[Korean grammar] N이/가 Particle

날씨 종아요.
The weather is nice

옛날에 공주 있었어요.
A long time ago, there was a princess.

저기 재준 씨 와요.
There’s Jae-jun coming (this way).

Grammar Focus:
1. 이/가 is added to the end of a subject to designate it as the subject of the sentence. For words ending in a vowel, 가 is added, and for words ending in a consonant, 이 is added.

• 조엘 씨 빵을 먹어요. Joel eats bread.
• 과일 너무 비싸요. The fruit is too expensive.

2. 이/가 also functions to particularly emphasize the preceding subject.
A: 누가 음식 을 준비할 거 예요? Who’s going to prepare the food?
B: 준호 씨가 음식을 준비할 거 예요. Jun-ho will prepare the food.
(Meaning that Jun-ho, not anybody else, will do it.)

A: 누 안 왔어요? Who hasn’t arrived?
B: 요코 씨가 안 왔어요. Yoko hasn’t arrived.

3. It is used to express new information in a sentence, that is, the introduction of a new topic.
• 옛날에 한 남자 살았어요. 그 남자는 아이들이 두 명 있었어요.
Once upon a time, there lived a man. He had two sons.

• 저기 민우 씨 와요.
Min-u is coming this way.

Conversation:
A 누 제이슨 씨예요?  Which one is Jason?
B 저 사람 제이슨 씨예요. That person (over there) is Jason.

A 어디 아파요? Where does it hurt?
B 배 아파요. My stomach hurts.

A 넥타이 멋있어요. Your tie looks nice.
B 고맙습니다. Thank you.

When 가 is added to 나, 저 and 누구 they combine as follows:
나 + 가->
저+ 가->
누구 + 가->누가

See also  [Korean grammar] N이나/나 (1)

• 내가 리처드예요. I’m Richard.
나가 리처드예요. (X)

• 제가 할게요. I’ll do it.
저가 할게요. (X)

• 누가 청소하겠어요? Who will clean up?
누구가 청소하겠어요? (X)

Click below:
N이/가
N은/는
N을/를
N와/과, N(이)랑, N하고
N의
N에 ①
N에 ②
N에서
N에서 N까지, N부터 N까지
N에게/한테
N도
N만
N밖에
N(으)로
N(이)나①
N(이)나 ②
N쯤
N처럼, N같이
N보다
N마다

>> Full of ‘Korean grammar in use – Beginner’: Click here

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