안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) Korean language learners! Today, we’re going to tackle a topic that is fundamental yet often challenging for many learners: the use of subject marking particles in Korean. These particles: ‘이/가’ (i/ga), are pivotal in crafting coherent and nuanced sentences in Korean. Their correct usage not only conveys your message accurately but also showcases your grasp of the language’s subtleties.
When I first embarked on my Korean language journey, I found myself fascinated yet occasionally baffled by these particles. They don’t have a direct equivalent in English, which made it both intriguing and a bit perplexing to understand their exact function and usage. It was through persistent practice and immersion that I began to appreciate the depth they add to the language.
This lesson is going to focus on the subject marking particle but you can check out the other two types of particles by clicking on the relevant links below.
Subject Marking Particles
Subject marking particles are grammatical tools used to indicate what the subject of a sentence is. These are: ‘이/가’ (i/ga) . They attach to the noun or pronoun that is the subject of the sentence.
이/가
The rules are:
- Words ending with a final consonant: add 이
- Words ending with a vowel: add 가
책+이 = 책이
“책” means a “book” and it ends with a consonant “ㄱ” so we add the particle “이” at the end and it becomes “책이”.
차+가 = 차가
“차” means a “car” and it ends with a vowel “아” so we add the particle “가” at the end and it becomes “차가”.
저+가 = 제가
“저” means “me” and is an exception to the rule as it becomes 제가 instead of 저가.
Subject marking particle marks the subject of the sentence. The subject is the ‘do-er’ of the verb or a person or a thing carrying out a certain state.
Why Koreans use 이/가 the subject marking particles?
- Clarification: These particles help in identifying the subject of a sentence, which is particularly important in Korean as the subject is often dropped in conversation.
- Emphasis: They can be used to emphasize the subject or to contrast it with another subject.
- Contextual Link: Subject marking particles aid in connecting the sentence to the broader context of the conversation or narrative.
Examples
그녀가 울고 있다. – She is crying.
In this example, “울고 있다” is a verb meaning “is crying”. “그녀” is “she” or “that girl” and is the subject of the sentence. Why? Because if we ask the question ‘who is doing the verb?’ or ‘who is crying?’, the answer is ‘she is’ or ‘that girl’ is. And since “그녀” ends in a vowel, we add “가” and so it becomes “그녀가”.
누가 왔어요? – Who came?
In this example, “왔어요” is a verb meaning “came”. “누구” means “who” and is the subject of the sentence as we are asking “who” came. “누구” then becomes “누가”. This is an exception to the rule along with “저” as we saw above. Don’t worry, there are not many exceptions and the exceptions are usually “I” or “you” so you will get a hang of these quickly as they are widely used.
날씨가 추워요. – The weather is cold.
In this example, “추워요” is a verb meaning “it’s cold”. “날씨” means “weather” and is the subject of the sentence. When asking “What is cold?”, you get the answer that it’s the weather that is cold. “날씨” ends in a vowel and so we add “가” to make it “날씨가”.
What is the difference between topic marking particle and the subject marking particle?
Understanding the differences between ‘은/는’ (eun/neun) and ‘이/가’ (i/ga) is crucial for Korean language learners. Let’s break down these differences to help you use them correctly in various contexts.
Topic vs. Subject:
- ‘은/는’ (Topic Marker): These particles are used to indicate the topic of the sentence. The topic is what the sentence is about, or what is being discussed. ‘은/는’ often sets a background for the sentence or provides a contrast.
- ‘이/가’ (Subject Marker): These particles, on the other hand, are used to highlight the subject of the sentence – the person or thing doing the action or being in a certain state. ‘이/가’ often introduces new information or emphasizes the subject.
Context and Emphasis:
- ‘은/는’ for General Statements or Contrast: Use ‘은/는’ when making general statements or when contrasting subjects. For example, “사과는 맛있다” (As for apples, they are delicious) implies a general statement about apples or a contrast to another fruit.
- ‘이/가’ for Specificity and Focus: Use ‘이/가’ when you want to specify or focus on a particular subject. For example, “사과가 맛있다” (The apple is delicious) emphasizes that it is the apple, in particular, that is delicious.
Flow of Conversation:
- Introducing and Shifting Topics with ‘은/는’: When you introduce a new topic or shift the focus in a conversation, ‘은/는’ is commonly used. It’s like saying, “Speaking of X, …”
- Highlighting Specific Subjects with ‘이/가’: ‘이/가’ is used when introducing a new subject within the current topic, especially to highlight or specify something about the subject.
Sentence Examples:
- Using ‘은/는’: “커피는 좋아요, 하지만 차는 더 좋아요.” (I like coffee, but tea is better.) – Here, ‘커피는’ and ‘차는’ are used for contrast.
- Using ‘이/가’: “그 사람이 저의 친구예요.” (That person is my friend.) – ‘그 사람이’ is highlighted as the subject.
Nuances in Meaning: Choosing between ‘은/는’ and ‘이/가’ can subtly change the meaning of a sentence. For instance, “그 사람은 선생님입니다” (As for that person, he/she is a teacher) with ‘은/는’ can imply a contrast or continuation of a topic, whereas “그 사람이 선생님입니다” with ‘이/가’ strongly identifies that person as the teacher, often introducing new information.
Usually the difference between 는/은 and 이/가 is very subtle. Both are added to the subject of the sentence. 이/가 doesn’t really add any extra meaning to the sentence, we just add it to the subject. 는/은 however, as explained, will add a subtle extra meaning to the sentence especially when it’s used to compare something. If you are not familiar with the topic marking particle yet, please check out this post first.
Let’s use some more examples to compare some sentences and how their meaning changes when different particles are used.
그녀가 울고 있다. – She is crying.
그녀는 울고 있다. – She is crying.
These two sentences will have the same meaning, regardless which particle is used.
눈이 예뻐요. – The eyes are pretty.
눈은 예뻐요. – As for the eyes, they are pretty.
Here however, the second sentence might imply that maybe only the eyes are pretty, nothing else (mean sample sentence, I know!). So, the meaning also depends a lot on context which makes Korean even more interesting than it already is. Don’t you think?