80%EB%8A%94-%EA%B3%BC-%EC%9D%B4%EA%B0%80%EC%9D%98-%EC%B0%A8%EC%9D%B4