Korean copula 이다

In this lesson, we will learn how to use the Korean copula 이다 (To Be Verb) in informal, polite, formal forms.

이다 verb is definitely one of the most common verbs in Korea.  Many of the Korean sentences end with this special verb called the COPULA.  

Grammar term is Korean affirmative copula. 

When “이다” is conjugated it becomes “이에요” or “예요”.  The copula is pronounced 이에요 after consonants and 예요 after vowels. 

AFTER	CONSONANTS	AFTER	VOWELS
선생이에요	It is a teacher	교수예요	It is a professor
책이에요	It is a book	잡지예요	It is a magazine
연필이에요	It is a pencil	종이예요	It is paper

The copula translates the English verb “to be” when it means it equals or it is.  For this reason, sentences ending with the copula are called EQUATIONAL SENTENCES.   

	Noun ending in	Dictionary Form
Present	Consonant	-이다
Tense	Vowel	-(이)다
Past	Consonant	-이었다
Tense	Vowel	-였다
Present	Consonant	-이 아니다
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니다
Past	Consonant	-이 아니었다
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니었다

이다 Present Tense

NOUN A	PARTICLE	NOUN B	BE VERB
다니엘	은	미국사람	이다
Daniel		an American	is
나	는	변호사	다
I		a lawyer	am

이다 Past Tense

NOUN A	PARTICLE	NOUN B	BE VERB
다니엘	은	회사원	이었다
Daniel		an office worker	was
나	는	의사	였다
I		a doctor	was

The copula is made negative by the word 아니, and the noun before the negative (but not before the affirmative) copula may appear as a subject.  Ex:  It may have the subject particle 이/가 after it.   

Present Negative

NOUN A	PARTICLE	NOUN B	BE VERB
이것	은	수입품	이 아니다
This thing		an import	is not
미나	는	남자	가 아니다
Mina		a boy	is not

Past Negative

NOUN A	PARTICLE	NOUN B	BE VERB
이것	은	수입품	이 아니었다
This thing		an import	was not
미나	는	남자	가 아니었다
Mina		a boy	was not

이다 is a dictionary form.  It means we don’t use it when we speak.  We use the dictionary form in a written form.  When we speak, we change the form.  We change it to informal form, polite form, formal form.  Let’s go over other forms. 

	Noun ending in	Informal
Present	Consonant	-이야
Tense	Vowel	-야
Past	Consonant	-이었어
Tense	Vowel	-였어
Present	Consonant	-이 아니야
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니야
Past	Consonant	-이 아니었어
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니었어

	Noun ending in	Polite (Informal)
Present	Consonant	-이에요
Tense	Vowel	-예요
Past	Consonant	-이었어요
Tense	Vowel	-였어요
Present	Consonant	-이 아니에요
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니에요
Past	Consonant	-이 아니었어요
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니었어요

	Noun ending in	Formal
Present	Consonant	-입니다
Tense	Vowel	-입니다
Past	Consonant	-이었습니다
Tense	Vowel	-였습니다
Present	Consonant	-이 아닙니다
Negative	Vowel	-가 아닙니다
Past	Consonant	-이 아니었습니다
Negative	Vowel	-가 아니었습니다