Korean - Subject Markers
The Korean Subject Marker is a grammatical particle used to identify the Subject of the sentence—the noun that is performing the action (verb) or being described (adjective).
The particle has two forms: 이 (i) and 가 (ga).
1. Forms and Usage
The choice between 이 and 가 depends on whether the preceding noun ends in a consonant or a vowel:
| Noun Ends In... | Use This Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consonant | 이 (i) | 책이 (chaek-i) | The book (is the subject) |
| Vowel | 가 (ga) | 의사가 (uisa-ga) | The doctor (is the subject) |
2. Core Functions of the Subject Marker
The subject marker (이/가) primarily serves two functions: Identification/New Information and Internal Clause Marking.
A. Identification and Highlighting (New Information)
The subject marker is used when the speaker is identifying who or what the subject is, often in response to a question or to introduce new, specific information. It places the focus on the subject itself.
-
Example 1 (Identification):
- 누가 왔어요? (Who came?)
- 선생님이 왔어요. (The teacher came.)
- (The sentence identifies the specific person—the teacher—who performed the action.)
-
Example 2 (Adjectives/Stative Verbs):
- 날씨가 좋아요.
- Nalssi-ga joayo.
- The weather is good.
- (The weather is the entity being described by the adjective 'good'.)
-
Example 3 (Existence/Possession):
- 돈이 있어요.
- Don-i isseoyo.
- I have money (Money exists).
- (The particle 이/가 is always used with 있다/없다 for what exists/is possessed.)
B. Marking the Subject in Subordinate/Internal Clauses
In complex sentences where there is a main clause and a smaller, internal (or subordinate) clause, 이/가 is almost always used to mark the subject of the internal clause.
- Example 4:
- 동생이 늦게 온 것을 몰랐어요.
- Dongsaeng-i neutge on geot-eul mollasseoyo.
- I didn't know that my little brother came late.
- ("동생이" is the subject of the internal clause "동생이 늦게 온 것" (that my brother came late)).
3. Distinction from the Topic Marker (은/는)
While both particles attach to nouns, they serve very different grammatical and communicative functions:
| Feature | Subject Marker (이/가) | Topic Marker (은/는) |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Marks the Subject (who/what is performing the action/being described). | Marks the Topic (what the sentence is about). |
| Focus | Focuses on the Specific Subject or New Information. | Sets the Context or provides Contrast/Comparison. |
| Question/Answer | Often used for the subject in questions and the answer that identifies the subject. | Typically used in the general statement after the initial topic is set. |
| Core Idea | "Who/What did/is this?" | "As for this thing/person..." |