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Korean - Grammar

I. Foundational Concepts

These are the essential building blocks of the language that should be mastered early.

Topic Key Concepts
Hangeul The Korean Alphabet (reading and writing) and basic pronunciation rules.
Sentence Structure Understanding the fundamental SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) word order.
Verb/Adjective Stems Identifying the base form of verbs/adjectives by dropping the dictionary ending (~다).
Politeness Levels The different speech styles: Formal (~습니다/~ㅂ니다), Polite (~요/~아요/~어요), and Casual (Plain Form).
Numbers Mastering the two distinct number systems: Sino-Korean and Native Korean.

II. Beginner Level Grammar (TOPIK I, Levels 1-2)

This stage focuses on simple sentence formation, basic conjugation, and core particles.

A. Core Particles (Postpositions)

Particles are suffixes that attach to nouns to indicate their role in the sentence.

  • Topic Marker: 은/는 (Eun/Neun)
  • Subject Marker: 이/가 (I/Ga)
  • Object Marker: 을/를 (Eul/Reul)
  • Location/Time: 에 (E) (e.g., at, in, to a place/time)
  • Activity Location: 에서 (Eseom) (e.g., doing something at a place)
  • Connection/And: 와/과, 하고, 랑/이랑 (Wa/Gwa, Hago, Rang/Irang)

B. Verb & Adjective Endings

  • Copula/Existence: 입니다/이에요/예요 (Is/Am/Are)
  • Existence/Possession: 있다 (To exist/have) and 없다 (To not exist/not have)
  • Basic Tenses: Present Tense (~아요/어요), Past Tense (았어요/었어요), Future Tense ((으)ㄹ 거예요)
  • Negative Forms: 안 () (Don't), 못 () (Can't), and ~지 않다
  • Requests & Suggestions: ~(으)세요 (Please do), ~(으)ㅂ시다 (Let's do)
  • Asking Questions: Question words (누구-who, 언제-when, 어디-where, 왜-why, 무엇-what, 어떻게-how)
  • Desire: ~고 싶다 (Want to ~)

C. Basic Connectors & Usage

  • Sequence/Listing: ~고 (and, and then)
  • Reason/Cause: ~아서/어서 (Because, so)
  • Contrast: ~지만 (But)
  • Simple Noun Modifiers: Verb/Adjective + ~(으)ㄴ/는/을 + Noun (e.g., the eating person, the pretty house)

III. Intermediate Level Grammar (TOPIK II, Levels 3-4)

This stage involves linking clauses, expressing complex thoughts (like obligation, intention, and indirect speech), and comparing similar structures.

A. Advanced Connectors & Conjunctions

  • Conditional: ~(으)면 (If, when)
  • Purpose/Intention: ~(으)러 (In order to go/come), ~(으)려고 (Intend to ~)
  • Reason/Suggestion: ~(으)니까 (Since, because ~, often used for suggestions/commands)
  • Background/Contrast: 는데/(으)ㄴ데 (Provides background, or "but/however")
  • Simultaneous Actions: ~(으)면서 (While doing ~)
  • Before/After: ~기 전에 (Before doing ~), ~(으)ㄴ 후에 (After doing ~)

B. Complex Verb Forms & Nuances

  • Obligation/Necessity: ~아/어야 하다/되다 (Must, have to)
  • Permission/Prohibition: ~아/어도 되다 (May, it's okay to), ~(으)면 안 되다 (Must not)
  • Hopes/Wishes: ~았/었으면 좋겠다 (I wish/hope)
  • Trying/Experience: ~아/어 보다 (To try doing ~)
  • Indirect Speech (Reported Speech): Quoting what others said, asked, or suggested (e.g., ~다고 하다, ~냐고 하다, ~자고 하다)
  • Passive & Causative Verbs: Learning how to express "to be done" (passive) or "to make someone do" (causative).

C. Modifiers & Expressions

  • Supposition/Guessing: ~(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (It seems like), ~(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 (It looks like)
  • Making Adverbs: ~게 (e.g., fast $\rightarrow$ fastly)
  • Honorifics: Using ~(으)시 in verb stems to show respect to the subject (e.g., 주무시다 instead of 자다).

IV. Advanced Level Grammar (TOPIK II, Levels 5-6)

This stage focuses on highly nuanced expressions, formal written forms, complex sentence structures, and subtle comparisons between similar grammar points.

A. Complex Expressive Endings

  • Strong Regret/Past Possibility: ~았/었어야 했는데 (Should have ~)
  • Contrast/Concession: ~기는 하지만 (It is ~ but), ~(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라 (Not only ~ but also)
  • Expressing Cause/Result: ~(으)로 인해 (Due to ~), ~는 바람에 (Because of ~, often for negative results)
  • Let Alone/Never Mind: ~기는커녕 (Let alone, not to mention)
  • Pretending/Assuming: ~(으)ㄴ/는 셈 치다 (To act as if, to assume)

B. Formal and Written Grammar

  • Noun $\rightarrow$ Verb Conversions: ~화 (e.g., 세계화 - globalization), ~적 (e.g., 경제적 - economic)
  • Abstract Noun Forms: ~는 데 (Normalization of a phrase for general meaning)
  • Quoting in Writing: Direct and indirect quoting for formal texts.

C. Distinction of Similar Grammar

  • Comparing Similar Meanings: The subtle differences between using ~다고요 and ~는다고요 (Reported speech).
  • Comparing Reason Markers: Nuanced usage differences between ~아/어서, ~(으)니까, ~기 때문에, and ~(으)로 인해.