Korean Infinitives (Vowel-base Verbs)

In today’s lesson, we will continue learning the common verbs in the infinitive form. Previously we learned the Consonant-base verbs, and this week, we will learn the second major type of Korean verbs which involves bases that end with a vowel. Vowel-base verbs are unfortunately somewhat more complex.  

Korean Infinitives (Consonant-base Verbs)

In the following series, I will introduce you to many different verbs.  We will learn the common verbs in the infinitive form.  Learning the Korean infinitive is important because the infinitive has a great many uses of its own, and in addition it is what the past tense is based on.   

K-pop Classics for Learning Korean *이별의 그늘*

Today we’ll be discussing a classic Korean ballad, “이별의 그늘” or “The Shadow of Separation” by 윤상. This song was released in 1990 and the lyrics capture the feelings of heartbreak and loss that anyone who has gone through a breakup can relate to. 

K-pop Classics for Learning Korean *변신*

In today’s lesson, we’re going to be talking about a popular song called “변신” or “Transformation”, which was released in 1996, by a two-member dance group “몰리” 

This high-energy song was an instant hit with its fast-paced rhythms that makes it impossible not to dance along to; hence very popular at night clubs.   

Studies have shown that listening to high-energy music can improve your mood and reduce stress levels.   

K-pop Classics for Learning Korean *질투*

Today, we’re here to introduce an incredibly popular song that stayed at number one on the 가요 Top 10 program for a very long time called 질투 (jealousy) by  유승범 .  The original song was released in 1992 for an MBC drama called 질투 and was the main theme and the OST of the drama.  This 16-episode TV series depicted the pure love, infused with a subtle sense of jealousy of a young couple, and had hit the highest viewer ratings of 56.1% . The show was based on the 1991 novel, “내 사랑의 긴 그림자” (Long Shadow of My Love) by 윤명혜.  

K-pop Classics for Learning Korean *너의 마음을 내게 준다면*

Welcome to our new series of K-pop classics! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about the genre, this series has something for everyone.  So buckle up, get ready to sing along, and join us on this exciting journey through the most iconic and unforgettable hits in Korean pop history.

Korean Nouns & Pronouns

In this lesson you will learn Korean nouns & pronouns. 

Let’s do a quick refresher on the definition of nouns and pronouns.   

Nouns are words used to name a person, animal, place, thing, or abstract ideas. 

A pronoun is used in a sentence to replace and refer to a noun. 

또 vs 도/Particle 하고/Plural Marker 들

I’m going to kick off today’s lesson with THREE topics!

1) Adverb 또 vs Particle 도

2) Particle 하고

3) Plural Marker 들

The Particle 도

In this lesson, we’ll learn about the particle 도, which means too, also, indeed, even.  

The particle 도 has 4 main features on its usage: 

1.  It puts emphasis on the word before it, with reference to something earlier in the context. 

2.  When you use the particle 도 with a noun, you do not use the particles that would mark that same noun as topic (은/는), subject (이/가), or direct object (을/를) 

3.   However, when -도 comes with other particles, such as 에, 에게, 까지, etc., it takes a place after other particles.   

4.  The particle 도 often occurs twice in a sentence, showing a kind of tandem agreement between noun phrases (both A and B do; neither A nor B does). 

Expressing Possession with the Particle 의

In this lesson, we’ll learn about the possessive particle that is spelled 의 [으이] but pronounced as 에 when used after a noun.  The particle 의 denotes possession.  It is similar to the English suffix -’s or of.