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Korean grammar

Saying what something is

이에요 / 예요

A0 · Starter Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

Korean has no verb "to be" in front of the noun — it glues an ending onto the end of it. After a consonant the ending is 이에요; after a vowel it shrinks to 예요. 학생 ends in ㅇ, so 학생이에요. 친구 ends in a vowel, so 친구예요. The same rule runs through the whole language: what comes before decides what comes after.

Pattern

명사 + 이에요 / 예요

Examples

  1. 저는 학생이에요.

    I am a student.

  2. 이분은 제 친구예요.

    This is my friend.

  3. 이거 얼마예요?

    How much is this?

Keep in mind

  • 학생이에요

    학생 ends in a consonant → 이에요

  • 친구예요

    친구 ends in a vowel → 예요

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    저는 학생_____.

    1. 예요
    2. 에요
    3. 이에요
    4. 이예요
    Show answer

    Answer: C 이에요

    학생 ends in a consonant.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    이분은 제 친구_____.

    1. 예요
    2. 에요
    3. 이요
    4. 이에요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 예요

    친구 ends in a vowel.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    이거 뭐_____?

    1. 에요
    2. 이에요
    3. 이요
    4. 예요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 예요

    뭐 ends in a vowel.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    제 이름은 민수_____.

    1. 이에요
    2. 예요
    3. 이예요
    4. 에요
    Show answer

    Answer: B 예요

    민수 ends in a vowel.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    저는 회사원_____.

    1. 이에요
    2. 이요
    3. 에요
    4. 예요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 이에요

    회사원 ends in ㄴ.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    오늘은 월요일_____.

    1. 예요
    2. 이예요
    3. 에요
    4. 이에요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 이에요

    월요일 ends in ㄹ.

  7. 7This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 저는 의사예요.
    2. 저는 의사에요.
    3. 저는 의사이에요.
    4. 저는 의사요.
    Show answer

    Answer: A 저는 의사예요.

    의사 ends in a vowel, so 예요.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 이거 사과이에요.
    2. 이거 사과이요.
    3. 이거 사과예요.
    4. 이거 사과에요.
    Show answer

    Answer: C 이거 사과예요.

    사과 ends in a vowel.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    여기는 교실_____.

    1. 이에요
    2. 에요
    3. 이요
    4. 예요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 여기는 교실이에요.

    교실 ends in ㄹ.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    제 취미는 독서_____.

    1. 이예요
    2. 에요
    3. 예요
    4. 이에요
    Show answer

    Answer: C 제 취미는 독서예요.

    독서 ends in a vowel.

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