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.   

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.   

The Direct Object Particle 을/를

In this lesson, we will learn The Direct Object Particle 을/를.

을/를 attaches to a noun, and indicates that the noun is the OBJECT of the sentence. Its form is 을 after consonants and 를 after vowels for ease of pronunciation. 

Topic Particle 은/는

In this lesson you will learn 3 functions of the Topic Particle 은/는:

1.  to mark its noun as the sentence topic

2.  to point up a contrast, or

3.  to mark its noun as old or given or assumed information.

Location Particle 에

In this lesson, we will learn how to say where something is in relation to something else using the location particle 에 in, at, on.  에 denotes place. Thus, location particle. 

있다 & 없다 Verb Endings

In this lesson, I’m going to explain: 

#1. N이/가 있어요 [없어요] 

There is [is not] 

 #2 Possession with 있어요 [없어요] 

To have [not to have]  

없어요 is the negation of 있어요, referring to either non-existence or non-possession of an object or person. 

~AND~ 

How to Answer Negative Questions in Korean