This is Tim from KC101.com.
Throughout this post, I'd like to talk about 'Subject Particles - 가 [ga] / 이 '.
Please keep this in mind though - to clearly explain the difference between 'SUBJECT particles (이/가)' and 'TOPIC particles (은/는)' is really hard.
In many cases, both 이/가 and 은/는 are interchangeable. (to know the difference between two requires a lot of study and experience in Korean).
This topic is already covered in "Absolute Beginner Season 2 Lesson 3".
1. What does "subject particle" mean?
=> This particles ( 가 / 이) are used to mark the subject of a sentence.
For example, let's take a look at a simple sentence of "this is a desk"...
In that sentence, what is the subject? YES, the subject is "this".
In that sentence, what is the verb? YES, the verb is "is".
In that sentence, what's the complement? YES, the complement is "a desk".
Now, let's translate each element into Korean.
a. the subject - "this" - is 이것 [i-geot]
b. the verb - "is" - is 이다 [ida] / 입니다 [imnida].
c. the complement - "a desk" - is 책상 [chak-sang].
so, all together, "this is a desk" is "이것 + 책상 + 이다 => 이것 책상이다" or "이것 + 책상 + 입니다 => 이것 책상입니다"
HOWEVER, it's NOT all (why? because it's not a sentence!) You have to attach 가 [ga] or 이 [i] right after the Subject - "this" 이것.
THEREFORE, it becomes 이것 + 이 => 이것이. Finally, the correct translation is 이것이 책상입니다.
2. Here is the formation of 가 [ga] / 이 [i].
a NOUN (subject) + 가 [ga] or 이 [i]
3. Then, here is a question! When do we use 가 [ga] over 이 [i]? when do we use 이 [i] over 가 [ga]?
The rule is simple!
a. If the noun ends WITH a consonant (with a 받침), attach 이[i] right after 'the NOUN'. (책상 + 이 => 책상이)
b. If the noun ends WITHOUT a consonant (without a 받침), attach 가[ga] right after 'the NOUN'. (데비 + 가 => 데비가)
4. Lastly, let's simply practice on the rule. (remember this - those rules (a & b) above are extremely essential to know if you want to learn Korean)
A. Please fill in the blanks
ex) a. "My name is..." => 제 이름 + 이 => 제 이름이...
b. "This is..." => 이것 + ___ => _______...
c. "Mr Tim is..." => 팀 씨 + 가 => ________...
d. "Miss Debbie is..." => 데비 씨 + ____ => ________...
e. "That is..." => 저것 + ___ => ________...
f. "This individual is..." => 이분 + ___ => ________...
B. Please translate each sentence into Korean
ex) a. "My name is Tim." => 제 이름이 팀입니다.
b. "This is a chair." => 이것___ 의자입니다. ("a chair" = 의자)
c. "Mr. Tim is a student." => 팀 씨___ ____입니다. ("a student" = 학생)
d. "Miss Debbie is a teacher." => 데비 씨___ __________. ("a teacher" = 선생님)
e. "That is a computer." => ______________________ ("a computer" = 컴퓨터)
f. "This individual is American." => ______________________ ("American" = 미국인)
Now, you know about the 'SUBJECT PARTICLES - 가 / 이'
Thanks for your time and study.
Please feel free to give me any advice and comment on this post.
Hope this post helps you understand Korean better,
cheers, 여러분 힘내요~~ "Go Go everyone~~~"
Tim
ps. for more info about 'Subject Particle', please give a listen to "Absolute Beginner Season 2 Lesson 3"
