Dive in Korean

Topic guide

Korean Grammar Basics — Particles, Tense, and Negation

Textbooks scatter Korean grammar across dozens of disconnected lessons. This page collects the load-bearing pieces — the particles, endings, and patterns that show up in nearly every sentence — in the order that actually builds understanding.

Start with particles, add tense, then negation and wants. By the end you can build real sentences, not just recite rules.

  1. 01

    What Does 은/는 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 은/는 means in Korean with simple examples. Understand the Korean topic marker without complicated grammar terminology.

  2. 02

    What Does 이/가 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 이/가 means in Korean — the particle that identifies or emphasizes the subject — with real examples and a quiz.

  3. 03

    은/는 vs 이/가: What's the Difference?

    Confused about 은/는 and 이/가? Learn the difference with simple Korean examples and understand when each particle is used.

  4. 04

    What Does 을/를 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 을/를 means in Korean — the particle that marks the object of a verb — with real examples, common mistakes, and a quiz.

  5. 05

    에 vs 에서: What's the Difference in Korean?

    에 and 에서 both relate to place in Korean, but one marks destination/existence and the other marks where an action happens. Learn the difference with examples.

  6. 06

    What Does 도 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 도 means in Korean — the particle for 'also' and 'too' — including how it replaces 은/는/이/가/을/를 in a sentence.

  7. 07

    What Does 만 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 만 means in Korean — the particle for 'only' and 'just' — with examples and how it combines with other particles.

  8. 08

    Korean Particles: The Complete Beginner Guide

    A complete map of Korean particles for beginners — 은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서, 도, 만 — what each one does and how they work together in a sentence.

  9. 09

    Korean Sentence Structure Basics (SOV Order Explained)

    Learn the basics of Korean sentence structure — SOV order, why the verb always comes last, and how particles make word order flexible.

  10. 10

    What Does 하다 Mean? The Most Useful Verb in Korean

    Learn what 하다 (hada, 'to do') means in Korean and how it combines with nouns to create hundreds of verbs — study, work, love, exercise, and more.

  11. 11

    What Does 있다/없다 Mean in Korean?

    Learn what 있다 (issda) and 없다 (eopda) mean in Korean — exist/have and their opposite — used for possession, location, and abstract things like time.

  12. 12

    입니다 vs 이에요: Which 'To Be' Should You Use?

    입니다 and 이에요 both mean 'to be' in Korean, but at different politeness levels. Learn when to use each, plus 예요 and the casual 야/이야.

  13. 13

    Korean Present Tense: -아요/-어요 Explained

    Learn how Korean's polite present tense works — the -아요/-어요 verb ending — with the vowel rule and common irregulars, explained simply.

  14. 14

    Korean Past Tense: -았/-었 Explained

    Learn Korean past tense — the -았/-었 verb ending — using the same vowel rule as -아요/-어요, with clear examples and common irregulars.

  15. 15

    Korean Future Tense: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 Explained

    Learn Korean future tense with -(으)ㄹ 거예요 — the standard 'will/going to' pattern — with the batchim rule, examples, and common mistakes.

  16. 16

    안 vs 못: Two Ways to Say 'Not' in Korean

    안 and 못 both negate a verb in Korean, but 안 means 'don't/won't' by choice, while 못 means 'can't' due to inability. Learn the difference with examples.

  17. 17

    What Does -지 않다 Mean? Korean Negation Explained

    Learn the Korean -지 않다 negation pattern — the long form of 안 — with examples, how it compares to 안/못, and when each is more natural.

  18. 18

    What Does -고 싶다 Mean? Saying 'I Want To' in Korean

    Learn the Korean pattern -고 싶다 for 'want to' — verb stem + 고 싶어요 — with examples, the -고 싶어하다 twist for other people, and a quiz.

  19. 19

    -세요: The Polite Command Form Explained

    Learn the Korean -세요 ending — the polite command and request form you've already seen everywhere on this site, explained directly for the first time.

  20. 20

    Why Do Koreans Add 요 to Sentences?

    Learn why 요 shows up at the end of so many Korean sentences — the single syllable that marks polite speech, and what happens when you drop it.

  21. 21

    Korean Question Words: 누구, 언제, 어디, 얼마나

    Learn Korea's core question words — 누구 (who), 언제 (when), 어디 (where), 얼마나 (how much/long), and more — with examples for every one.

  22. 22

    Korean Honorific Verbs: 드시다, 계시다, 주무시다

    Learn Korean's irregular honorific verbs — 드시다 (eat), 계시다 (be/exist), 주무시다 (sleep) — that replace ordinary verbs entirely when speaking about elders.

  23. 23

    존댓말 Endings Reference Guide

    A quick-reference chart of Korean polite (존댓말) sentence endings — statements, questions, and commands — pulling together patterns from across this site.

  24. 24

    How Do You Say "You" in Korean? (Usually, You Don't)

    Learn why Korean avoids a direct 'you' — 너 is only for close or younger people, and 당신 can sound confrontational — and what Koreans say instead.

  25. 25

    나 vs 저: Korean's Two Words for "I"

    나 and 저 both mean 'I' in Korean — but 나 is casual banmal and 저 is the humble, polite form. Learn when each fits, plus their irregular subject-marker forms.

  26. 26

    몰라요 vs 잘 모르겠어요: Two Ways to Say "I Don't Know"

    몰라요 and 잘 모르겠어요 both mean 'I don't know,' but one can sound blunt and the other is the safer, softer default. Learn when to use each.

  27. 27

    들 (deul): How Korean Plurals Actually Work

    Korean's plural marker 들 (deul) works differently from English -s — it's often optional and frequently dropped. Learn when to use it and when to skip it.

  28. 28

    무슨 vs 어느 vs 어떤: Three Kinds of "What/Which"

    Korean has three question words where English has 'what' and 'which' — 무슨 (what kind), 어느 (which of a set), 어떤 (what sort). A three-way comparison with examples.

  29. 29

    좋다 vs 좋아하다: To Be Good vs To Like

    좋다 is an adjective ('to be good/pleasing') and 좋아하다 is a verb ('to like') — and swapping them flips your particles from 이/가 to 을/를. Explained simply.

  30. 30

    이따가 vs 있다가: The Pair Even Koreans Mix Up

    이따가 means 'a little later' while 있다가 means 'after staying somewhere' — a near-homophone pair that even native Koreans misspell. Here's how to tell them apart.

  31. 31

    기억하다 vs 기억나다: Two Ways to Remember

    기억하다 is actively remembering something; 기억나다 is a memory coming back on its own — and the difference changes which particle you use. Explained with examples.

  32. 32

    Korean Counters: 개, 명, 마리 and Friends

    Korean can't count nouns directly — you need counter words: 개 for things, 명 for people, 마리 for animals, 잔 for drinks. The full beginner set, explained.

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