Subject, topic and object
이/가, 은/는 and 을/를.
Korean marks a noun's role with a particle joined to its end, where English uses word order. Several particles (이/가, 은/는, 을/를, 와/과, (으)로 and (이)랑) have two forms: one for nouns ending in a consonant and one for nouns ending in a vowel, so the join is easy to say.
| Particle | After a consonant | After a vowel | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | 이 | 가 | who or what does something, or is something |
| Topic | 은 | 는 | what the sentence is about |
| Object | 을 | 를 | what is acted on |
| Noun | Subject | Topic | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| 책 chaek book | 책이 chaegi | 책은 chaegeun | 책을 chaegeul |
| 사과 sagwa apple | 사과가 sagwaga | 사과는 sagwaneun | 사과를 sagwareul |
| 물 mul water | 물이 muri | 물은 mureun | 물을 mureul |
| 친구 chingu friend | 친구가 chinguga | 친구는 chinguneun | 친구를 chingureul |
- goyangiga jayo.The cat is sleeping.
- jeoneun haksaengieyo.I'm a student.
- sagwareul meogeoyo.I'm eating an apple.
- dongsaengi chaegeul ilgeoyo.My younger sister is reading a book.
은/는 or 이/가 explains when to use the topic particle and when the subject particle.
Pronouns that change before 가
A few short words change shape before the subject particle 가:
- jega halgeyo.I'll do it.
- nuga wasseoyo?Who came?
Shortened in speech
In speech the topic and object particles often shrink onto a word ending in a vowel: 저는 becomes 전 jeon, 나는 난 nan, 나를 날 nal, and with 것 "thing", 이것은 becomes 이건 igeon and 이것을 이걸 igeol.
Left out
In casual speech, particles are often left out when the role is clear, especially the object particle: 밥 먹었어? bap meogeosseo? "Have you eaten?"
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Particles cards.
Which subject particle goes after a noun ending in a consonant, like 책 (book)?
이: 책이 (chaegi).
Which subject particle goes after a noun ending in a vowel, like 친구 (friend)?
가: 친구가 (chinguga).
What's the topic particle on 저 (I)?
는: 저는 (jeoneun).
What's the object particle on 밥 (rice, a meal)?
을: 밥을 (babeul).
What's the object particle on 커피 (coffee)?
를: 커피를 (keopireul).
What do 나 (I) and the subject particle 가 make?
내가 (naega).
What do 저 (I, polite) and 가 make?
제가 (jega).
What do 누구 (who) and 가 make?
누가 (nuga).
What is 저는 often shortened to in speech?
전 (jeon).
Can particles be left out?
Yes, often in casual speech, when the role is clear.