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Korean grammar

은/는 against 이/가

은/는 과 이/가

A0 · Starter Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

Both mark what the sentence is about, and both are chosen by 받침 — 은 and 이 after a consonant, 는 and 가 after a vowel. The difference is what they DO. 은/는 sets the topic and quietly compares: 저는 학생이에요 answers "and you?". 이/가 points at the subject as news: 누가 왔어요? — 친구가 왔어요. When you introduce yourself, use 는. When you answer "who?" or "what?", use 가.

Pattern

받침 O + 은 / 이 · 받침 X + 는 / 가

Examples

  1. 저는 학생이에요.

    I am a student. (as for me)

  2. 누가 왔어요? — 친구가 왔어요.

    Who came? — A friend did.

  3. 오늘은 바빠요.

    Today I am busy. (other days, less so)

Keep in mind

  • 저는

    introducing myself

  • 제가

    answering "who?"

Practice questions

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

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    저_____ 네덜란드 사람이에요.

    1. 가
    2. 는
    3. 은
    4. 이
    Show answer

    Answer: B 는

    저 ends in a vowel, and this is an introduction.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    오늘_____ 아주 바빠요.

    1. 은
    2. 는
    3. 이
    4. 가
    Show answer

    Answer: A 은

    오늘 ends in ㄹ.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    — 누가 왔어요? — 친구_____ 왔어요.

    1. 가
    2. 를
    3. 는
    4. 에
    Show answer

    Answer: A 가

    Answering "who?" is news → 가.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    시간_____ 없어요.

    1. 은
    2. 를
    3. 가
    4. 이
    Show answer

    Answer: D 이

    시간 ends in ㄴ, and 없다 takes 이/가.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    머리_____ 아파요.

    1. 는
    2. 에
    3. 를
    4. 가
    Show answer

    Answer: D 가

    The part that hurts is the subject.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    Which particle?

    이름_____ 뭐예요?

    1. 은
    2. 를
    3. 이
    4. 가
    Show answer

    Answer: C 이

    이름 ends in ㅁ.

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

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 저를 의사예요.
    2. 저에 의사예요.
    3. 저는 의사예요.
    4. 저은 의사예요.
    Show answer

    Answer: C 저는 의사예요.

    저 ends in a vowel → 는.

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

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 날씨에 좋아요.
    2. 날씨를 좋아요.
    3. 날씨가 좋아요.
    4. 날씨이 좋아요.
    Show answer

    Answer: C 날씨가 좋아요.

    날씨 ends in a vowel → 가.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    Which particle?

    동생_____ 학생이에요.

    1. 은
    2. 이
    3. 는
    4. 를
    Show answer

    Answer: A 동생은 학생이에요.

    동생 ends in ㅇ.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    Which particle?

    커피_____ 맛있어요.

    1. 에
    2. 이
    3. 를
    4. 가
    Show answer

    Answer: D 커피가 맛있어요.

    커피 ends in a vowel.

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