Introduction
An important part of being able to understand and speak Korean is that one must have a firm understanding of the grammar used to make coherent sentences. During these first few lessons we shall focus on building a useable grammar base. In this lesson, we will learn some more useful particles, Present progressive, future tense, and the requesting form. We will also learn some new grammar, but it will not be the main focus of this lesson.Conversation
Here we find Joseph meeting 찬호 again.Dialogue
- 찬호: 앗! 오래간만 입니다, 조세프!
- 조세프: 네, 안녕하십니까, 찬호?
- 찬호: 네. 저는 지금 학교로 가고 있습니다.
- 조세프: 선생님을 만나겠습니까?
- 찬호: 아니요, 공부하겠습니다. 조세프는 오늘 숙제를 하겠습니까?
- 조세프: 네, 저는 집에서 하겠습니다.
- 찬호: 그래요. 안녕히 가십시요.
- 조세프: 안녕히 가십시요.
Conversation review
찬호 begins with another greeting:- 찬호: 앗! 오래간만 입니다, 조세프!
- 조세프: 네, 안녕하십니까, 찬호?
- 찬호: 네. 저는 지금 학교로 가고 있습니다.
네. | 저는 | 지금 | 학교 | 로 | 가 | 고 있습니다 |
Yes. | I (topic) | now | school | (to/towards) | go (verb stem) | (present progressive) |
Finally, we have a new verb tense: the present progressive tense. It can also be made into a statement or question by adding the "VS + ㅂ/습니다" or "VS + ㅂ/습니까" forms. The strange thing about this verb tense is that the standard "VS + ㅂ/습니다" can mean the same thing! Remember in lesson 1, Joseph said "집에 갑니다". This could have also been said "집에 가고있습니다" or even "집으로 가고 있습니다." It is your choice. Some combinations sound more natural to others, but a beginning student doesn't have to be concerned with that. You will eventually get the feel of what sounds right.
- 조새프: 선생님을 만나겠습니까?
- English speaker A: "I'm a little busy."
- English speaker B: "Oh, studying today?"
선생님 | 을 |
teacher | (direct object) |
Now, based on what we have learned so far, one might guess that the verb stem of the verb in this sentence is "만나겠다", which is a perfectly logical guess, but wrong. The actual verb stem is "만나다" which means "to meet" (as you might have gleaned from the previous paragraph). The "겠습니다" or, more correctly "겠다" is the future tense form. For this form, it is unimportant whether the verb stem ends in a consonant or vowel. Simply add "겠" and then finish off with "습니다" to speak politely. Easy as 파이, no?
- 찬호: 아니요, 공부하겠습니다. 조새프는 오늘 숙제를 하겠습니까?
아니요, | 공부하겠습니다. | 조새프는 | 오늘 | 숙제를 | 하겠습니까? | |
No, | (I) | will study. | Joseph (topic) | today | homework (direct object) | will do? |
- 조새프: 네, 저는 집에서 하겠습니다.
네, | 저는 | 집 | 에서 | 하겠습니다. |
Yes, | I (topic) | home | (at) | will do. |
- 찬호: 그래요. 안녕히 가십시요.
- 조새프: 안녕히 가십시요.
[edit] Korean sentence order
Korean sentences have a different word order from English. Whereas an English sentence typically has a Subject-Verb-Object word order, a Korean sentence typically has a Subject-Object-Verb word order. For sentences with only a subject and a verb, Korean and English word order is essentially identical:Korean: | 철수는 | 먹는다. |
subject | verb | |
English: | Cholsu | eats. |
subject | verb |
English: I am reading a book. English: I(subject) am reading(verb) a book(object)
Korean: 저는 책을 읽고 있습니다. Korean: 저는(subject) 책을(object) 읽고 있습니다(verb).
Korean: | 철수는 | 사과를 | 먹는다. |
subject | object | verb | |
English: | Cholsu | eats | the apple. |
subject | verb | object |
Predicates
A more complete understanding of Korean sentence order requires an understanding of Korean predicates (서술부어). As in English, complete Korean sentences must have a predicate that contains a conjugated Korean word (용언). Also as in English, Korean verbs (동사) are conjugated and so can be sentence predicates. However, with regard to forming sentences, Korean differs from English in two important ways:- Korean sentences do not require subjects (주어), just predicates. (That is, a Korean sentence with only a predicate is grammatically complete.)
- Korean adjectives (형용사) can be conjugated and used as sentence predicates.
Korean: | Subject (주어) | indirect object (간접 목적어) | direct object (직접 목적어) | complement (보어) | predicate (서술부어) |
철수는 | 나에게 | 사과를 | 준다. | ||
English: | Cholsu | gives | me | the apple. | |
Subject | predicate | indirect object | direct object | complement |
Korean: | 나에게 | 사과를 | 철수는 | 준다. |
indirect object | direct object | subject | verb | |
to me | the apple | Cholsu | gives | |
Korean: | 철수는 | 사과를 | 나에게 | 준다. |
subject | direct object | indirect object | verb | |
Cholsu | the apple | to me | gives |
Vocabulary: 어휘
- 오래간만 입니다 - Long time, no see!
- 선생님 - Teacher
- 숙제 - Homework
- 만나다 - To meet
- 공부하다 - To study
- 하다 - To do
- 지금 - Now
- 오늘 - Today
Grammar: 문법
- VS + 겠다 - Future Tense
- VS + 고 있다 - Present Progressive
- N + (으)로 - Toward
- N + 을/를 - Direct Object Marker
- N + 에서 - From, At, Location of Action
Practice: 연습
Conjugate the following verbs with the future and present progressive tenses in polite form:[show ▼]Korean: 공부하다 (to study)
[show ▼]Korean: 만나다 (To meet)
[show ▼]Korean: 보다 (To see)
[hide ▲]Korean: 사랑하다 (To love)
- Future tense: 사랑하겠습니다
- Present progressive tense: 사랑하고 있습니다
[show ▼]Korean: 죽다 (To die)
[show ▼]Korean: 먹다 (To eat)
[show ▼]Korean: 말하다 (To talk)
Add 에서, (으)로, and 을/를 particles to each noun:
[show ▼]Korean: 선생님 (Teacher)
[show ▼]Korean: 숙제 (Homework)
[show ▼]Korean: 미국 (America)
[show ▼]Korean: 교회 (Church)
[show ▼]Korean: 남자 (Boy/Man)
[show ▼]Korean: 여자 (Girl/Woman)
[show ▼]Korean: 직장 (Workplace)