TOPIK I Grammar (Level 1-2)

TOPIK I tests Levels 1-2, covering fundamental Korean grammar for basic daily communication. This guide organizes essential grammar points by category to help you prepare systematically for the exam.

Overview

TOPIK I Level Requirements:

• Level 1: Basic greetings, self-introduction, simple questions and requests
• Level 2: Daily routines, shopping, phone calls, simple descriptions

Grammar Focus:

• Basic sentence structure
• Particles and postpositions
• Verb/adjective conjugations
• Time expressions
• Simple connectives

Sentence Structure & Particles

Basic Particles

Subject/Topic Markers:

• -이/가: Subject marker

  • 이것이 책이에요 (This is a book)
  • 친구가 와요 (A friend is coming)

• -은/는: Topic marker

  • 저는 학생이에요 (I am a student)
  • 날씨는 좋아요 (The weather is nice)

Object Marker:

• -을/를: Object marker
  • 밥을 먹어요 (Eat rice)
  • 책을 읽어요 (Read a book)

Location & Direction Particles

에: Time, location, direction

• 학교에 가요 (Go to school)
• 3시에 만나요 (Meet at 3 o'clock)
• 서울에 살아요 (Live in Seoul)

에서: Location of action

• 도서관에서 공부해요 (Study at the library)
• 식당에서 밥을 먹어요 (Eat at a restaurant)

에게/한테: To someone (giving, speaking)

• 친구에게 선물을 줘요 (Give a gift to a friend)
• 선생님한테 질문해요 (Ask a question to the teacher)

에서: From (starting point)

• 집에서 학교까지 (From home to school)

까지: Until, to (endpoint)

• 5시까지 일해요 (Work until 5 o'clock)
• 역까지 걸어요 (Walk to the station)

하고/와/과: And, with

• 친구하고 영화를 봐요 (Watch a movie with a friend)
• 사과와 바나나 (Apple and banana)

Polite Speech Levels

해요체 (Polite Informal)

Present tense: -아/어요

• 가다 → 가요 (go)
• 먹다 → 먹어요 (eat)
• 좋다 → 좋아요 (good)
• 하다 → 해요 (do)

Past tense: -았/었어요

• 갔어요 (went)
• 먹었어요 (ate)
• 좋았어요 (was good)
• 했어요 (did)

Future/Will: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

• 갈 거예요 (will go)
• 먹을 거예요 (will eat)

합니다체 (Formal)

Present: -ㅂ/습니다

• 갑니다 (go)
• 먹습니다 (eat)
• 좋습니다 (good)

Past: -았/었습니다

• 갔습니다 (went)
• 먹었습니다 (ate)

Question: -ㅂ/습니까?

• 갑니까? (Do you go?)
• 먹습니까? (Do you eat?)

Noun Modification

Present Action: -(으)ㄴ/는

Action verbs: -는

• 가는 사람 (person who is going)
• 먹는 음식 (food that [someone] is eating)
• 공부하는 학생 (student who is studying)

Descriptive verbs/adjectives: -(으)ㄴ

• 좋은 날씨 (good weather)
• 큰 집 (big house)
• 맛있는 음식 (delicious food)

Past Action: -(으)ㄴ

All verbs:

• 간 사람 (person who went)
• 먹은 음식 (food that was eaten)
• 공부한 학생 (student who studied)

Future Action: -(으)ㄹ

All verbs:

• 갈 사람 (person who will go)
• 먹을 음식 (food that will be eaten)
• 공부할 학생 (student who will study)

Ability & Possibility

Can Do: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다

Ability or possibility:

• 한국어를 할 수 있어요 (Can speak Korean)
• 내일 갈 수 있어요 (Can go tomorrow)
• 여기서 먹을 수 있어요 (Can eat here)

Cannot Do: -(으)ㄹ 수 없다

Inability or impossibility:

• 한국어를 할 수 없어요 (Cannot speak Korean)
• 내일 갈 수 없어요 (Cannot go tomorrow)

Connectives

And (Sequential): -고

Connecting actions:

• 밥을 먹고 커피를 마셔요 (Eat rice and drink coffee)
• 학교에 가고 공부해요 (Go to school and study)

But: -지만

Contrast:

• 비싸지만 좋아요 (Expensive but good)
• 공부했지만 어려워요 (Studied but it's difficult)

So/Because: -아/어서

Reason or sequence:

• 피곤해서 쉬어요 (Tired, so I rest)
• 날씨가 좋아서 산책해요 (Weather is good, so I take a walk)

If/When: -(으)면

Condition or time:

• 시간이 있으면 가요 (If there's time, I'll go)
• 비가 오면 집에 있어요 (If it rains, I stay home)

Requests & Commands

Please Do: -아/어 주세요

Polite request:

• 도와주세요 (Please help)
• 가르쳐 주세요 (Please teach)
• 기다려 주세요 (Please wait)

Let's: -(으)ㅂ시다

Suggestion (formal):

• 갑시다 (Let's go)
• 먹읍시다 (Let's eat)

Let's: -아/어요 (rising intonation)

Suggestion (informal):

• 가요 (Let's go)
• 먹어요 (Let's eat)

Shall We: -(으)ㄹ까요?

Suggesting together:

• 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
• 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
• 영화 볼까요? (Shall we watch a movie?)

Desires & Plans

Want To: -고 싶다

Personal desire:

• 가고 싶어요 (Want to go)
• 먹고 싶어요 (Want to eat)
• 배우고 싶어요 (Want to learn)

Planning To: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Future intention:

• 갈 거예요 (Going to go / Will go)
• 먹을 거예요 (Going to eat / Will eat)
• 공부할 거예요 (Going to study / Will study)

Have To: -아/어야 하다/-아/어야 되다

Obligation:

• 가야 해요 (Have to go)
• 공부해야 돼요 (Have to study)
• 일찍 일어나야 해요 (Have to wake up early)

Questions

Yes/No Questions: -아/어요?

Rising intonation:

• 가요? (Are you going?)
• 먹어요? (Are you eating?)
• 좋아요? (Is it good?)

Information Questions

Question words:

• 뭐/무엇: What
  • 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?)
• 누구: Who
  • 누가 왔어요? (Who came?)
• 어디: Where
  • 어디 가요? (Where are you going?)
• 언제: When
  • 언제 만나요? (When shall we meet?)
• 왜: Why
  • 왜 안 와요? (Why aren't you coming?)
• 어떻게: How
  • 어떻게 가요? (How do you go?)
• 얼마: How much
  • 얼마예요? (How much is it?)

Negation

Present Negation: 안

Short negation:

• 안 가요 (Don't go / Am not going)
• 안 먹어요 (Don't eat / Am not eating)
• 안 좋아요 (Not good)

Cannot: 못

Inability:

• 못 가요 (Cannot go)
• 못 먹어요 (Cannot eat)
• 못 해요 (Cannot do)

Long Negation: -지 않다

More formal negation:

• 가지 않아요 (Don't go)
• 먹지 않아요 (Don't eat)
• 좋지 않아요 (Not good)

Long Negation: -지 못하다

Cannot (long form):

• 가지 못해요 (Cannot go)
• 먹지 못해요 (Cannot eat)

Existence & Possession

There Is/Are: 있다

Existence or possession:

• 책이 있어요 (There is a book / I have a book)
• 친구가 있어요 (There is a friend / I have friends)
• 시간이 있어요 (There is time / I have time)

There Isn't: 없다

Non-existence or lack:

• 책이 없어요 (There is no book / I don't have a book)
• 친구가 없어요 (There is no friend / I don't have friends)
• 시간이 없어요 (There is no time / I don't have time)

Location Expressions

At/In: 에 있다

Static location:

• 집에 있어요 (I'm at home)
• 학교에 있어요 (I'm at school)
• 서울에 있어요 (I'm in Seoul)

Living In: 에 살다

Residence:

• 서울에 살아요 (Live in Seoul)
• 한국에 살아요 (Live in Korea)

Going To: 에 가다

Destination:

• 학교에 가요 (Go to school)
• 집에 가요 (Go home)

Time Expressions

Time Marker: 에

Specific times:

• 3시에 (at 3 o'clock)
• 월요일에 (on Monday)
• 1월에 (in January)

Note: No 에 with 오늘, 내일, 어제, 지금

Duration: 동안

Length of time:

• 2시간 동안 (for 2 hours)
• 일주일 동안 (for one week)
• 3년 동안 (for 3 years)

From...To: 부터...까지

Time/place range:

• 9시부터 5시까지 (from 9 to 5)
• 월요일부터 금요일까지 (from Monday to Friday)
• 집부터 학교까지 (from home to school)

Experience

Have Done Before: -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다

Past experience:

• 한국에 간 적이 있어요 (Have been to Korea before)
• 김치를 먹은 적이 있어요 (Have eaten kimchi before)

Have Never Done: -(으)ㄴ 적이 없다

No experience:

• 한국에 간 적이 없어요 (Have never been to Korea)
• 김치를 먹은 적이 없어요 (Have never eaten kimchi)

Comparison

More Than: 보다 더

Comparison:

• 이것이 저것보다 더 좋아요 (This is better than that)
• 한국어가 영어보다 더 어려워요 (Korean is more difficult than English)

Most: 제일/가장

Superlative:

• 이것이 제일 좋아요 (This is the best)
• 가장 맛있어요 (Most delicious)

Degrees & Extent

Very: 아주/정말/너무

Intensity:

• 아주 좋아요 (Very good)
• 정말 맛있어요 (Really delicious)
• 너무 비싸요 (Too expensive / Very expensive)

A Little: 조금/좀

Small amount:

• 조금 기다려 주세요 (Please wait a little)
• 좀 주세요 (Please give me some)

Listing & Examples

And (Listing): 하고/와/과

Connecting nouns:

• 사과하고 바나나 (Apple and banana)
• 친구와 선생님 (Friend and teacher)

Things Like: 같은

Examples:

• 책 같은 것 (Things like books)
• 이런 것 (Things like this)

Trying & Planning

Try Doing: -아/어 보다

Attempting or experiencing:

• 먹어 보세요 (Try eating / Please try)
• 가 봤어요 (Tried going / Went and checked)
• 한번 해 보세요 (Try doing it once)

Intend To: -(으)려고 하다

Planning or intending:

• 가려고 해요 (Intend to go / Plan to go)
• 공부하려고 해요 (Intend to study)

Purpose & Reason

In Order To: -(으)러 가다/오다

Purpose of movement:

• 밥 먹으러 가요 (Go to eat)
• 책 사러 왔어요 (Came to buy books)

Because: -아/어서

Reason:

• 비가 와서 못 가요 (Can't go because it's raining)
• 바빠서 전화 못 했어요 (Couldn't call because I was busy)

State & Change

Become: -아/어지다

Change of state:

• 좋아지다 (Become good / Get better)
• 커지다 (Become big / Grow)
• 추워지다 (Become cold / Get colder)

While Doing: -면서

Simultaneous actions:

• 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 (Study while listening to music)
• 걸으면서 이야기해요 (Talk while walking)

Politeness & Honorifics

Honorific Subject: -(으)시-

Respectful speech:

• 가시다 → 가세요 (go - honorific)
• 먹으시다 → 드세요 (eat - honorific)
• 있으시다 → 계세요 (be - honorific)

Special honorific verbs:

• 먹다 → 드시다 (eat)
• 자다 → 주무시다 (sleep)
• 있다 → 계시다 (be/exist)
• 말하다 → 말씀하시다 (speak)

Additional Essential Patterns

Also/Too: 도

Including:

• 저도 가요 (I'm going too)
• 이것도 좋아요 (This is also good)

Only: 만

Limitation:

• 한 개만 (Only one)
• 저만 가요 (Only I go)

All/Every: 다

Totality:

• 다 먹었어요 (Ate everything)
• 다 좋아요 (All are good)

Study Tips for TOPIK I

Focus Areas

Grammar priorities:

1. Master basic particles (이/가, 은/는, 을/를, 에, 에서)
2. Know polite speech endings (-아/어요, -ㅂ/습니다)
3. Understand basic connectives (-고, -지만, -아/어서, -(으)면)
4. Practice question forms and negation
5. Learn time and location expressions

Common Patterns in Reading

Frequently tested:

• -고 싶다 (want to)
• -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 (can/cannot)
• -아/어 주세요 (please do)
• -아/어야 하다 (have to)
• -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (will/going to)

Common Patterns in Listening

Key phrases:

• -(으)ㄹ까요? (Shall we...?)
• -지만 (but)
• -아/어서 (so/because)
• 있다/없다 (there is/there isn't)
• Question words (뭐, 누구, 어디, 언제, 왜, 어떻게)

Grammar Checklist

Level 1 Essential

• ✅ Particles: 이/가, 은/는, 을/를, 에, 에서
• ✅ Polite endings: -아/어요, -ㅂ/습니다
• ✅ Basic negation: 안, 못
• ✅ Present/past tense
• ✅ Questions with question words
• ✅ Existence: 있다/없다
• ✅ Simple connectives: -고, -지만

Level 2 Essential

• ✅ Future: -(으)ㄹ 거예요
• ✅ Ability: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다
• ✅ Obligation: -아/어야 하다
• ✅ Desire: -고 싶다
• ✅ Requests: -아/어 주세요
• ✅ Suggestions: -(으)ㄹ까요?
• ✅ Noun modification: -(으)ㄴ/는
• ✅ Reason: -아/어서
• ✅ Condition: -(으)면
• ✅ Experience: -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다
• ✅ Try doing: -아/어 보다
• ✅ Honorifics: -(으)시-

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Master fundamentals: Particles and basic verb conjugations are crucial
• ✅ Practice politeness: Know when to use 해요체 vs 합니다체
• ✅ Memorize patterns: Common expressions appear repeatedly in tests
• ✅ Focus on daily life: TOPIK I tests practical, everyday Korean
• ✅ Time expressions: Know how to use 에, 부터, 까지, 동안
• ✅ Question formation: Practice all question words and forms

TOPIK I focuses on foundational grammar for basic communication. Mastering these patterns will prepare you for everyday Korean conversations and provide a solid foundation for advancing to TOPIK II.