Chapter 5 - How to indicate the subjects using 이/가 & 이, 그, 저

             " 이것은 사전입니까? "

이/가 & 이, 그, 저 – What’s the Difference?

안녕하세요, 여러분~ 😊

Welcome back to Korean class! If you’ve been learning Korean for a while, you’ve probably come across the particles 이/가 and the demonstratives 이, 그, 저. At first glance, they might look similar or even confusing, but don’t worry! Today, I’m going to explain them in a simple and easy-to-understand way, just like I would in a real classroom.

Both 이/가 and 이, 그, 저 are very commonly used in daily Korean conversation, and mastering them will help you sound more natural when speaking. Let’s take a closer look at what they are, how they’re different, and when to use them.

---

 

Dialogue

• Mari :     Is this a dictionary?
• Clerk :    Yes, it is a dictionary.
• Mari :     Then what is that?
• Clerk :    That is a textbook.
• 
  

이/가 – Subject Markers

In Korean, 이/가 are subject particles. That means they mark the subject of the sentence—the person or thing that is doing the action or being described.

• 이 is used after a noun ending in a consonant.

• 가 is used after a noun ending in a vowel.

 Examples:

• 사과가 맛있어요. → The apple is delicious.

• 학생이 공부해요. → The student is studying.

• 친구가 많습니다. →  I have a lot of friends.

When it is used with the personal pronouns 나, 너, 저 and the interrogative pronoun 누구,  it changes to '내가', '네가', '제가', or '누가'. 

 Examples:

• 나  →  내 + 가             내가 얘기했잖습니까?         I did say so.
• 저  →  제 + 가             제가 조이입니다.                 I am Joy.
• 너  →  네 + 가             네가 왜?                              Why you?
• 누구  → 누 + 가          누가 왔습니까?                   Who came?

Think of 이/가 as highlighters. They tell the listener, “Hey, this is the subject we’re talking about!”

---

이, 그, 저 – Demonstrative Words (This, That, That Over There)

Now, let’s talk about 이, 그, 저. These are like the Korean versions of this and that in English. They come before a noun and help show where something is in relation to the speaker and listener.

• 이 = This (something near the speaker)

• 그 = That (something near the listener or already mentioned)

• 저 = That over there (something far from both speaker and listener)

 Examples:

• 이 책 → This book (near me)

• 그 사람 → That person (near you or previously mentioned)

• 저 집 → That house (over there, far from both of us)

You can also add the subject particle 이/가 after the noun phrase:

• 이 책이 재미있어요. → This book is interesting.

• 저 사람이 의사예요. → That person over there is a doctor.

---

A lot of learners confuse 이 as a subject particle and 이 as “this.” The key is to look at what comes before and after.

• 책이 있어요. → Subject marker: There is a book.

• 이 책 → Demonstrative: This book

See the difference? 😊

                                                                     ~ The End ~

Connect with Wookie on 

Instagram

Threads