Korean subject markers: 은, 는
Korean subject markers: 은, 는
If you add 은(used after consonants), 는(used after vowels), 이(used after consonants) or가(used after vowels) after a subject pronoun, the phrase turns into the subject form. Some subject pronouns have both polite and casual forms. Generally, subject markers은 and는 are more commonly used than the subject markers이 and가. This is because 은 and 는 are general subject markers explaining general facts or ideas, whereas 이 and 가 are supplementary subject markers.
Exercise 1) Add the subject maker 은 after the consonant ending subject pronouns, and 는 after the vowel ending subject pronouns in the table below.
|
Subjects |
Polite form |
Casual form |
|
I |
저 |
나 |
|
You |
당신 |
너 |
|
He |
그 |
그 |
|
She |
그녀 |
그녀 |
|
It |
그것 |
그것 |
|
We |
저희 |
우리 |
|
You (Plural) |
당신들 |
너희 |
|
They |
그들 |
그들 |
- The polite form of saying We (저희) is written as 저희, but is pronounced as 저히 as an exception.
- The casual form of saying the plural of You (너희) is written as 너희, but is pronounced as 너히 as an exception. Sometimes, we say 니네 for 너희 as well.
- 저는 can be shortened to 전.
- 나는 can be shortened to 난.
- 너는 can be shortened to 넌.
Making Sentences)
- I am a student.
저는 학생 이에요
I student am
- A sentence cannot finish with a noun and it must have a verb added at the end. Therefore, when a sentence contains a noun, it needs to be followed by the ‘To be’ verb (am, are, is) 이에요.
- When a sentence has the ‘To Be’ verb 이에요, we do not need to add markers after the noun.
- Usually the subject comes first in the sentence.
- The verb always goes at the end of the sentence.
- It is expensive. (비싸다 to be expensive)
그것은 비싸요
It expensive
- Since the sentence contains the adjective 비싸요, we do not need to add the ‘To Be’ verb 이에요. This is because the sentence is written in the Subject Adjective form.
- The ‘To Be’ verb (am, are, is) 이에요 is required only after a Noun. In other words, if the sentence finishes with an adjective or a general verb, the ‘To Be’ verb 이에요 is not required.
- Usually the subject comes first in the sentence.
- The adjective always goes at the end of the sentence.
Exercise 2) Apply the subject as in the given example ①.
① 저는 착해요. I am nice.
당신은 착해요. You are nice.
그는 착해요. He is nice.
그녀는 착해요. She is nice.
저희는 착해요. We are nice.
당신들은 착해요. You (plural) are nice.
그들은 착해요. They are nice.
② 저는 피곤해요. I am tired.
You are tired.
He is tired.
She is tired.
We are tired.
You (plural) are tired.
They are tired.
③ 저는 아파요. I am sick.
You are sick.
He is sick.
She is sick.
We are sick.
You (plural) are sick.
They are sick.
④ 저는 학생이에요. I am a student.
You are a student.
He is a student.
She is a student.
We are students.
You (plural) are students.
They are students.
⑤ 저는 괜찮아요. I am fine.
You are fine.
He is fine.
She is fine.
We are fine.
You (plural) are fine.
They are fine.
⑥ 저는 재미있어요 I am entertaining.
You are entertaining.
He is entertaining.
She is entertaining.
We are entertaining.
You (plural) are entertaining.
They are entertaining.
⑦ 저는 한국 사람이에요. I am Korean.
You are Korean.
He is Korean.
She is Korean.
We are Korean.
You (plural) are Korean.
They are Korean.
⑧ 저는 똑똑해요. I am smart.
You are smart.
He is smart.
She is smart.
We are smart.
You (plural) are smart.
They are smart.
⑨ 저는 잘 지내요. I am doing well.
You are doing well.
He is doing well.
She is doing well.
We are doing well.
You (plural) are doing well.
They are doing well.
⑩ 저는 바빠요. I am busy.
You are busy.
He is busy.
She is busy.
We are busy.
You (plural) are busy.
They are busy.
Exercise 3) Translate them into English
1. 저는 학생이에요. (학생 student, 이에요 am/are/is)
- When a noun ends with a consonant, the ‘To Be’ verb 이에요 is added after the noun.
→ .
2. 그는 의사예요. (의사 doctor, 예요 am/are/is)
- When a noun ends with a vowel, the ‘To Be’ verb 예요 is added after the noun.
→ .
3. 그녀는 아파요. (아프다to be sick → 아파요)
→ .
4. 영화는 재미있어요. (영화 movie, 재미있다 to be interesting → 재미있어요)
→ .
5. 비빔밥은 맛있어요. (비빔밥 Bibimbap, 맛있다 to be delicious → 맛있어요)
→ .
Exercise 4) Translate them into Korean
1. Pizza is delicious. (피자pizza, 맛있다to be delicious → 맛있어요)
→ .
2. He is a teacher. (선생님teacher)
→ .
3. They are students. (학생student)
→ .
4. She is sick. (아프다to be sick→ 아파요)
→ .
5. We are sad. (슬프다to be sad → 슬퍼요)
→ .
6. They are happy. (행복하다to be happy → 행복해요)
→ .