Learning a new language has many benefits, such as boosting your brain power and improving your understanding of the world. To master any language, you must have a good foundation of basic grammar knowledge. 

Once you master the basic Korean grammar rules, communication and many other aspects of the language will become a lot easier for you. Grammar is the foundation of effective communication, so let’s make sure that you gain a good understanding of the basic Korean grammar rules today! As you continue in your language studies, feel free to refer back to this Korean grammar overview to keep your skills sharp.

Table of Contents

1. Before We Start: General Korean Grammar Rules
2. Special Grammar Point 1: Word Order and Sentence Structure
3. Special Grammar Point 2: Tenses
4. Special Grammar Point 3: Simplifying Pronouns and Plurals
5. Special Grammar Point 4: Korean Particles
6. Want to Learn Even More Korean Grammar Rules? We Can Help!

1. Before We Start: General Korean Grammar Rules 

To begin, we’ll look at a couple of Korean grammar topics that are fairly simple but absolutely crucial to your language studies. We’ll be covering these a bit more throughout the article, but we wanted to introduce them to you here. 

1) Word Order 

As a Korean learner, you’ll quickly learn that English and Korean have a different word order and sentence structure. For example, English sentences follow this basic structure:

SUBJECT (S) + VERB (V) + OBJECT (O)

But in Korean grammar, sentences follow this basic structure, with the verb at the end:

SUBJECT (S) + OBJECT (O) + VERB (V)

Since the object comes right after the subject, you’ll have to listen to every word in a sentence to understand the meaning and the context.

 2) Tenses 

Did you know that Korean tenses are a lot simpler than those in English? In Korean, there are only three tenses: past, present, and future. In comparison, English has these tenses as well as the present progressive and present perfect. 

You’ll notice that many Korean students who are learning English struggle to understand the concept of present progressive and present perfect since we only use three tenses in Korea.

2. Special Grammar Point 1: Word Order and Sentence Structure

Here’s a short list of basic sentence structures you may want to memorize. Learning these now will make the rest of your studies go a lot smoother. 

SUBJECT + NOUN SUBJECT + VERB SUBJECT + ADJECTIVE SUBJECT + OBJECT + VERB

1) SUBJECT + NOUN

The S + N word order is very similar to its English counterpart, and is used to say that the subject is something. While in English, we use the word “is” to make the association, in Korean, we simply put the words next to each other and add 이다 (ida)—the Korean positive copula—to the end of the second noun.

Here are some examples.

• 조쉬는 학생이다. (Joswineun hagsaengida.) – “Josh is a student.”
• 레슬리는 변호사이다. (Leseullineun byeonhosaida.) – “Leslie is a lawyer.”
• 연아는 한국인이다. (Yeonaneun hanguginida.) – “Yeona is Korean.”

2) SUBJECT + VERB

You’ll learn how to use the past, present, and future tenses in the next section, so for now let’s focus on the present tense of S + V.

• 효선은 요리한다. (Hyoseon-eun yorihanda.) – “Hyosun cooks.”
• 주현은 먹어요. (Juhyeoneun meogeoyo.) – “Juhyung eats.”
• 카오린은 자요. (Kaorineun jayo.) – “Kaorin sleeps.”
• 폴은 달려요. (Poreun dalryeoyo.) – “Paul runs.”

Keep in mind that verbs don’t conjugate for person or number. In English, there has to be an “s” at the end of “cooks” since the subject is third person. You don’t need to think about this in Korean because we don’t have this feature. All verb forms are used the same way regardless of the subject.

3) SUBJECT + ADJECTIVE

In Korean grammar, adjectives can also be used as verbs and can therefore change depending on the tense. For example, 예뻐요 (yeoppeoyo) is a word used to say that something is “pretty,” and if you want to say that something “was pretty,” then the word changes to 예뻤어요. (yeppeotseoyo). 

You’ll learn about the tenses in the next section, so for now, let’s focus only on the present tense form of adjectives:

• 민경은 예뻐요. (Mingyeongeun yeppeoyo.) – “Minkyung is pretty.”
• 미키는 작아요. (Mikineun jagayo.) – “Miki is small.” 
• 날씨가 좋아요. (Nalssiga joayo.) – “The weather is nice.” 

Want to learn new adjectives to practice with? Check out our article “The Top 100 Korean Adjectives You Must Know” and practice the S + A grammar rule with your favorites! 

4) SUBJECT + OBJECT + VERB

This S + O + V grammar rule is very important because it’s used every day and mastering it will immediately make your conversations much smoother. Here are some examples of how to use this pattern in the present tense:

• 조쉬가 사과를 먹어요. (Joswiga sagwaleul meogeoyo.) – “Josh eats an apple.”
• 토끼가 건초를 먹어요. (Tokkiga geoncholeul meogeoyo.) – “A rabbit eats hay.”
• 친구가 설거지를 해요. (Chinguga seolgeojireul haeyo.) – “A friend washes dishes.”

3. Special Grammar Point 2: Tenses

Korean tenses aren’t that complicated, especially when compared to those in English. In Korean grammar,  tenses are categorized as past, present, and future. Keep in mind, though, that there are two tense systems—absolute tense and relative tense—which you might want to have a look at after mastering the basic three Korean tenses. 

1. PAST TENSE

Here’s the rule for constructing a past tense sentence in Korean:

verb/adjective stem  + 아/어 + ㅆ + closing end

For example:

• 먹다 (meokda), “to eat” -> 먹었다 (meogeotda) – written / 먹었어 (meogeosseo) – spoken
  • 먹 + 어 (eo) + ㅆ + 다 (da)
• 받다 (batda), “to receive” -> 받았다 (badatda) / 받았어 (badasseo)
  • 받 + 아 (a) + ㅆ + 다 (da)
• 앉다 (anta), “to sit” -> 앉았다 (anjatda) / 앉았어 (anjasseo).
  • 앉 +아 (a) + ㅆ + 다 (da)
• 예쁘다 (yeppeuda), “to be pretty” -> 예뻤다 (yeppeotda) / 예뻤어요 (yeppeosseoyo) – polite form
  • 예 + 뻐 (ppeo) + ㅆ + 다 (da)
• 있다 (itda), “to be” -> 있었다 (isseotda) / 있었어요 (isseosseoyo) – polite form
  • 있 (it) + 어 (eo) + ㅆ + 다 (da)

2) PRESENT

Here’s the rule for constructing a present tense sentence in Korean:

verb stem + ㄴ + closing end

For example:

• 가다 (gada), “to go” -> 간다 (ganda) – written / 갔어 (gatseo) – spoken
  • 가 (ga) + ㄴ + 다 (da)
• 먹다 (meokda), “to eat” ->먹는다 (meongneunda) / 먹어 (meogeo)
  • 먹 (meok) + ㄴ+ 다 (da)

You don’t need to change adjectives for the present tense.

• 예쁘다 (yeppeuda), “to be pretty” -> 예쁘다 (yeppeuda)
• 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad” -> 나쁘다 (nappeuda)
• 무섭다. (museopda), “to be scary” -> 무섭다 (museopda)

3) FUTURE

verb/adjective stem + 겠 + closing end

For example: 

• 가다 (gada) -> 가겠다 (gagetda) – written / 가겠어 (gagesseo) – spoken
  • 가 (ga) + 겠 (get) + 다 (da)
• 먹다 (meokda) -> 먹겠다 (meoggessda) / 먹겠어 (meoggesseo)
  • 먹 (meok) + 겠 (get) + 다 (da)
• 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) -> 예쁘겠다 (yeppeugetda) / 에쁘겠어 (yeppeugesseo)
  • 예쁘 (yeppeu) + 겠 (get) + 다 (da)
• 나쁘다 (nappeuda) -> 나쁘겠다 (nappeugetda) / 나쁘겠어 (nappeugesseo)
  • 나쁘 (nappeu) + 겠 (get) + 다 (da)

1. PAST

Verb form:

verb stem + (으)ㄴ

Example:

• 가다 (gada), “to go” -> 간 (gan)
  • 가 (ga) + ㄴ
• 먹다 (meokda), “to eat” -> 먹은 (meogeun)
  • 먹 (meok) + ㄴ
• 오다 (oda) “to come” -> 온 (on)
  • 오 (o) + ㄴ
• 받다 (batda) “to receive” -> 받은 (badeun)
  • 받 (bat) + ㄴ

Adjective form:

adjective stem + (아/어)ㅆ던

Examples: 

• 예쁘다 (yeppeuda), “to be pretty” -> 예뻤던 (yeppeutdeon)
  • 예 (ye) + 뻐 (ppeo) + ㅆ + 던 (deon)
• 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad” -> 나빴던 (nappattdeon)
  •  나 (na) + 빠 (ppa) + ㅆ + 던 (deon) 

Phrase examples: 

• 철수가 먹은 사과 (Cheolsuga meogeun sagwa) – “An apple that Cheolsu ate“
• 수미가 받은 소포 (Sumiga badeun sopo) – “A parcel that Sumi received” 

2. PRESENT

Verb form:

verb stem + 는

Examples:

• 가다 (gada), “to go” -> 가는 (ganeun)
  • 가 (ga) + 는 (neun)
• 먹다 (meokda), “to eat” -> 먹는 (meogneun)
  • 먹 (meok) + 는 (neun)
• 자다 (jada), “to sleep” -> 자는 (janeun)
  • 자 (ja)  + 는 (neun)

Adjective form:

adjective stem + (으)ㄴ

Examples: 

• 예쁘다 (yeppeuda), “to be pretty” -> 예쁜 (yeppeun)
  • 예 (ye) + 쁘 (peu) + ㄴ 
• 좋다 (jota), “to be good” -> 좋은 (joeun)
  • 좋 (joh) + ㄴ
• 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad” -> 나쁜 (nappeun)
  • 나쁘 (nappeu) + ㄴ

Phrase examples:

• 지금 나오는 음악 (jigeum naoneun eumak) – “The music that plays now“
• 수미가 듣는 음악 (sumiga deudneun eumak) – “The music that Sumi is listening to“

3. FUTURE

Verb and adjective form:

verb/adjective stem + (으)ㄹ

Example: 

• 가다 (gada), “to go” -> 갈 (gal)
  • 가 (ga) + ㄹ
• 먹다 (meokda), “to eat” -> 먹을 (meogeul)
  • 먹 (meok) + ㄹ
• 예쁘다  (yeppeuda), “to be pretty” -> 예쁠 (yeppeul)
  • 예쁘 (yeppeu) + ㄹ
• 좋다 (jota), “to be good” -> 좋을 (joeul)
  •   좋 (joh) + ㄹ
• 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad” -> 나쁠 (nappeul)
  • 나쁘 (nappeu) + ㄹ

Phrase examples: 

• 내가 먹을 라면 (naega meogeul ramyeon) – “The ramen that I will eat“
• 내가 갈 학교 (naega gal hakgyo) – “The school I will go to“

4. Special Grammar Point 3: Simplifying Pronouns and Plurals 

Now let’s take a look at how to make a singular noun plural:

• 국가 (gukga), “a country” / 국가 (gukga), “countries” 
• 호수 (hosu), “a lake” /  호수들 (hosudeul), “lakes”
• 언어 (eoneo), “a language” / 언어들 (eoneodeul), “languages” 
• 여자 (yeoja), “woman” / 여자들 (yeojadeul), “women” 
• 남자 (namja), “man” /  남자들 (namjadeul), “men”  

While some plural forms are the same as the singular forms, most words require that you add 들 (deul) to the end. 

By the way, Wikipedia has some useful information on how to use 들 (deul) with personal pronouns. Check it out!

5. Special Grammar Point 4: Korean Particles

You may find Korean particles tricky because there is nothing like them in the English language, and they therefore cannot be translated. But the good news is that they’re easy to learn! Here are the basic particles that you must master. 

Subject: 는 (neun) or 은 (eun)

These particles are placed after a word to indicate that it is the subject of a sentence. The rule that you need to remember is very simple: 

• If the subject’s last syllable ends in a vowel, use 는 (neun).
• If the subject’s last syllable ends in a consonant, use 은 (eun).

Examples:

1. Subject’s last syllable ends in a vowel: 

토끼는 바나나를 먹는다. (Tokkineun bananaleul meogneunda.) – “A rabbit eats a banana.”
철수는 사과를 먹는다. (Cheolsuneun sagwaleul meogneunda.) – “Cheolsu eats an apple.”

2. Subject’s last syllable ends in a consonant:

소연은 밥을 먹는다. (Soyeoneun babeul meogneunda.) – “Soyeon eats some rice.”
효선은 청소를 한다. (Hyoseoneun cheongsoreul handa.) – “Hyosun cleans the house.”

Check out our forum on the topic and read what others have said about it. 

Object: 를 (reul) or 을 (eul) 

These particles are placed after a word to indicate that it is the object of a sentence. The rule that you need to remember is: 

• If the last syllable of the object ends in a vowel, use 를 (reul).
• If the last syllable of the object ends in a consonant, use 을 (eul).

Examples:

1. Object’s last syllable ends in a vowel:

토끼는 바나나를 먹는다. (Tokkineun bananaleul meogneunda.) – “A rabbit eats a banana.”
철수는 사과를 먹는다. (Cheolsuneun sagwareul meogneunda.) – “Cheolsu eats an apple.”

2. Object’s last syllable ends in a consonant:

소연은 밥을 먹는다. (Soyeoneun babeul meogneunda.) – “Soyeon eats some rice.”
강아지는 물을 마신다. (Gangajineun mureul masinda.) – “A dog drinks water.”

Check out our forum page “About OBJECT PARTICLE – 을 [eul] / 를 [reul]” and learn more. 

Want to practice using more particles and conjunctions? Check out our article “Korean Conjunctions List: Essential Korean Conjunctions“!

6. Want to Learn Even More Korean Grammar Rules? We Can Help!

You learned a lot of Korean grammar rules in this article. I hope you’re not too overwhelmed! Learning a language takes time, so don’t pressure yourself by trying to learn everything in one go. Take your time to understand each grammar rule and practice it by writing a Korean diary or talking with a native Korean speaker. 

Here are some recommendations for your further studies:

• Basic Korean Grammar
• Introduction to Korean Grammar
• Absolute Beginner Season 1
• Absolute Beginner Season 2
• Introduction to Korean

Do you have a question about anything we covered today? Feel free to leave us a comment or contact us. 

Good luck with your studies!