Korean Grammar Special Markers: 이, 가

YunJong - Wed, 01/20/2021 - 19:54

Korean Grammar Special Markers: 이, 가

For the following specific cases we use special markers: 이 and가 are used instead of 은 and는. If you add 이(used after consonants) or가(used after vowels) after a subject pronoun, the phrase changes to take on the subject form.

Exercise 1) Add 이 after the consonant ending subject pronouns, and 가 after the vowel ending subject pronouns in the table below.

Subjects	Polite form	Casual form
I	*	*
You (Singular)	당신	*
He	그	그
She	그녀	그녀
It	그것	그것
We	저희	우리
You (Plural)	당신들	너희
They	그들	그들

When combining the supplementary subject marker 가 with 저 (polite form of I), we get 제가 instead of 저가. Likewise, in the case of 나 (casual form of I), we get 내가 instead of 나가.

* 저가 (x) 제가 (o)

* 나가 (x) 내가 (o)

* 너가 (x) 네가 (o)

We say 네가 as 니가 because 네가 and 내가 are pronounced in almost the exact same way. 네가 is pronounced as [nega] and 내가 is pronounced as [naega].

1. 이 and 가 are used when the sentence is related to weather.

1) The Weather is cold. (춥다 to be cold)

날씨가 추워요.

Weather cold

The adjective 추워요goes at the end of the sentence since adjective always goes at the end of the sentence.

When describing the weather, we use the subject marker 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels).

Since 날씨 ends with a consonant, we add the subject marker 가.

2) It rains. (오다 to come)

비가 와요.

Rain comes

The verb 와요 goes at the end of the sentence.

When describing the weather, we use the subject suffix 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels).

Since the subject비 ends with a vowel, we add the subject marker 가.

2. If we use이 or 가 as a subject marker, we emphasize the subject whearas for 은 or 는, the important information is present after the subject.

1) Q 뭐가 재미있어요? What is interesting?

What interesting?

A 한국어가 재미있어요. It is the Korean that is interesting.

It is the Korean interesting

한국어가 재미있어요 means “It is the Korean that is interesting.” whereas,

한국어는 재미있어요 means “Korean is interesting.”

The adjective 재미있어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

If a sentence defines the answer to a question, 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels) is used as the subject marker.

2) Q 누가 눈사람을 만들어요? Who makes a snowman?

Who make a snowman?

A 제가 눈사람을 만들어요. It is I who makes a snowman.

It is I make a snowman

저는 눈사람을 만들어요 means “I make a snowman.” whereas,

제가 눈사람을 만들어요 means “It is I who makes a snowman.”

The verb 만들어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

If a sentence defines the answer to a question, 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels) is used as the subject marker.

3) Q 당신의 이름이 뭐예요? What is your name?

Your name what is it?

A 제 이름은 새뮤얼이에요. My name is Samuel.

My name Samuel

제 이름은 새뮤얼이에요 means “My name is Samuel.” whereas,

제 이름이 새뮤얼이에요 means “It is me who goes by the name of Samuel.”

The ‘To Be’ verb 이에요 goes at the end of the sentence.

If the answer is a general statement or a fact, the subject marker 은 or 는 is used. For example “My name is Samuel”.

If you want to emphasize the subject, the subject marker 이 or 가 is used. For example, “It is me who goes by the name of Samuel.”

3. Special vocabularies such as 아니다, 있다, 없다 that require 이 and 가 as subject, direct object or complement markers.

3-1. 이 or 가 is used if the negation of the ‘To Be’ verb

(which is아니에요) is present within the sentence.

In this case, 이 and 가 are the Complement markers used in negation.

1) I am not a student. (학생 student)

저는 학생이 아니에요.

I student am not

The negation of the ‘To Be’ verb 아니에요 goes at the end of the sentence.

With 아니에요, either 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels) is added after the complement. Therefore 이 and 가 are the complement markers within a 아니에요 sentence.

2) We are not singers. (가수 singer)

저희는 가수가 아니에요.

We singers are not

The negation of the ‘To Be’ verb 아니에요 goes at the end of the sentence.

With 아니에요, either 이 (used after consonants) or 가 (used after vowels) is added after the complement. Therefore 이 and가 are the complement markers within a 아니에요 sentence.

3-2. 이 or 가 is used when the verb있다 or 없다 is present within the sentence and when it translates into either “exist” “there is/are”, “have”, “don’t exist”, “there is/are not” or “don’t have” respectively.

* 이 and 가 are used as the Subject markers, when either the verb있다(to exist (or) there is/are) or 없다(to not exist (or) there is/are not) is present within the sentence and when the verb translates into “exist”, “there is/are”, “don’t exist” or “there is/are not” respectively.

1) There is a book on the desk. (책상 desk, 책상에 on the desk)

책이 책상에 있어요.

A book on the desk exist

The verb 있어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

The subject marker 이 is used because the subject 책 ends with a consonant and because the verb 있어요 translates to “exist” within the sentence,

Since 책상 has its location indicated, and because it is with an adjective or verb that describe status, the location marker 에 is used. In this given sentence, 에 is used because the verb 있어요 describes the status of the subject. Another location marker에서, meaning “in”, or “at”, is used with action verbs.

2) There is no book on the desk.

책이 책상에 없어요.

A book on the desk to not exist

The verb 없어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

The subject marker 이 is used because the subject 책 ends with a consonant and because the verb 없어요 translates to “not exist” within the sentence.

3) We are at school. (학교에 at school, 있다 to exist/to stay)

저희는 학교에 있어요.

We at school stay

The verb 있어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

The subject marker 는 is used because the subject 저희 ends with a vowel and because the verb있어요 translates to “stay” within the sentence.

Since 학교 has its location indicated, and because it is with an adjective or verb that describe status, the location marker 에 is used. In this given sentence, 에 is used because the verb 있어요 describes the status of the subject. Another location marker에서, meaning “in”, or “at”, is used with action verbs.

4) We are not at school. (학교에 at school, 없다 to not exist)

저희는 학교에 없어요.

We at school don’t stay

The verb 없어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

The subject marker 는 is used because the subject 저희 ends with a vowel and because the verb 없어요 translates to “don’t stay” within the sentence.

* 이 or 가 are used as Direct Object Markers when either the verb있다(to have) or the verb없다(to not have) is present within the sentence.

1) I have a cat. (고양이 cat)

저는 고양이가 있어요.

I a cat have

The verb 있어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

When the verb 있어요 translates to the verb “have” within the sentence, 가 is used as the direct object marker for the vowel ending direct object고양이.

2) I don’t have a cat.

저는 고양이가 없어요.

I a cat don’t have

The verb 없어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

When the verb 없어요 translates to the verb “to not have” within the sentence, 가 is used as the direct object marker for the vowel ending direct object 고양이.

3) He has a bag. (bag 가방)

그는 가방이 있어요.

He a bag has

The verb 있어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

가방 is the direct object within the sentence containing the 있어요 verb “to have”. Therefore, with the 있어요 verb present within the sentence, 이 is used as the direct object marker for the consonant ending object 가방.

4) He doesn’t have a bag.

그는 가방이 없어요.

He a bag don’t have

The verb 없어요 goes at the end of the sentence.

가방 is the direct object within the sentence containing the 없어요 verb “to not have”. Therefore, with the 없어요 verb present within the sentence, 이 is used as the direct object marker for the consonant ending object 가방.

3-3. Other words that require 이 and 가 as subject, direct object or complement markers.

1) 비싸다 to be expensive

ex) 물가가 (subject marker)비싸요. The living expense is expensive.

Living expense

2) 싸다 to be cheap

ex) 음식이 (subject marker)싸요. The food is cheap.

3) 많다 to be many/ to be much

ex) 여기에 사람이 (subject marker)많아요. There are many people here.

ex) 그들은 친구가(subject marker) 많아요. They have many friends.

4) 적다 to be few/ to be little

ex) 여기에 사람이(subject marker) 적어요. There are few people here.

ex) 그들은 친구가(subject marker) 적어요. They have few friends.

5) 걸리다 to take time

ex) 시간이 (subject marker) 걸려요. It takes time.

6) 나다 to appear

ex) 그녀는 배탈이(subject marker) 났어요. She has stomachache.

Stomachache appeared

7) 아프다 to be sick

ex) 그는 배가(subejct marker) 아파요. He has stomach ache.

Stomach sick

8) 좋다 to be good

ex) 저는 이 음악이(subject marker) 좋아요. This music is good for me. (or) I like this music.

9) 싫다 to be hateable

ex) 저는 너무 더운 날씨가(subject marker) 싫어요.

Very hot weather is hateable for me. (or) I hate very hot weather.

10) 밉다 to be hateable

ex) 저는 당신이(subject marker) 미워요. I hate you.

11) 필요하다 to need

ex) 그는 연필이(direct object marker) 필요해요. He needs a pencil.

12) 되다 to become

ex) 그녀는 선생님이(complement marker) 됐어요. She became a teacher.

4. 이 or 가 is used as a subject marker within a “that” clause, playing a role as a secondary subject in a whole sentences.

1) 그들은 [그 사람이 착하다고] (말)했어요. They said [that the man was nice].

…다고 (말)했어요 = said that… (“…” is the infinitive stem of the adjective)
They “그들” is the principal subject in the sentence, and the person “그 사람” is the secondary subject; therefore, 이 is used as the subject marker within the “that” clause.

2) 그는 [그녀가 조용하다고] 생각해요. He thinks [that she is quiet].

…다고 생각해요 = I think that … (“…” is the infinitive stem of adjective)
He “그” is the principal subject within the sentence, and she “그녀” is the secondary subject; therefore, 가 is used as the subject marker within the ‘that” clause.

Exercise 2) Translate the sentences into English and vice versa.

1. 날씨가 추워요. (날씨 weather 춥다 to be cold)

→ .

2. 고양이가 있어요. (고양이 cat, 있다 to exist, to have)

→ .

3. 저는 고양이가 없어요. (고양이 cat, 없다 to not exist, to not have)

→ .

4. 책이 있어요. (책 book, 있다 to exist, to have)

→ .

5. 그는 책이 있어요. (책 book, 있다 to have, to exist)

→ .

6. 저는 동생이 없어요. (동생 younger sibling, 없다 to not have, to not exist)

→ .

7. Do you have a Korean friend? (한국 친구 Korean friend, 있다 to have, to exist)

→ .

8. What is his phone number? (전화 phone, 번호 number, 뭐예요? What is it?)

→ .

9. What is her major? (전공 major)

→ .

10. When is your girlfriend’s birthday? (여자친구 girlfriend, 생일 birthday, 언제예요? When is it?)

→ .

11. It snows. (눈 snow)

→ .

12. I am not a student.

→ .

13. Q. 누가 학교에 가요?

A. 그녀 학교에 가요.

14. There are a lot of people at the coffee shop. (커피숍에 at the coffee shop)

→ .

15. I have a headache. (머리 head)

→ .

16. I need a pencil and notebook. (연필 pencil, 공책 notebook, 과 = 하고 = 이랑 with (or) and)

→ .

17. She became a mother.

→ .

18. I think that he is smart.

→ .

19. He said that they are kind. (친절하다 to be kind)

→ .

20. I think that she is sad.

→ .

Exercise 3) Translate the sentences into Korean.

1. There is an apple. (사과 apple, 있다 there is/ there are)

→ .

2. What is this? (뭐 what, 예요 ‘To Be’ verb, 이것 this, 이것이 = 이게)

→ .

3. The weather is hot (덥다 → 더워요 hot, 날씨 weather)

→ .

4. He doesn't have a book. (없다 → 없어요 don’t have, 책 book)

→ .

5. She has a younger sibling. (동생 younger sibling, have 있다 → 있어요)

→ .

6. You are not students. (학생 student)

→ .

7. It rains. (비 rain)

→ .

8. I need a book.

→ .

9. She became a dentist. (치과 의사 dentist)

→ .

10. They have many children. (아이들 children, 많이 a lot)

→ .

11. I think that they are happy because they can eat delicious food. (~서 because~ (or) …니까 because… (or) …기 때문에 because...)

→ .

12. They think that she is smart because she can speak many languages. (많은 언어 many language, ~서 because~ (or) …니까 because… (or) …기 때문에 because...)

→ .

13. I heard that he was glad because he met his best friend. (절친 best friend, 기쁘다 to be glad, ~서 because~ (or) …니까 because… (or) …기 때문에 because...)

→ .

14. She said that he was tired yesterday because he couldn't sleep well. (~서 because~ (or) …니까 because… (or) …기 때문에 because...)

→ .

15. He said that she is busy because she is working in daytime and studying at night. (낮에 in daytime, 밤에 at night)

→ .

16. She thinks that he is tired.

→ .

17. I think that the students are kind. (친절하다 to be kind)

→ .

REVIEW

1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate markers, chosen from the list below.

<이, 가>

1) 날씨 추워요. The weather is cold.

2) 저는 고양이 있어요. I have a cat.

3) 당신 애완동물 없어요. You don’t have a pet.

4) 그녀 전화 번호 뭐예요? What is her phone number?

5) 당신 이름 뭐예요? What is your name?

6) 비 와요. It rains.

7) 날씨 더워요. The weather is hot.

8) 그 생일 언제예요? When is his birthday?

9) 저는 그들 친절하다고 생각해요. I think that they are kind.

10) 그는 그녀 일하고 있다고 들었어요. He heard that she is working.

2. Translate them into Korean.

1) When is her birthday? (when 언제, birthday 생일)

2) What is your name?

3) He is not at home.

4) She is at a school.

5) I need a new cell phone. (새로운 new, 핸드폰 cell phone)

6) This is the restaurant that is expensive. (식당 restaurant, ***hint: emphasis on the subject)

7) It rains.

8) It snows in winter. (겨울에 in winter)

9) They need tools. (공구 tools)

10) She became rich. (부자 rich)

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