은/는 or 이/가
When to use the topic particle and when the subject particle.
Both can mark the word a sentence is about, and both are often translated the same way, but they do different jobs.
- 은/는 marks the topic: what the sentence is about, usually something already known, with the rest of the sentence saying something about it. It also contrasts the topic with others.
- 이/가 marks the subject as new information or the point of the sentence: it answers "who?" or "what?".
- jeoneun haksaengieyo.I'm a student.about me
- nuga haksaengieyo? jega haksaengieyo.Who's the student? I am.
When to use 은/는
- Introducing yourself or a topic: 저는 마이클이에요 "I'm Michael".
- Saying something general about a whole kind: 여름은 더워요 yeoreumeun deowoyo "summer is hot".
- Contrasting: 고기는 먹어요. 생선은 안 먹어요. "Meat I eat. Fish I don't."
- Going back to a topic, as the 는 of 저는요? "And me?" or 오늘은 "today, at least".
When to use 이/가
- Answering "who?" or "what?", and on the question words themselves: 누가, 뭐가, 어디가.
- Saying that something exists, appears or happens, often when it is new to the conversation: 저기 버스가 와요 "here comes a bus".
- With 있다 and 없다, and with adjectives of feeling, the thing had or felt takes 이/가: 저는 동생이 있어요 "I have a younger sibling", 저는 사과가 좋아요 "I like apples".
- Inside a describing clause (Describing nouns) or an "if" or "when" clause (Joining clauses), the subject takes 이/가: 제가 좋아하는 음식 "the food I like".
Two in one sentence
A sentence can have a topic with 은/는 and a subject with 이/가. The topic says whom the sentence is about, and the subject says what in particular:
- jeoneun meoriga apayo.I have a headache.As for me, my head hurts.
- kokkirineun koga gireoyo.Elephants have long trunks.As for elephants, the trunk is long.
Cards from this guide
9 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.
은/는 or 이/가: which answers 'Who came?'
이/가: 민수가 왔어요 'Minsu came'.
Which particle do you use on 저 when introducing yourself: 저는 or 제가?
저는.
What does 는 add in 고기는 먹어요?
Contrast: meat I do eat, unlike something else.
Which particle goes on a question word such as 누구 or 뭐 when it is the subject?
이/가: 누가, 뭐가.
In 'I have a younger sibling', which particle goes on 동생 (younger sibling)?
이: 저는 동생이 있어요.
How do you say 'I have a headache' with 머리 (head) and 아프다 (to hurt)?
저는 머리가 아파요.
In a describing clause like 'the food I like', which particle marks 'I'?
이/가: 제가 좋아하는 음식.
Which particle marks a whole kind in a general statement, as in 'Summer is hot'?
은/는: 여름은 더워요.
How do you say 'Elephants have long trunks' with 코끼리 (elephant), 코 (trunk, nose) and 길다 (to be long)?
코끼리는 코가 길어요.