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

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.

<Example 1>

• 날씨가 좋아요. (The weather is fine.)

<Example 2>

• 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

• Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (1): N이/가
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (2): N은/는
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Particles- (3): N을/를

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