Understanding basic sentence patterns is your gateway to speaking Korean. Korean follows predictable patterns that allow you to construct countless sentences once mastered.
The SOV Structure
Korean follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, while English uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
English (SVO): I eat rice. Korean (SOV): 저는 밥을 먹어요. (I rice eat.)
Key rule: The verb ALWAYS comes at the end.
Pattern 1: Subject + Verb
The simplest sentence has a subject and verb.
Structure: [Noun + 이/가] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 비가 와요. (Bi-ga wayo.) - It's raining.
- 친구가 와요. (Chingu-ga wayo.) - My friend is coming.
- 아기가 자요. (Agi-ga jayo.) - The baby is sleeping.
- 꽃이 예뻐요. (Kkochi yeppeoyo.) - Flowers are pretty.
Notes:
- 이/가 marks the subject
- Use 이 after consonants, 가 after vowels
- Subjects are often omitted when clear from context
Pattern 2: Subject + Object + Verb
Objects go between subject and verb.
Structure: [Noun + 이/가] + [Noun + 을/를] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 저는 커피를 마셔요. (Jeoneun keopi-reul mashyeoyo.) - I drink coffee.
- 친구가 책을 읽어요. (Chingu-ga chaeg-eul ilgeoyo.) - My friend reads a book.
- 학생이 한국어를 공부해요. (Haksaeng-i hangugeo-reul gongbuhaeyo.) - The student studies Korean.
- 오빠가 밥을 먹어요. (Oppa-ga bab-eul meogeoyo.) - My brother eats rice.
Notes:
- 을/를 marks the direct object
- Use 을 after consonants, 를 after vowels
Pattern 3: Topic + Comment
Korean distinguishes subject (이/가) from topic (은/는).
Structure: [Noun + 은/는] + [Comment]
Examples:
- 저는 학생이에요. (Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.) - I'm a student.
- 한국은 좋아요. (Hangug-eun joayo.) - Korea is good.
- 이것은 책이에요. (Igeos-eun chaeg-ieyo.) - This is a book.
- 날씨는 추워요. (Nalssi-neun chuwoyo.) - The weather is cold.
Notes:
- 은/는 marks the topic (what the sentence is about)
- Use 은 after consonants, 는 after vowels
- Topics are used when introducing information or making general statements
Pattern 4: Subject/Topic + Adjective
Adjectives in Korean work like verbs—they conjugate and can stand alone.
Structure: [Noun + 이/가 or 은/는] + [Adjective]
Examples:
- 날씨가 좋아요. (Nalssi-ga joayo.) - The weather is good.
- 방이 커요. (Bang-i keoyo.) - The room is big.
- 커피는 맛있어요. (Keopi-neun masisseoyo.) - Coffee is delicious.
- 한국어는 어려워요. (Hangugeo-neun eoryeowoyo.) - Korean is difficult.
Key difference: No copula needed. The adjective acts as the verb.
Pattern 5: Noun Predicate with 이다
When the predicate is a noun, use the copula 이다.
Structure: [Noun + 은/는] + [Noun + 이에요/예요]
Examples:
- 저는 학생이에요. (Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.) - I am a student.
- 이것은 사과예요. (Igeos-eun sagwa-yeyo.) - This is an apple.
- 그분은 선생님이에요. (Geubun-eun seonsaengnim-ieyo.) - That person is a teacher.
- 오늘은 월요일이에요. (Oneul-eun woryoil-ieyo.) - Today is Monday.
Notes:
- Use 이에요 after consonants
- Use 예요 after vowels
- This equates two nouns (X = Y)
Pattern 6: Location (Existence)
Expressing where something exists.
Structure: [Subject] + [Location + 에] + 있다/없다
Examples:
- 책이 책상 위에 있어요. (Chaeg-i chaeksang wie isseoyo.) - The book is on the desk.
- 친구가 집에 있어요. (Chingu-ga jibe isseoyo.) - My friend is at home.
- 고양이가 의자 밑에 있어요. (Goyangi-ga uija mit-e isseoyo.) - The cat is under the chair.
- 돈이 없어요. (Don-i eopseoyo.) - There's no money. / I don't have money.
Notes:
- 있다 = to exist, to be present
- 없다 = to not exist, to be absent
- 에 marks static location
Pattern 7: Location (Action)
Expressing where an action happens.
Structure: [Location + 에서] + [Action Verb]
Examples:
- 도서관에서 공부해요. (Doseogwan-eseo gongbuhaeyo.) - I study at the library.
- 식당에서 밥을 먹어요. (Sikdang-eseo bab-eul meogeoyo.) - I eat at restaurants.
- 학교에서 친구를 만나요. (Hakgyo-eseo chingu-reul mannayo.) - I meet friends at school.
Key distinction:
- 에 = static location (existence)
- 에서 = action location
Pattern 8: Direction/Destination
Movement toward a location.
Structure: [Destination + 에/로] + [Movement Verb]
Examples:
- 학교에 가요. (Hakgyo-e gayo.) - I go to school.
- 한국으로 와요. (Hangug-euro wayo.) - (Someone) comes to Korea.
- 집에 와요. (Jibe wayo.) - I come home.
- 서울로 가요. (Seoul-lo gayo.) - I go to Seoul.
Notes:
- 에 indicates destination
- (으)로 also indicates direction ("toward")
- Use 로 after vowels or ㄹ, 으로 after other consonants
Pattern 9: Time Expressions
Time words with specific particles.
Structure: [Time + 에] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 3시에 만나요. (Se-si-e mannayo.) - We meet at 3 o'clock.
- 월요일에 일해요. (Woryoil-e ilhaeyo.) - I work on Monday.
- 아침에 운동해요. (Achim-e undonghaeyo.) - I exercise in the morning.
Exception: Some time words don't take 에:
- 오늘 가요. (Oneul gayo.) - I go today.
- 내일 와요. (Naeil wayo.) - (Someone) comes tomorrow.
- 지금 먹어요. (Jigeum meogeoyo.) - I eat now.
Pattern 10: Connecting Actions
Use -고 to connect two actions.
Structure: [Verb stem + 고] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 밥을 먹고 자요. (Bab-eul meokgo jayo.) - I eat and sleep.
- 친구를 만나고 영화를 봐요. (Chingu-reul mannago yeonghwa-reul bwayo.) - I meet my friend and watch a movie.
- 한국어를 공부하고 일해요. (Hangugeo-reul gongbuhago ilhaeyo.) - I study Korean and work.
Notes:
- -고 means "and" for sequential actions
- Remove verb ending, add -고
- Final verb determines tense for the whole sentence
Pattern 11: Negation
Two main negation patterns.
Short Form: 안 + [Verb/Adjective]
Examples:
- 안 가요. (An gayo.) - I don't go.
- 안 먹어요. (An meogeoyo.) - I don't eat.
- 안 좋아요. (An joayo.) - It's not good.
Long Form: [Verb stem + 지 않아요]
Examples:
- 가지 않아요. (Gaji anayo.) - I don't go.
- 먹지 않아요. (Meokji anayo.) - I don't eat.
- 좋지 않아요. (Jochi anayo.) - It's not good.
Notes:
- Both forms mean the same
- 안 form is more common in speech
- Some verbs only use -지 않다
Useful Vocabulary
Subjects/Topics:
- 저 (jeo) - I (polite)
- 친구 (chingu) - friend
- 학생 (haksaeng) - student
Common Objects:
- 물 (mul) - water
- 밥 (bab) - rice/meal
- 책 (chaek) - book
- 한국어 (hangugeo) - Korean
Verbs:
- 가다 (gada) → 가요 - to go
- 오다 (oda) → 와요 - to come
- 먹다 (meokda) → 먹어요 - to eat
- 마시다 (masida) → 마셔요 - to drink
- 보다 (boda) → 봐요 - to see/watch
- 읽다 (ikda) → 읽어요 - to read
- 공부하다 (gongbuhada) → 공부해요 - to study
Adjectives:
- 좋다 (jota) → 좋아요 - to be good
- 크다 (keuda) → 커요 - to be big
- 작다 (jakda) → 작아요 - to be small
- 맛있다 (masitda) → 맛있어요 - to be delicious
Practice Strategy
- Memorize patterns: Write them out and review daily
- Substitute words: Practice one pattern with different vocabulary
- Build gradually: Start with 2-word sentences, add elements
- Think SOV: Train yourself to think in Korean word order
- Use particles: Don't skip them while learning
- Create daily: Make 5-10 new sentences every day
- Speak aloud: Build muscle memory
These fundamental patterns are the foundation for everything you'll learn. Master them and you'll be able to express a huge range of ideas in Korean.