Learn Korean , Learn 한굴 by Hwal-wal

#Unit_Lessons 14: Subject Particle 이/가

~ Subject Particle 이/가

A subject particle 이/가 comes after a noun in order to indicate the subject of the sentence.

When 가 is followed by nouns such as 저, 나, 너 it becomes 제가, 내가, 네가.

이 - is used when the noun ends in a consonant and 가 - is used when the noun ends in a vowel.

Both subject markers and topic markers are used to indicate the person or thing that is main actor or element in the sentence. The difference between subject and topics in Korean represents a distinction not directly found in English, as such, knowing understanding the difference between subject markers and topic markers is difficult for beginning Korean language learners. There are some basic principles that govern the use of each.

· A subject marker is often attached to a noun that the speaker wishes to introduce into the conversation for the first time. It has no direct interpretation into English.

· A topic marker is generally attached to a noun that has already been established in the conversion. The noun X-는 can be interpreted “as for X,…”.

In a conversation that involves identifying people or things, the opening question often includes a noun with a subject marker. The corresponding response would mark the same entity with a topic marker. It’s already been established as part of the discourse.

· 이 것이 무엇이에요? [What is this (thing)?]

· 그 것은 책이에요. [That thing is a book.] (As for that thing, (it) is a book.)

In most of the sentences that you will encounter at this point, there will be either a subject or a topic. It’s much less common to find both types of particles in a single sentence. There is one important exception. A sentence that include the verb 아니다 – to not be.

· 이것은 책이 아니에요. [This thing is not a book.] (As for this thing, (it) is not a book.)

· 이것은 냉장고가 아니에요. [This is not a refrigerator.] (As for this thing, (it) is not a refrigerator.)

Knowing exactly when to use one as opposed to the other takes time and experience.

Example: 1. 가: 사무실이 어디입니까? (Where is the office?) 나: 저기입니다. (There.)

2. 가: 여기가 기숙사입니까? (Is this the dormitory?) 나: 네, 기숙사입니다. (Yes, this is the dormitory.)

3. 가: 저기가 슈퍼마겟입니까? (Is that the supermarket?) 나: 아니요, 편의점입니다. (No, It's a Convenience Store.)

+ 사무실 - Office + 어디 - Where + 기숙사 - Dormitory + 슈퍼마겟 - Supermarket + 편의점 - Convenience Store.