Konglish

Loan Word How it Actual English Word How it Actual English

(한국어) sounds Translation (한국어) Sounds Translation

에어컨 air con air conditioner

컵 keop cup

아파트 apart apartment

포크 po-keu fork

센티 centi centimeter
초콜릿 cho-kol-lit chocolate

a-i-seu 리모컨 remo con remote control

아이스크림 keu-rim ice cream

와이셔츠 Y-shirt collared dress shirt

콜라 kol-la cola

셀프 self self service

주스 ju-seu juice

나이트 night night club

피자 pi-ja pizza

노트 note notebook
비타민 bi-ta-min vitamin

san-deu- 헬스 health health club

샌드위치 wi-chi sandwich

원피스 one-piece dress

와인 wa-in wine

밴드 band bandage/Band-Aid
더치페이 Dutch pay Dutch treat

Konglish
Word How it Actual English
Sounds Translation 스탠드 stand desk lamp
(한국어)
 mechanical 사이다 cider Sprite (soft drink)
샤프 sharp pencil

아이쇼핑 eye shopping window shopping

이벤트 event sale/promotion

bachelor 핫도그 hot dog corn dog

원룸 one room apartment

원샷 one shot bottom's up

머플러 muffler scarf

핸드폰 handphone cell phone

콘센트 consent electrical outlet

on the house/free of
서비스 service charge

싸인 sign signature
 1. Overview of Word Order in Korean

The Korean language word order is SOV. Therefore, the default grammatical
order is always subject – object – verb.

Example:

• 호랑이가 먹이를 먹어요.

Horangiga meogireul meogeoyo.

“A tiger is eating prey.“

The Korean sentence structure and word order are different from those in
English, which has an SVO (subject – verb –object) word order. The easiest
way to remember the difference is that only the verb and object positions are
switched.

Let’s take a look at another example from Wikipedia.

• 내가 상자를 연다.

Naega sangjareul yeonda.

“I open the box.“

 2. Basic Word Order with Subject, Verb, and Object

Rule #1: Subject + Noun pattern

A. Basic Vocabulary for Korean Subjects

Subject Romanization English Politeness

나는 naneun “I am” informal

저는 jeoneun “I am” formal

너는 neoneun “You are” informal

당신은 dangsineun “You are” formal

그는 geuneun “He is” formal

그녀는 geunyeoneun “She is” formal

*”He is” and “she is” are rarely used in spoken language. Try replacing the subject with a person’s name, such as
하영이는 (hayeongineun), 민경씨는 (mingyeongssineun), 영우님은 (yeongunimeun), etc.

우리는 urineun “We are” informal

그들은 geudeureun “They are” formal

“We are” in the formal register is rarely used in spoken language. When speaking, try saying 우리들은 (urideureun) instead.
 B. Basic Grammar Structure to Remember

Subject Romanization English Politeness

~ 이다. ~ ida. “~am” informal

~ 입니다. ~ imnida. “~am” formal

(이)에요. (i)eyo. “~is” formal

When constructing the phrases above, you will always need to add a noun
before. Let’s have a look at an example.

Example:

• 나는 학생이다. (informal/writing)

Naneun haksaengida.

“I am a student.“

• 저는 학생이에요. (formal/speaking)

Jeoneun haksaengieyo.
 “I am a student.“

Rule #2: Subject + Object + Verb pattern

The second rule of word order in Korean is the subject – object – verb rule
we discussed at the beginning of this article. This is the default rule for how to
complete a sentence.

Example:

• 저는 사과를 먹어요.

Jeoneun sagwareul meogeoyo.

“I eat an apple.”

Rule #3: Subject + Verb pattern

This SV pattern is usually used when you want to give a simple and direct
answer to a question, without giving much context. For example, when
someone asks “What is she doing?” you can simply answer by saying “She
sleeping.”

Example:

• A: 지금 앤은 뭐해?
 A: Jigeum aeneun mwohae?

A: “What is Anne up to?”

• B: 앤은 지금 요리해.

B: Aeneun jigeum yorihae.

B: “Anne is cooking now.”

Rule #4: Subject + Adjective pattern

The fourth rule of Korean word order is the subject + adjective sentence
pattern, which is very similar to English. As we know, adjectives describe nouns
or pronouns.

Example:

• 앤은 예뻐.

Aeneun yeppeo.

“Anne is pretty.
 • 수업은 지루해요.

Sueobeun jiruhaeyo.

“The class is boring.”

3. Word Order with Prepositional Phrases

Now, let’s see how prepositional phrases come into Korean word order.
According to Grammarly, a prepositional phrase is a group of words that
contain a preposition, its object, and modifiers for that object.

1. ~ 의 앞에 (ui ap-e), “in front of”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 슈퍼마켓 앞에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓에 있어요.

 Gangajineun syupeomakese isseoyo.

“The dog is at the supermarket.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 앞에 있어요.

Gangajineun syupeomakesui ape isseoyo.

“The dog is in front of the supermarket.”

2. ~ 의 뒤에 (dwie), “behind”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 소파 뒤에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 소파에 앉아있어요.

 Gangajineun sopae anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting on the sofa.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 소파의 뒤에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun sopaui dwie anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting behind the sofa.“

3. ~ 의 안에 (~ui ane), “inside”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 슈퍼마켓 뒤에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓에 앉아있어요.

 Gangajineun syupeomakese anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting by the sofa.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 슈퍼마켓의 안에 앉아있어요.

Gangajineun syupeomakesui ane anjaisseoyo.

“The dog is sitting inside the supermarket.“

4. ~의 위에 (wie), “on”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 책상 위에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 바나나는 책상에 있어요.

 Banananeun chaeksange isseoyo.

“The banana is at the table.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 바나나는 책상의 위에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksangui wie isseoyo.

“The banana is on the table.”

5. ~ 밑에 (mite), “under”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) You can remove 의 when speaking. (e.g. 책상 밑에)

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 바나나는 책상에 있어요.

 Banananeun chaeksange isseoyo.

“The banana is at the table.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 바나나는 책상의 밑에 있어요.

Banananeun chaeksangui wie isseoyo.

“The banana is under the table.”

6. ~ 과/와 함께 (gwa hamkke), “together with”

Rules:

1) Add only the object in front of the prepositional phrase.

2) In spoken language, you can say 주인이랑 (juinirang) instead of 주인과

(juingwa); there’s no change in the meaning.

A. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

• 강아지는 주인과 산책해요.

 Gangajineun juingwa sanchaekaeyo.

“The dog walks with the owner.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 강아지는 주인과 함께 산책해요.

Gangajineun juingwa hamkke sanchaekaeyo.

“The dog walks together with the owner.”

7. ~에 관한 (~e gwanhan), “about”

Rule:

1) Add only the noun in front of the prepositional phrase.

A. Simple SV Sentence:

subject – verb

• 애나는 발표해요.

Aenaneun balpyohaeyo.
 “Anna presents.”

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 애나는 한국문화에 관한 주제로 발표해요.

Aenaneun hangungmunhwae gwanhan jujero balpyohaeyo.

“Anna presents about Korean culture.“

8. ~때문에 (~ttae mune), “Because of~”

A. Simple SV Sentence:

subject – verb

• 운동회가 취소되었다.

Undonghoega chwisodoeeotda.

“Sport Day is canceled.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 운동회가 비 때문에 취소되었다.

Undonghoega bi ttaemune chwisodoeeotda.

 “Sport Day is canceled because of the rain.“

9. ~한테 (hante), “To someone” / “From someone” / “By someone”

A. Simple SA Sentence:

subject + adjective

• 이 훈련은 어려워요.

I hullyeoneun eoryeowoyo.

“This training is difficult.“

B. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “TO someone”:

• 이 훈련은 강아지한테 어려워요.

I hullyeoneun gangajihante eoryeowoyo.

“This training is difficult to (for) the dog.”

C. Simple SOV Sentence:

subject – object – verb

 • 저는 장난감을 받았어요.

Jeoneun jangnangameul badasseoyo.

“I received a toy.“

D. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “FROM someone”:

• 저는 장난감을 친구한테 받았어요.

Jeoneun i jangnangameun chinguhante badasseoyo.

“I got this toy from my friend.”

E. Simple SV Sentence:

subject – verb

• 강아지가 물어요.

Gangajiga mureosseoyo.

“A dog bites.“

F. Prepositional Phrase Example Using “BY someone”:

 • 저는 강아지한테 물렸어요.

Jeoneun gangajihante mullyeosseoyo.

“I got bitten by a dog.“

10. 으로 / 로 (euro / ro), “to” [destination]

Simple SV Sentence:

subject – verb

• 저는 여행할 거예요.

Jeoneun yeohaenghal geoyeyo.

“I’m going to travel.“

A. Prepositional Phrase Example:

• 저는 프랑스로 여행할 거예요.

Jeoneun peurangseuro yeohaenggal geoyeyo.

 “I’ll travel to France.“

4. Word Order with Modifiers

Descriptive verbs can become noun modifiers and describe the nouns directly.
The verb acts as an adjective to modify a noun, which must follow
immediately. In Korean grammar, word order with modifiers has two rules you
need to remember. So, let’s take a look.

1. General Rule #1 – V + ~는 것 (geot)

The first rule for modifiers in Korean word order is the V + ~것 (geot) pattern,
which is used to nominalize action verbs. It indicates the gerund form of a
verb (e.g. X-ing).

Example:

1. 가다 (gada), “to go”

2. 가 (ga) is the verb stem

3. 가 (ga) + -는 것 (neun geot)

4. It becomes 가는 것 (ganeun geot), which means “going,” and the verb

became the noun
 2. General Rule #2 – n~은 (eun) + noun

Descriptive verbs can become noun modifiers and describe the nouns directly.
The verb acts as an adjective to modify a noun, which must follow
immediately. We usually translate the descriptive verb as “to be [Adjective].”
Let’s have a look at an example.

Example:

1. 작다 (jakda), “to be small”

2. 작 (verb stem ending in a consonant) + -은 (eun) becomes 작은 (jakeun),

meaning “small.”

3. 작은 + 모자 (noun) becomes 작은 모자 (jakeunmoja), meaning “a small hat.”

Note that ~은 (eun) is attached to the end of clauses that end in consonants. If
there’s no consonant at the end of a clause, the rule is slightly different.

Example:

1. 나쁘다 (nappeuda), “to be bad”

2. 나쁘 (verb stem ending without a consonant) + ~은 (eun) becomes 나쁜

(nappeun), meaning “bad.”
3. 나쁜 + 사람 (noun) becomes 나쁜 사람 (nappeunsaram), meaning “a bad
person.”

Check out our lesson on Noun Modifying Particles to learn more about
modifiers.

5. How to Change the Sentence into a Yes-or-No

Question

Asking questions in Korean doesn’t require a complicated sentence structure.

All you need to do is raise the end of the sentence in order to form a
question.

“Dad sleeps” in Korean is 아빠는 자요 (Appaneun jayo). If you raise the end of

the word 요 (yo), it becomes a yes-or-no question: 아빠는 자요 ?

(Appaneun jayo?), meaning “Is dad asleep?” Perhaps this is the easiest Korean
sentence structure we’ll learn today.

Examples:

• 어제 학교 갔었어요. (Eoje hakgyo gasseosseoyo.) “I went to school

yesterday.”

• 어제 학교 갔었어요 ? (Eoje hakgyo gasseosseoyo?) “Did you go to

school yesterday?”

• 어제 공부했어. (Eoje gongbuhaesseo.) “I studied yesterday.”

• 어제 공부했어 ? (Eoje gongbuhaesseo?) “Did you study yesterday?”

• 한국어 할 수 있어요. (Hangugeo hal su isseoyo.) “I can speak Korean.”

• 한국어 할 수 있어요 ? (Hangugeo hal su isseoyo?) “Can you speak

Korean?”

You need to be able to answer “Yes” or “No” when someone asks you a
question. You may already know these, but let’s review them again.

How to Say “Yes” and “No” in Korean

Korean Romanization English Politeness

예 ye “Yes” formal

응 eung “Yes” informal

아니요 aniyo “No” formal

아니 ani “No” informal

Example:

• 프랑스어 해 ?

Peurangseueohae?

“Can you speak French?”

• 아니, 못해. (Ani, mothae.) “No, I can’t.” / 응, 해. (Eung, hae.) “Yes, I can.”
 • 할 수 있다 : Can do
• 할 수 있다 is a Korean conjugation which describes the
possibility or the future possibility. This conjugation really
shows well how Korean grammar works. ‘할 수 있다’ is ‘can do’ in
English.
•

Basic
Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다
style)

ㄹ + 수 + 있다
하다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
is

Do
= ㄹ 수 있다
Be +
Adjective = Can

• 할 수 있다 literally means ‘there is a possibility (or a way) to do

something in the future’ and each word in this phrase works as a
conjugation. How beautiful is it? You can see why it has the word
‘there is’ in it right?
•

• 이거 다 먹을 수 있어요?
Can (you) eat this all?
•

• 여기서 술 마실 수 있어요
(We) can drink some alcohol here
•
 • 성공할 수 있어요
You can success it
•
• This unique way which Korean grammar has makes few things
possible that English grammar can’t do.
할 수 있을거예요
= Will + Can
= Will be able to
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• 일 수 있다 : May be
• Unlike ‘할 수 있다’. ‘일 수 있다’ only shows the possibilities and
it sounds more like guessing or assumption. So, 일 수 있다 is
more natural when it’s translated as ‘may be’.
•
• This way is not commonly used. Koreans also use ‘maybe’
too. They use this conjugation when they really aren’t sure.
•

Basic
Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다
style)

이다 + ㄹ + 수 + 있다
이다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
is

= 일 수 있다
Be + Noun
= Can be + noun

•
 • 사람 일 수 있어요
It might be a person
•

• 끔찍한 무기일 수 있어요

It may be a horrible weapon
•
• Then, How do you say ‘can be something in the future’, not
guessing?

• Using 되다
• In Korean future tense lesson, you’ve learn ‘이다’ with the future
tense sounds more like assumption, not describing a future
state. It’s also same to 이다 with ‘can’. So you should use other
verbs. In Korean future tense lesson, you learned 되다 (become).
And we will use it again in this lesson also.
•
• This way is not commonly used. Koreans also use ‘maybe’
too. They use this conjugation when they really aren’t sure.
•

Basic
Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다
style)

되다 + ㄹ + 수 + 있다
되다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
is

= 될 수 있다
Become
= Can be + noun

•
 • 더 좋은 사람이 될수 있어요
(I) can be a better man
•

• 저도 부자가 될 수 있어요
I can be rich too

• 있을 수 있다 : May be
• Conjugation 있을 수 있다 is very similar to conjugation 일 수
있다. It shows only the possibility. It’s similar to ‘may be +
location’. When 있다 verb is conjugated with ‘ㄹ 수 있다’. It loses
the nuance of possession a lot.
•

Basic Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다 style)

있다 + ㄹ + 수 + 있다
있다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
is

Be
= 있을 수 있다
(location)
Have = Can be / May be (location)
(possession) = Can have (possession)

• 서랍에 있을 수 있어요
(It) might be in a drawer
•

• 차 있을 수 있어요
(He / She) may has a car
There is a bus/train (to go destination)
The car may be available
• But You Can’t Use It Like This
• In English, ‘can’ can be used to ask a permission. But in
Korean, can can’t (lol can can, can can’t. yeah this is fun for me)
•
• Can I open the window?
저는 창문을 열 수 있어요? (Wrong)
•

• But using ㄹ 수 있다 as an asking with 합니다 is not much weird.

제가 창문 좀 열 수 있을까요?
= It’s actually same to ‘May I open the window?’
•
• But it sounds very very formal so Koreans just don’t say it
much even at a place you have to be formal. Oh and, 좀 is
important. 좀 means ‘a little bit’ But Koreans often use it when they
ask something.
•
•

• Korean can’t
• Korean grammar has 2 ways to say ‘can not’. One is a negative
form of ‘할수 있다’ and another is an unique affix 못 for ‘can not’.
Koreans use both. However, 할 수 없다 sounds much more formal
even though you can hear it in a casual conversation.
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• 할 수 없다
• 할 수 없다 is exact opposite to 할 수 있다. It literally means
‘There is no way to do something’. But it sounds quite formal.
•
Basic
Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다
style)

하다 + ㄹ + 수 + 없다
하다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
isn’t

Do
= 할 수 없다
Be +
Adjective = Can not

• 입장 할 수 없어요
(We) can’t enter
•

• 그건 먹을 수 없어요
(You) can’t eat that
•
• I dropped subjects on each sentence. It works like pronouns in
English. It has rules but you will learn it in another course. To be
honest, there is no way to know what or who is the subject in a
sentence. You just have to read context.

• 일 수 없다
• You learned 일 수 있다 is more like an assumption, not ‘can’. The
negative form of 일 수 있다 is 일 수 없다. But, it’s not an
assumption anymore. 일 수 없다 literally means ‘there is no way
that something is something’
•

• 일 수는 없다 is more common than 일 수 없다. 일 수는 없다 is

almost same to ‘it can’t be’ especially with stuffs, not person.
•
Basic
Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다
style)

이다 + ㄹ + 수 + 없다
이다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
isn’t

Be + = 일 수 없다
Noun = Can not be + noun

• 이게 기차 일 수는 없어요
This can not be a train
•

• 여기서 계속 서성일 수는 없어요

We can’t keep pacing here like this

• 있을 수 없다
• 있을 수 없다 is almost same to 일 수 없다. It doesn’t have a
nuance of guessing. it’s ‘- can not be + location’. This one is a
bit tricky because normally Koreans use it when they talk about
themselves.
•
• It doesn’t have a meaning of possession AT ALL.
•

Basic Form
해요 colloquial style
(하다 style)
 이다 + ㄹ + 수 + 없다
있다 Verb + Future + Possibility + There
isn’t

Be
(location) = 있을 수 없다
Have = Can not be (location)
(possession)

• 여기 있을 수 없어요
(I/we) can’t be here
•

• 집에 있을 수 없어요
I can’t be home

• 못- prefix : Can’t
• 못 is an Korean prefix that means ‘can not’. It’s very similar to
안 and very often used in casual conversations. Sometimes
native Koreans use ‘못-’ prefix to say ‘don’t’ especially when they
say ‘I don’t want to do it’.
•

• 입장 못했어요
(I) couldn’t get in
= 하다 verb after a noun
•

• 그건 못먹어요
(You/I) can’t eat that
= 하다 verb after a root
•
• 여기 못있어요
(We/You) can’t be here
= Be location verb

• ‘Can’t’ As Shouldn’t
• In English, you can say ‘you can not do it’ instead of ‘you
should not do it’. In Korean? it’s super weird to say it. Koreans
use only ‘안(don’t)’ to mean ‘shouldn’t’ because we have a lot of
conjugations to ask people to do something.
•

• 이렇게 그만 두면 안되죠
You can’t quit like this
= 안 is ‘don’t’
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• Make It Natural
• 할 수 없다 and 못 can’t be used with 이다 as ‘be + noun’ and 있다
as ‘possessive’. You must use 하다 verbs for it.
•

• 음악 선생님은 일 수 없어요 (Wrong)

음악 선생님은 못 이에요 (Wrong)
음악 선생님은 될 수 없어요
음악 선생님은 못 되요
I can’t be a music teacher
= You must use verb ‘되다’ (become) instead of 이다
•

• if you say ‘한국인 일 수 없어요’ then it would sound like ‘it can’t be
possible he/she is Korean’ and it doesn’t even sound natural
much. Grammatically yes, but this is not what you really can hear
of in almost situations.
•
 • 차 있을 수 없어요 (Wrong)
차 못있어요 (Wrong)
차 살수 없어요
차 못사요
I can’t have a car
= You must use other verbs such as 사다(buy), 갖다(get).

Korean Obligation Sentence

English has ‘must do’, ‘should’, ‘have to’. However, They all are
same in Korean. Korean language has only one modal verb for
describing obligation in a sentence. Technically, Korean language
doesn’t have ‘must’ or ‘should’. So yeah… maybe there isn’t many
things to teach today. (I wrote this before I finish the lesson and I was
super wrong)

한국어에는 must 가 없다는 것을 알아야 해요

You should know there is no must in Korean language
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해야 돼요 vs 해야 해요
Koreans use 2 phrases, 해야 돼요 and 해야 해요, to express
obligation. Both doesn’t make big differences but I asked it to The
National Institute of the Korean Language and they answered ‘해야 해’
has a stronger nuance that the subject is willing to.

As a Korean, I can say 해야돼요 is much more common in

conversations and sounds a bit casual.
샤워 해야 해요
I have to take a shower

샤워 해야 돼요
I have to take a shower

-야한다 with 하다 verb

I think the obligation mood with 하다 verb is most common than others.
It works same to other conjugations so it won’t be much confusing if
you learned other lessons with me. if the verb ends with 하다 then
the conjugation becomes ‘해야 해요’, otherwise, all will be ‘+어야
해요’ or ‘+아야 해요’.

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다 style)
Stem + 하다 Stem

하다 + ㅓ야 + 한다 / 된다 Stem + ㅓ야 + 한다 / 된다
-야한다
Verb + Postposition + Do Verb + Postposition + Do

= 해야 해요 = 어야 해요 / 돼요
Have to do = 해야 돼다 = 아야 해요 / 돼요
Have to be
Have to do Have to do
Have to be Have to be

저는 공부해야돼요
I have to study
= Have to do
오늘 밤엔 저녁에는 배고파야돼요
I have to be hungry tonight
= Have to be

게임해야돼요
I’m going to play a video game
= ‘be going to’. Something it’s more natural as ‘be going to’. You will
learn about the details in another lesson

돼요 vs 되요
They are a same word with different spellings. It happens because
of conjugations. Even native Koreans are often wrong. I’m not
going to teach you when you should use 돼요 or 되요 because it needs
a whole lesson. But, I can give you a tip. Just use 되 for everything
because it’s less weird than using 돼 for everything. Of course, I’m
going to teach you about in another course though.

-야한다 with 이다 verb

-야한다 with 이다 is same to -야한다 with 하다 verb. However, the
conjugation changes slightly by a 받침 at the end of word. (It’s
same to other conjugations)

Basic 해요 colloquial style

Form
(하다
style) With 받침 Without 받침

이다 + ㅓ야 + 한다 / 이다 + ㅓ야 + 한다 /
-
야한다 된다 된다
Verb + Postposition + Do Verb + Postposition + Do
Have = 이어야 해요 = 여야 해요
to do = 이어야 돼요 = 여야 돼요
Have Have to do Have to do
to be Have to be + noun Have to be + noun

여기서 먹여야 돼요
You have to feed them here
= Have to do

강아지여야 해요
It must be a puppy
= Have to be + noun

내일 아침이어야 해요
It should be tomorrow morning
= Have to be + noun

-야한다 with 있다 verb

when 있다 verb is used with -야한다, It loses the meaning of
possession a bit but not too much. it’s more natural to translate as
‘do you need something’.

Basic Form (하다

해요 colloquial style
style)

하다 + ㅓ야 + 한다 /
-야한다 된다
Verb + Postposition + Do
 = 있어야 해요
Have to do = 있어야 돼요
Have to be
Have to have (possession)
Have to be + location

차 꼭 있어야 해요?
Should we really have a car?
= Do we really need a car?
= Have to have / possession

여기 계속 있어야 돼요
We have to keep staying here
= Have to be + location
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Adverb 꼭 / 반드시
꼭 and 반드시 are an adverb that is often used with ‘have to’ or
Imperative sentences (order). You can translate them as ‘really’,
‘seriously’, ‘must’, ‘never’ but there is no perfect vocabulary for those in
English.

꼭 is informal and causal. 반드시 is formal.

여기 꼭 계속 있어야 돼요
We must keep staying here

반드시 여기 계속 있어야 돼요
We must keep staying here
 Making Question in Korean
Korean interrogative sentence is super easy to make with 해요 speech
style. Follow next steps.

1. Make a sentence
2. Add a question mark at the end
3. Done
4. Celebrate dance
5. Now, make every sentence into questions to bother Koreans.

Examples
Korean grammar use ‘person’s name + title’ instead of pronouns for
2nd person / 3rd person subject and object. So, if you ask a
question like that, the subject can mean ‘you, he, she’ at same time.
You must figure out what’s what by reading context.

준씨는 영화 보고 있어요
Jun is watching a movie
→ 준씨는 영화 보고 있어요?
→ Are (Jun / you / he) watching a movie?
= Sounds so nice and polite. So good.

나탈리아씨는 식사 했어요
Natalia had a meal
→ 나탈리아씨는 식사 했어요?
→ Did (Natalia / you / she) have a meal?

은영씨는 커피 좋아해요
Eunyoung likes coffee
→ 은영씨는 커피 좋아해요?
→ Dose (Eunyoung / you / she) like coffee?
More Natural
Korean interrogative sentences often drop a subject in a sentence. It
has simple rules. It drops a subject especially when the subject is
2nd person. But remember, the dropped subject will be 1st person
when the sentence is not a question.

TV 보고 있어요
(I) am watching TV
→ TV 보고 있어요?
→ Are (you) watching TV

바빠요
(I) am busy
→ 바빠요?
→ Are (you) busy?

뭐 먹었어요
(I) ate something
→ 뭐 먹었어요?
→ What did (you) eat?
= 뭐 means ‘what’ but sometimes it means ‘something’

한국 사람이에요
(I) am Korean
→ 한국 사람이에요?
→ Are (you) Korean?

시간 있어요
(I) have some time
→ 시간 있어요?
→ Do (you) have time?
Question with Have to
But when you ask what you have to do or will do, it can mean 1st
person too. You should read the context on each sentence. If you
want to make your words very clear, then just don’t drop anything!
Easy!

이거 해야돼요
(I / we / you) have to do this
→ 이거 해야돼요?
→ do (I / we / you) have to do this?

이거 꼭 먹어야되요
(I / we / you) have to eat this
→ 이거 꼭 먹어야 되요?
→ do (I / we / you) have to eat this?

이거 먹어요
Eat this
→ 이거 먹어요?
→ Should (I / we) eat it?
You Should Remember This
Formal honorific Korean speech style 합니다 use other
conjugations for making questions. But, you don’t have many
chance to hear it or speak it in a daily life much because 해요 style is
already respectful but also friendly.

바쁩니까?
Are you busy?
= sounds a bit cold. 합니다 style is too formal and cold often.
TV 보고 있습니까?
Are you watching TV?
= sounds like your boss has a talk with you. like ‘you’re watching
fucking TV in an office?’

Many Korean students learn 입니까? / 합니까 questions but I really

don’t suggest you to learn it at first because it makes a whole
different nuance than the question you want to make. Native
Koreans really don’t use 합니다 style in casual conversation.

Who is -? : 누구예요?
In Korean, the order of words in ‘Who is -’ question is different. 누구 is
placed in an object position and works as an object like ‘whom’ in
English except it’s used as ‘who’. This explanation is a bit confusing
but you will understand how it works right away once you check
examples.
‘Subject 가 누구’ question is used especially when the subject is
specific.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

준이에요 준이 누구예요
 He’s Jun Who is Jun?

준이 누구예요?
Jun is who?
= Who is Jun?

선생님이 누구예요?
The teacher is who?
= Who is the teacher?

저 사람은 누구예요?
That person is who?
= Who is he? / Who is she?

Koreans don’t use 2nd, 3rd person pronouns in daily life especially
with honorific because using them in speech sounds super rude. If
you use them, you get in trouble.

누구 = Whom?
Korean grammar doesn’t have object pronouns so also 누구 isn’t
determined as an object or a subject. That’s Korean grammar that you
should get used to.

Who with 하다 Verb

누가- question is very similar to ‘Who question’ in English. it works as
subject. 누가 question is really easy. You just need to use ‘누가’ for
a subject.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

준이 책을 읽어요 누가 책을 읽어요?
 Jun is reading a book Who is reading a book?

내일 누가 와요?
Who comes tomorrow?

누가 이거 먹을래요?
Who wants to eat this?

누가 제일 예뻐요?
Who is prettiest?

누가 and 누구
누가 is a shorten form of 누구(Who)+가(subject marker). 누가 is used
for a specific person. In the other hand, 누구 is often used for an
unspecific person. marker and say ‘누구’ instead of ‘누가’. Also, both
can have a meaning of ‘someone’ or ‘somebody’.

This can be very tricky because you must learn the all differences
between ‘이/가’ and ‘은/는’. That’s not a basic grammar at all. For now,

누가 준이예요?
Who is Jun? (among people)

준이 누구예요?
Who is Jun?

내일 누구 와요?
Who comes tomorrow?
Is someone coming tomorrow?
내일 누가 와요?
Who comes tomorrow?

Who with 이다 Verb

Who question with 이다 looks like almost same to ‘누가 -예요?’ and it’s
translated same as well. But, both has completely different meanings in
Korean. 누가 question sounds like you are asking who is the
specific person among people.

Basic 해요 style Who Question

준이 선생님이에요 누가 선생님이에요?

Jun is the teacher Who is the teacher?

누가 매니저예요?
Who is the manager?
= Be + noun

누가 준이예요?
Who is Jun?
= Be + noun

누가 끄덕여요?
Who is nodding?
= Verb

Who Question with 있다 verb

Who question with 있다 verb can be very tricky since ‘누구’ or ‘누가’
also means ‘someone, somebody’. However, You can guess what’s
what by reading context easily. 있다 verb is used to describe
possession and location.

Basic 해요 style Who Question

준이 여기 있어요 누가 여기 있어요?

Jun is here Who is here?

누구 거기 있어요?
Somebody is there?
Who is there?
= Location

누가 여기 있었어요?
Who stayed here?
Did someone stay here?
= Location

누가 핸드폰 가지고 있어요?

Who has a cellphone?
= Possession

When is -? : – 언제예요?
In previous who question lesson, you’ve learned about -누구예요
phrase. When question has a same way just like who question
does. 언제 can work as an objective but still a question. English
doesn’t have this grammar so it might be confusing for you, but you will
know it’s actually very simple once you see example sentences.
 Basic 해요 style When Question

준 선생님 수업이에요 준 선생님 수업이 언제예요

It’s a Teacher Jun’s class When is Teacher Jun’s class??

시험이 언제예요?
Test is when?
= When is the test?

시험은 언제예요?
Test is when? (among other schedules)
= When is the test? (among other schedules)

생일이 언제예요?
Birthday is when?
= When is your birthday?

When Questions with 하다 Verb

To make when questions with 하다 verb, make a question sentence
first and then add ‘언제’ before or after a subject (this is the most
natural location to put ‘wh questions’). It’s very easy to make. You
need to simply add ‘언제’.

Basic 해요 style When Question

수업 시작해요 언제 수업 시작해요?

the class start When does the class start?

우리는 언제 저녁 먹어요?
When do we have dinner?

나탈리아는 언제 학교 가요?
When do you go to school?

언제 나가요?
When do you go out?

When Questions with 이다 Verb

이다 when question is same to ‘- 언제예요?’ question. Both are
written differently but the meaning is almost same. You saw a
similar thing happens with Who Questions.
Basic 해요 style When Question

수업이에요 언제 수업이에요?

When is your class?

It’s a class
When does your class start?

언제 시작이에요?
When is the start?
= Be + noun

언제 수업이에요?
When is your class?
= Be + noun

언제 붙여요?
When will (I/you) glue it?
= Verb
When Questions with 있다 Verb
When 있다 question is mostly used to ask the location (or time), It
also means possession as usual but the nuance isn’t strong. 언제
possessive question means availability, not owning. You must use
other words like buy, get to ask when to own it.
Basic 해요 style When Question

준이 여기 있어요 누가 여기 있어요?

Jun is here Who is here?

수업 언제 있어요?
When is your class
When do (you) have a class?

언제 집에 있어요?
When are you home?
= What hour do you stay /get home?

언제 차 있어요?
When do you have your car?
= When can you use your car?
왜 Questions
왜 means ‘why’. I think why question is most similar to English why
among other all wh-interrogatives. But the nuance is slightly different
even how it works is same. Thankfully it’s not used as an object. Well…
English can use it as an object though… lol Korean is reverse.

Why Questions with 하다 Verb

왜 imperative is normally placed before or after a subject. It uses
all meanings of 하다 verb. However, you must add an ending 요 to say
‘why’ only : 왜요? with 해요 speech style.

Basic 해요 style Who Question

준 씨는 미쳤어요 준씨는 왜 미쳤어요?

Jun is crazy Why is Jun crazy?

왜 그거 먹고 있어요?
Why are you eating that?
= Verb

준씨는 왜 캐나다에 왔어요?

Why did you come to Canada?
= Verb

준씨는 왜 똑똑해요?
Why is Jun smart? (Because I am lol)
= Be + Adjective
Position of Imperatives
Korean imperatives can be placed anywhere before an ending in a
sentence. I taught you positions aren’t much important in Korean
grammar. It works same to almost everything.

왜 준씨는 캐나다에 왔어요?

Why did you come to Canada?

준씨는 왜 캐나다에 왔어요?

Why did you come to Canada?

준씨는 캐나다에 왜 왔어요?

Why did you come to Canada?

Why Questions with 이다 Verb

왜 + 이다 questions use all functions that 이다 verb has. It’s not
much different than why question with 하다 verb. I’m pretty sure that
you are getting used to Korean wh-question by now.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

준씨는 미친 사람이에요 준씨는 왜 미친 사람이에요?

Jun is a crazy person Why is Jun a crazy person?

준씨는 왜 한국 사람이예요?
Why are you Korean?
= Be + Noun
저 사람은 왜 이기적이예요?
Why is that person selfish?
= Be + Adjective

왜 이거 끓여요?
Why are you boiling this?
= Verb

왜 Is Not Rude at All

Why questions can be rude in English sometimes but it’s perfectly okay
in Korean. Asking why questions or answering why to someone
don’t have any aggressive tone in Korean.

A: 준 선생님
Teacher Jun
J: 네, 왜요?
Yes, Why?

Why Questions with 있다 Verb

You use 있다 as ‘be’ for location and possession but 왜 있다 question
is used usually for location. 왜 있다 for possession can sound a bit
unnatural sometimes in conversations especially with 해요 speech style.

Basic 해요 style Who Question

준씨는 독방에 있어요 준씨는 왜 독방에 있어요?

Jun is in a solitary Why is Jun in a solitary?

준씨는 왜 거기 있어요?
Why are you there?
= Location

그건 왜 학교에 있어요?
Why is it in a school?
= Location

왜 핸드폰 있어요?
Why do you have a cellphone
= Possession

If you want to ask ‘Why do you have’ (possession), verb ‘가지다’ sounds
very perfect. 가지다 means ‘have’ or ‘carry’.

왜 핸드폰 가지고 있어요?

Why do you have a cellphone?
= Possession with 가지다 verb

Where is : 어디에요?
어디에요 question use 어디(where) as an object. It always takes a
noun for the subject. The meaning is simple : ‘where is some
place?’.

Basic 해요 style Where Question

지옥이에요 지옥이 어디에요?

It is hell Where is hell?

지하철 역이 어디에요?
The subway station is where?
= Where is the subway station

집이 어디에요?
Your house is where?
= Where do you live?

화장실이 어디에요?
Restroom/bathroom is where?
= Where is the restroom?

Where Questions with 하다 Verb

Korean question sentence with where interrogative can be very hard
with 하다 verb because it isn’t simple as much as English where
questions. ‘Where’ keeps changing. It happens because of the feature
of Korean post-positions. It’ll be much easier to understand with
examples.
Basic 해요 style Where Question

노래해요 어디서 노래해요?

I sing / Sing Where do you sing?

어디에서 자요?
At where do (we/you) sleep?
= Where do (we/you) sleep?

어디로 가요?
To where are (we/you) going?
= Where are (we/you) going?
어디에서 왔어요?
From where did you come?
= Where did you come from?
= Where do you come from?

어디 vs 어디서 vs 어디에서
어디, 어디서 and 어디에서 all mean ‘where’ in English. However, in
Korean, they are used differently. 어디 is used as a noun for a subject
or an object. 어디서 and 어디서 are used when a sentence has an
subject already like ‘Where are you from?’

어디 = Where
어디에서 = At where / From where
어디서 = Abbreviation of 어디에서

You need to learn one more. It’s 어디로 which means ‘to where’.
어디로 = To where

Where Questions with 이다 Verb

Where question with 이다 is way easier for you when it’s used as ‘be +
noun’ or ‘be + adjective’ because it’s very similar to English. When you
say 이다 where questions, 어디 is used as an subject, so you must
use a subject marker. This subject marker can’t be dropped with
where questions.
Basic 해요 style Where Question

여기가 지옥이에요 어디가 지옥이에요?

 Here is hell Where is hell?

어디가 학교예요?
Where is a school?
= Be + Noun

어디가 서울이에요?
Where is Seoul?
= Be + Noun

어디로 움직여요?
To where are (you/he/she/we/it) moving?
= Where is it moving to?

But I really need to tell you that 어디에요 question is much natural
for ‘where + be + none’ questions in general.

학교가 어디에요?
Where is the school?
= More natural

서울이 어디에요?
Where is Seoul?
= Yes natural

Where Questions with 있다 Verb

어디(where) with 있다 verb has a fixed position. It’s always placed
before 있어요. It’s very simple. 있다 where questions don’t mean
possession at all.
Basic 해요 style Where Question
 유니콘은 여기 유니콘은 어디
있어요 있어요?

Unicorns are here Where are unicorns?

준씨는 어디 있어요?
Jun is where?
= Where is Jun?

준씨 차는 어디 있어요?
Where is Jun’s car?

정신병원은 어디 있어요?
Where is the insane asylum?

What is -? : – 뭐예요?
뭐 means ‘what’ in Korean. 뭐예요 question uses ‘뭐’ as an object and
native Koreans use 뭐예요 question when the subject is not identified or
they really don’t know what the hell it is. You have to use 뭐예요
question especially with pronouns such as ‘this, ‘that’, ‘it’.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

이건 토마토예요 이건 뭐예요?

This is tomato What is this?

이건 뭐예요?
This is what?
= What is this?
저 차는 뭐예요?
That car is what?
= What is that car?

감자가 영어로 뭐예요?

Potato is what in English?
= What’s potato in English?
뭐가 이거야? (Wrong)
What is this? (Wrong)
= Sound unnatural or very aggressive.

What Questions with 하다 Verb

하다 What question is used to say ‘What + do’ or ‘What + be +
adjective’. But, you should use 뭐 as an adjective to say ‘be + adjective’.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

준씨는 한국어
준씨는 뭐 가르쳐요?
가르쳐요

What does Jun

Jun teaches Korean
teach?

준씨는 뭐 했어요?
Jun did what?
= Verb

뭐 먹었어요?
What did (you) eat?
= Verb
뭐가 이뻐요?
What’s beautiful?
= Be + Adjective

무엇 vs 뭐
무엇 and 뭐 are a same word. 뭐 is a shortened form of 무어 which
means imperative ‘what’. 무엇 is more formal. 뭐 is more informal
and native Koreans use it usually in a daily conversation.

Sometimes 뭐 sounds like a bit bitching because replying someone else

‘what’ can be rude in Korean. It’s similar to ‘Why’ can sound rude
sometimes in English (but replying why isn’t rude much in Korean)

What Questions with 이다 Verb

무엇 + 이다 question means ‘What is something?’. However, it can also
mean ‘which one is something’ too. Sometimes it sounds
aggressive so it would be better to use 뭐예요 question for what
question in Korean.
Basic 해요 style Who Question

우유예요 뭐가 우유예요?

It’s milk What’s milk?

뭐가 장난감이에요?
What is a toy?
= Be + Noun
뭐가 효율적이에요?
What’s efficient?
= Be + Adjective

뭐를 늘려야돼요?
What should (we/I/you) extend?
= Verb

뭐 as Which One
When you use 무엇(뭐) as a subject, it often means ‘which one’
although Korean language has an vocabulary for ‘which(어느)’ or
‘which one(어느것)’. You must be aware of this to avoid confusion in a
conversation with native Koreans.

뭐가 좋아요?
Which one is good?
= Be + Adjective (하다)

뭐가 장난감이에요?
Which one is a toy?
= Be + Noun (이다)

뭐가 효율적이에요?
Which one is efficient?
= Be + Adjective (이다)

What Questions with 있다 Verb

있다 What questions are used to ask what’s in some place or what
someone has something. When you use 뭐 with 있다, 뭐 is normally
placed before a verb.
 Basic 해요 style Who Question

감자는 여기 있어요 거기 뭐 있어요?

Here is potato What’s there?

거기에는 뭐 있어요?
What is in there?
= Location

준씨는 뭐 있어요?
What do you have, Jun?
= Possession

거기 뭐 있어요?
Is there something?
= 뭐 as something

How Do Questions with 하다 Verb

어떻게 is an interrogative for methods or manners. English use ‘How’
for amount, quality and method at same time. Korean grammar
separates them into two.

You must not drop the subject to say ‘How + Be adjective’ in

Korean. But, the translation in Korean can very different. ‘어떻게 +
adjective’ actually means ‘how can it be + adjective’. Quite
aggressive.
Basic 해요 style Where Question

외계인을 키워요 어떻게 외계인을 키워요?

I raise aliens How do (you) raise aliens?

이건 어떻게 먹어요?
How do (you) eat this?
= Verb

경복궁 어떻게 가요?

How can (I) go to 경복 palace?
= Verb

어떻게 이게 이뻐요?
How is this pretty?
= How (do you think) this is pretty?
= How can it be pretty?
= Be + Adjective

‘What About’ Question

어떻게 해요 Question also means ‘What about someone or
something?’. In this case, particle 은 or 는 should be used as an
object marker. Normally (noun)은 어떻게 해요 question refers a known
object.

준씨는 어떻게 해요?

= What about me?
= What should Jun do?
코끼리는 어떻게 해요?
= What about the elephants?

How Do Questions with 이다 Verb

어떻게 이다 question can’t be formed ‘How is (Subject)’. It needs
a subject and an object both in a sentence. It means ‘How can A be
B?’ or ‘How is A B?’. This phrase refutes an already mentioned
statement, usually.

이다 do verb or adjective works same as 하다 verb.

Basic 해요 style Where Question

외계인이에요 어떻게 이게 외계인이에요?

It’s an alien How is this an alien?

어떻게 코끼리예요? (Wrong)

How is an elephant? (Wrong)

어떻게 이게 코끼리예요?
How is this an elephant?
= Be + Noun

어떻게 이게 지적이에요?
How is this intelligent?
= How can it be intelligent?
= Be + Adjective

어떻게 붙여요?
How do you glue it?
= Verb
How Do Questions with 있다 Verb
어떻게 있다 question is used when you ask about How + location. it’s
very similar to 어떻게 이다 question. 어떻게 있다 question for
possession can sound unnatural.
SBasic 해요 style Where Question

외계인이 여기 어떻게 외계인이 여기

있어요 있어요?

An alien is here How is an alien here?

어떻게 컴퓨터 있어요? (Wrong)

How do you have a computer? (Wrong)
= Possession

어떻게 이게 여기 있어요?
How is this here?
= How can this be here?
= Location

어떻게 준씨가 여기 있어요?

How are you here?
= How can you be here?
= It’s a common Korean phrase that native Koreans say when they
encounter someone who they didn’t expect to see in a particular place.
How Many / Much Questions with 하다
Verb
얼마나 이다 question is used to ask amount of something with
questions ‘how adjective question’ or ‘how long verb question’ or
‘how many / much question’. 얼마 is ‘How much’ in Korean but it’s
written 얼마나 when it is in How amount questions.

얼마나 often means different things by context. It’s translated

differently to English every time. Reading context is the key.

Basic 해요 style Where Question

준은 예뻐요 준은 얼마나 예뻐요?

Jun is pretty How pretty is Jun?

얼마나 공부할거예요?
How long are you going to study?
= Verb. Also it can mean amount

얼마나 재밌어요?
How fun is it?
= Be + Adjective

얼마나 반복할거예요?
How many times will you repeat that?
= Verb
= You can see 얼마나 means ‘how many times’ in this sentence.
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How Many / Much Questions with 이다

Verb
얼마나 이다 question is ‘how + adjective + question’ or ‘how long +
verb + question’ or ‘how many times + verb + question’. 얼마나
이다 question can’t use a noun with it.

Basic 해요 style Where Question

준은
준은 얼마나 논리적이에요?
논리적이에요

Jun is logical How logical is Jun?

얼마나 한국 사람이에요? (Wrong)

How Korean is he? (Wrong)
= Be + Noun
= What kind of question is this? lol. It doesn’t make sense.

얼마나 과학적이예요?
How scientific is this?
= Be + Adjective

얼마나 서성거릴거예요?
How long are you going to pace?
= Verb
얼마예요 Question
얼마예요 is a phrase to ask amount. It can be translated as ‘How much
is it?’ or ‘How many is it?’. You can use this phrase to ask the
price too same to English.

얼마예요?
How much is it?
= It’s a question for price or amount. Koreans use this phrase to ask
price always.

How Many / Much Questions with 있다

Verb
얼마나 있다 question is used to ask the amount of something. You can
translate it as ‘How many – are there?’. It can be a question for
possession or a question simply for amount.

This question can be very tricky for some students since Koreans
understand 있다 as ‘Something is there’ and ‘Someone has it’ at
same time. However, It normally means only ‘How many are +
something + there’ when it’s used with a post-positional modifier.
It’ll be very easy once you get used to it though.

Basic 해요 style Where Question

준이 얼마나 많이
준이 많이 있어요
있어요?

Many Juns are

How many Juns are there?
there
사과는 얼마나 있어요?
How many apples are there?
How many apples do you have?

현찰 얼마나 있어요?
How much cash do you have?
= Possession (normally)

교실에 사람 얼마나 있어요?

How many people are there in the classroom?
= Location + How Many

Ask And Order in Korean grammar

Imperative sentence of Korean grammar is highly developed than other
languages. Korean grammar has so many ways to order or ask
someone to do something. In this lesson, We will focus on the most
basic one
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How To Make
Korean language use present tense without a subject to ask or
order someone to do something. It’s very similar to English
especially when it’s used with 해요 speech style. It’s the most basic
one.
With 하다 Verb
하다 imperative is used to order someone to do something. You can’t
use 하다 imperative with adjective such as pretty, smart, nice.

Basic 해요 colloquial style

Form
(하다
Chinese Stem
Speech Onomatopoeias Korean Stem
Style) Stem

Noun + Stem + 하다
Noun + 해요
하다 = 어요 (eoyo)
= 해요 (heyo)
Stem + 다 / ㅡ요

Do + Noun
Do + Stem
Do + Noun Do + Stem
Be +
Adjective

한국어 공부해요
Study Korean

나탈리아씨, 이거 먹어요
Natalia, eat this

하다 imperative is often translated as common English imperative like

‘do something’ but Korean imperative with 해요 speech style
doesn’t sound rude or impolite because 해요 style is friendly
honorific.
With 이다 Verb
이다 verb can’t be used as an imperative especially when it’s ‘be +
noun’ or ‘be + adjective’. You must use other verb. 되다 (become) is
the most common Korean vocabulary for 이다 imperative.

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다 style)
With Verb

이 + 에요
이다
= 여요 (yeoyo) (verb)

Be + Noun
Be + Location
Do + Root
Be + Adjective
Do + Root

더 빨리 모여요
Gather together more quickly

선생님이 돼요
become a teacher

= This way doesn’t sound 100% natural to me maybe

because Koreans don’t say ‘be + noun’ in an imperative tone. They
order what to do usually, not what to be. If they order what to be,
then they would say ‘take this job, take this title’. You will learn details in
another course.
Use It in Daily Conversations
It’s used in a daily conversation with people you know. It sounds like
you offer or suggest something to someone in a sweet tone. Of
course, it wouldn’t sound nice at all if you are being a jerk enough.

With 있다 Verb
있다 imperative uses the present form of 있다. It means ‘order
someone to be in a location’. 있다 imperative doesn’t mean
possession. It’s used for only location.

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다 style)
EVERYTHENG

있 + 어요
있다
= 있어요 (‘it-seoyo)

Be (location / time)
Be (location / time)
Have (possession)

여기 있어요
be here
= Stay here

방에 있어요
be in the room
= Stay in the room
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하다 Imperative vs 하다 declarative
If you have studied Korean with me, you might notice it’s not
different from present tense sentences. Yes. This form is exactly
same to present tense sentences. There is no way to distinguish if it’s
ordering or not. You must read context.

한국어 공부해요
I study Korean
한국어 공부해요
study Korean

방에 있어요
I’m in the room
방에 있어요
Stay in the room
Ask / Order [하세요 Imperative]
In this lesson, you will learn how to ask or order someone to do in a polite manner.
세요 Imperative
In the previous lesson, you learned how to make imperative sentence without changing a
sentence much. 세요 imperative is more polite and nice than the basic imperative. But it
becomes slightly more formal.

세요 imperative might be very confusing at first because it’s more formal and polite but
translated same in English. You may wonder why I don’t translate it as ‘Could you -?’ or
‘Would you -?’. keep reading and you will know why.
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세요 Imperative With 하다 Verb

하세요 imperative is translated same to 해요 imperative but is more formal. 해요 imperative
isn’t appropriate to say to strangers. 하세요 is suitable for that situation. You can hear it
often in restaurants or stores. If you use it in a daily conversation with people you know,
Sometimes it can sound cold.

Same as 해요 imperative, You can’t use 세요 imperative with adjectives.

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다
style) After a After a
noun root

하다 + root +
하다
세요 세요

Do = 하세요 = 세요
Be + Adjective = Do = Do

계산하세요
Calculate it / Pay it
= After a noun
이 쪽으로 오세요
Come here
= After a root

다음 사진을 보세요
Look at the next picture
= After a root

세요 Imperative With 이다
세요 imperative is exactly same to 해요 imperative with 이다 verb. It loses all other
meanings but ‘do + something’. If you want to say ‘be something’, you must use verb
되다(become). in English ‘will be’ is same to ‘become’ but it’s not same in Korean grammar.

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다 style)
With Verb

이 + 세요
이다
= 이세요 (yeoyo)

Be + Noun
Be + Location
Do + Root
Be + Adjective
Do + Root

나사를 조이세요
Tighten a screw
= Do + root

선생님이세요
(he/she) is a teacher
= if you 이세요 as ‘be + noun’. it becomes a normal honorific sentence. It’s correct but not
imperative.
나중에 꼭 선생님이 되세요
Be a teacher later
= You must be a teacher in the future. using 되다 verb.

세요 Imperative With 있다
When you use 있다 as an imperative, It doesn’t mean possession but only asking someone to
be somewhere. To order or ask someone to possess something, you must use other verbs such
as 갖다(take / have), 얻다(get).

해요 colloquial style
Basic Form (하다 style)
EVERYTHENG

있 + 으세요
있다
= 있으세요 (‘it-seoyo)

Be (location / time)
Be (location / time)
Have (possession)

스마트폰 있으세요 (wrong)

Have a smartphone (wrong)
= 있으세요 can be used only as a question ‘Do you have?’

여기 있으세요
Stay here
= Be + location

집에 있으세요
Stay in home
= Be + location
주세요
‘주세요’ actually means ‘give’ or ‘pass’ but it also means ‘would you -?’ or ‘could you -?’
when you use it as a conjugation. -세요 imperative sounds more like ordering compare to
주세요. 주세요 sounds more like asking someone to do something politely. For now, let’s
check 주세요 very briefly and learn it in details later.

여기 멈춰주세요
Would you stop here, please?
= 주세요 conjugation to ask. 멈추다 + 주세요

그것을 제게 주세요
Would you please give me that?
= Give / Pass
Request Sentence : Can I / May I?
In this lesson, you will learn how to request a permission to do something.
Request Vocabularies
As many other languages do, Korean also has many expressions for requesting.
However, Korean has special conjugations to ask if ‘I’ can do something. so, ‘Can you -?’
and ‘Can I -?’ have a different phrase from each other.
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Conjugation + Conjugation
In this lesson, I’m not going to explain how the conjugation works (maybe I’ll add later
though). To understand how it works better, You must be aware of conjugation +
conjugation grammar. Korean conjugations can be combined into one.

열다 + 어 + 도 돼요
Open(stem) + Grammatical Glue + can

열어도 돼요
(You) can open

어 in this sentence glues 2 separate phrases. 열다 and 도 돼요. It can be 어, 아, 해, 이어,

여. Don’t they look familiar? Yes, they are conjugations for each verbs in 해요 speech
styles. This is why I recommend all students must start with 해요 speech style then any other
else.

다, 니다, ㅅ니다 and 요 are endings. When you combine more than 2 conjugations, every
endings are dropped except the last ending. In the other view, you can think like the last
ending takes all endings.

-도 돼요?
It’s very similar to ‘may I-? or ‘Can I-?’’ since ‘-도 돼요?’ is a request for permission to do
something but it’s not so formal. You can say -도 돼요 mostly to close people.

Basic 해요 style + 도 돼요?

열어요 열어도 돼요?

Open Can I open?
봐요 봐도 돼요?
Look / Watch / See Can I see it?

샤워해요 샤워해도 돼요?

Shower (verb) Can I shower?

연필이어도 돼요?
연필이에요 Can it be a pencil?
It’s a pencil Is it okay with a
pencil?

여기 있어요
여기 있어도 돼요?
Stay here / Here you
Can I stay here?
go

창문 열어도 돼요?
Can I open the window?

이거 먹어도 돼요?
Can I eat this?

게임해도 돼요?
Can I play a video game?

돼 vs 되
되다 and 돼요 are actually a same word. For example, 됐다 is a short form 되었다. But
it’s really hard for even native Koreans and 50% Koreans spell it wrong. They both are
pronounced same so maybe you don’t need to know which one is correct for each sentence. Of
course, I’ll teach you 되다 verb in details someday soon.

도 될까요?
‘-도 될까요?’ is a formal version of ‘-도 돼요?’. It sounds much polite and careful. It sounds
very similar to ‘May I?’ or ‘Could I?’ but less formal.
Basic 해요 style + 도 될까요?

열어요 열어도 될까요?

Open May I open?

봐요 봐도 될까요?
Look / Watch / See May I see it?

샤워해도 될까요?
샤워해요
Could I take a
Shower (verb)
shower?

연필이에요 연필이어도 될까요?

It’s a pencil Could it be a pencil?

여기 있어요
여기 있어도 될까요?
Stay here / Here you
May I stay here?
go

창문 열어도 될까요?
May I open the window?

이거 먹어도 될까요?
May I eat this?

게임해도 될까요?
Could I play a video game?

Answers for 도 돼요 And 도 될까요

해요 speech styles make everything so easy for beginners. If you don’t make it a question,
then it would be ‘you can do something’ as giving a permission. When it’s a negative form,
use ‘-면 안돼요’ instead of ‘돼요’
네, 창문 열어도 돼요
Yes, you can open the window

네, 이거 먹어도 돼요
Yes, you can eat this

아니요, 게임하면 안돼요

No, You can’t play a video game