On grammar pages you will see some grammar syntax you might not be familiar with, e.g. A/V + 지 않다. The syntax is similar to formats used by other Korean text books but unique to this site. Those who have read previous Korean textbooks should have no problems understanding the syntax. The first table explains the meaning of the all syntax used, while the second table below breaks the syntax down so you can understand it more clearly if necessary.
Grammar Syntax
| Syntax |
Meaning |
Example |
Comment
|
| A |
Adjective (descriptive verb) |
A + 구나 |
Adjective (descriptive verb) only pattern.
|
| A/V |
Adjective or Verb |
A/V + 지만 |
Adjective or verb may be used in this pattern.
|
| N |
Noun |
N + (으)로 |
Noun only pattern
|
| S |
Sentence |
|
|
| V |
Verb (action verb) |
V + (으)ㄹ 게요 |
Verb (action verb) only pattern.
|
| + |
Attach the thing before and after the + symbol. |
The adjective 춥다: 춥 + 지요 → 춥지요 |
The verb stem is 춥 from 춥다(to be cold), gets joined with 지요.
|
| (으) |
If there is a 받침 add a 으. |
A/V + (으)니까 |
-
|
| (으)ㄹ |
If there is a 받침 add 을 (으 being the optional grammar) otherwise add ㄹ as the 받침. |
A/V + (으)ㄹ지도 모르다
|
If there is
|
| (으)ㄴ |
If there is a 받침 add 은 (으 being the optional grammar) otherwise add ㄴ as the 받침. |
A + (으)ㄴ가요 |
-
|
| (스)ㅂ |
If there is a 받침 add 습 (스 being the optional grammar) otherwise add ㅂ as the 받침. |
A/V + (스)ㅂ니다 |
-
|
| (이) |
If there is a 받침 attach 이. Often used in conjunction with nouns. |
N + (이)나 |
-
|
| ( ) |
The part inside the parenthesis is optional. |
V + (으)ㄹ 수(가) 있다 |
The 가 is optional.
|
| a/b |
Either a or b |
A/V + 아/어/여 |
Depending on the rule, you either pick 아, 어 or 여.
|
Comparing the Syntax to Other Books
| Korean Wiki Project
|
A/V + (스)ㅂ니다
|
A/V + 아/어/여 + 요
|
V + 아/어 + 야 하다
|
V + (으)ㄹ 수(가) 있다
|
Seoul National University:
한국어
|
(must find later)
|
V-아요/어요
|
V + 아야/어야 하다
|
(must find later)
|
Yonsei: Korean Grammar
for International Learners
|
-ㅂ/습니다
|
어(아, 여)요
|
Vst-어(아, 여)야 하다
-어(아, 여)야 하다
|
Vst +-(으)ㄹ 수 있다
-ㄹ 수 있다(index section)
|
Speaking Korean
By: Francis Park
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Korean Wiki Project
|
A/V + (으)ㄹ 것 같다
|
N + (이)라서
|
|
|
Seoul National University:
한국어
|
A/V-(으)ㄹ 것 같다
|
N(이)라서
|
|
|
Yonsei: Korean Grammar
for International Learners
|
Vst +-(으)ㄹ 것 같다
|
-(이)라서
|
|
|
Speaking Korean
By: Francis Park
|
|
noun + -(이)라서
|
|
|
Breakdown of Syntax with Examples
| A/V |
+ |
지 |
않다
|
| Adjective or Verb stem |
←attaches together→ |
지 |
(space)않다
|
| [Example] 가다 + (A/V + 지 않다 ): 가지 않다
|
| V |
+ |
(으) |
ㄹ |
게요
|
| Verb (only) |
←attaches together→ |
If the verb/Adj stem has a 받침 add 으 |
Add ㄹto the 받침 position
|
(space)게요
|
[Example] 가다 + (V + (으)ㄹ 게요): 갈게요
[Example] 먹다 + (V + (으)ㄹ 게요): 먹을 게요
|
| A/V |
+ |
(으) |
면
|
| Adjective or Verb stem |
←attaches together→ |
If the verb/Adj stem has a 받침 add 으 |
면
|
[Example] 가다 + (A/V + (으)면 ): 가면
[Example] 먹다 + (A/V + (으)면 ): 먹으면
|
| A/V |
+ |
아/어/여
|
| Adjective or Verb stem |
←attaches together→ |
Add either a 아, 어 or 여 depending on the rule
|
[Example] 오다 + (A/V + 아/어/여)): 오아
[Example] 먹다 + (A/V + 아/어/여)): 먹어
|
| N |
+ |
(이) |
나
|
| Noun |
←attaches together→ |
If the noun has a 받침 add 이 |
나
|
[Example] 차 + (N + (이)나): 차나
[Example] 밥 + (N + (이)나): 밥이나
|
| A/V |
+ |
(스) |
ㅂ |
니다
|
| Adjective or Verb stem |
←attaches together→ |
If the verb/Adj stem has a 받침 add 스 |
Add ㅂto the 받침 position
|
니다
|
[Example] 가다 + (A/V + (스)ㅂ니다): 갑니다
[Example] 입다 + (A/V + (스)ㅂ니다): 입습니다
|
| V |
+ |
(으) |
ㄹ |
수 |
(가) |
있다
|
| Verb (only) |
←attaches together→ |
If the verb stem has a 받침 add 으 |
Add ㄹto the 받침 position
|
(space)수 |
가 is optional |
(space)있다
|
| [Example] 가다 + (V + (으)ㄹ 수(가) 있다): 갈 수가 있다 or 갈 수 있다
|
How to understand the syntax
