The basic structures in Korean are “Subject+predicate” or “Subject+Object+Predicate.” There is a space between the subject, object, and the predicate, and sentences end with a period.

원빈오빠가subject 가요predicate. Won Bin oppa goes.

애슐리가subject 커피를object 마셔요 predicate. Ashley drinks coffee.

 

In Korean, a noun and subject marker(i.e.이/가) are placed together to indicate the subject of a sentence, and a noun and object marker (i.e. 을/를) are placed together to represent the object.

원빈오빠+가 가요 -> 원빈오빠가 가요.

애슐리+가 커피+를 마셔요. -> 애슐리가 커피를 마셔요.

 

멍멍이가 있어요.                              There is a puppy.

애슐리가 책을 읽어요                      Ashley reads a book.

원빈오빠가 밥을 먹어요.                 WonBin oppa eats meals.

 

In Korean, the predicate of a sentence is comprised of a verb and adjective. The stems of the verbs and adjectives are conjugated to indicate the past, present, and future tenses.

basic/dictionary form 가다    to go                            읽다    to read

Present form               가요                                        읽어요

Past tense                    갔어요                                                읽었어요

Future tense                갈 거예요/ 가겠어요             읽을 거예요/ 읽겠어요

 

In the above examples, 가다 and 읽다 are the basic forms of the verbs. From these, -어요/ -었/-을 거예요 or –겠are used to conjugate the verb and represent different tenses.

원빈오빠가 책을 읽다.                                             WonBin oppa reads a book.

원빈 오빠가 책을 읽어요.                                        WonBin oppa reads a book.

원빈 오빠가 책을 읽었어요.                                                WonBin oppa read a book.

원빈 오빠가 책을 읽을 거예요/ 책을 읽겠습니다.            WonBin oppa is going to read a book.ac

 

Reference

Cho, H. R. & Lee, J.Y. (2008). Practical Korean Basic 1. Seoul : Darakwon.

 

Written by Eun Kyeong Ashley Jang (Korean teacher)