Korean word order is both rigid and flexible. While the verb must appear at the end, other elements can move relatively freely thanks to the particle system. Understanding these rules helps you construct natural-sounding Korean sentences.
The One Absolute Rule
The verb (or predicate) MUST come at the end.
Everything else is negotiable, but this is not:
✅ 저는 밥을 먹어요. (I rice eat.) ✅ 밥을 저는 먹어요. (Rice I eat.) ❌ 저는 먹어요 밥을. (I eat rice.) - WRONG
Standard Word Order
The most natural, neutral word order follows this pattern:
[Time] [Place] [Subject] [Indirect Object] [Direct Object] [Manner] [VERB]
Full Example
저는 어제 학교에서 친구에게 책을 천천히 줬어요. (Jeoneun eoje hakgyo-eseo chingu-ege chaeg-eul cheoncheonhi jwosseoyo.)
Breaking it down:
- 저는 (jeoneun) - I [subject]
- 어제 (eoje) - yesterday [time]
- 학교에서 (hakgyo-eseo) - at school [place]
- 친구에게 (chingu-ege) - to friend [indirect object]
- 책을 (chaeg-eul) - book [direct object]
- 천천히 (cheoncheonhi) - slowly [manner]
- 줬어요 (jwosseoyo) - gave [verb]
Translation: "I slowly gave a book to my friend at school yesterday."
Element-by-Element Placement
1. Time Expressions
Time words typically appear early in the sentence:
Position: Usually after subject or at sentence beginning
Examples:
- 저는 어제 영화를 봤어요. (I yesterday watched a movie.)
- 어제 저는 영화를 봤어요. (Yesterday I watched a movie.)
- 내일 학교에 가요. (Tomorrow I go to school.)
Common time words:
- 오늘 (oneul) - today
- 어제 (eoje) - yesterday
- 내일 (naeil) - tomorrow
- 지금 (jigeum) - now
- 아까 (akka) - earlier
2. Place/Location
Place markers come before the verb but after time expressions:
Pattern: [Time] + [Place + 에/에서] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 어제 도서관에서 공부했어요. (Yesterday at library studied.)
- 집에서 음악을 들어요. (At home listen to music.)
- 학교에 가요. (To school go.)
3. Subject (Subject Marker: 이/가)
The subject can appear in multiple positions, but most commonly near the beginning:
Standard position:
- 친구가 왔어요. (Friend came.)
After time/place:
- 어제 친구가 왔어요. (Yesterday friend came.)
Can be omitted when clear from context:
- (저는) 먹어요. ((I) eat.)
4. Topic (Topic Marker: 은/는)
Topics typically appear first to establish what the sentence is about:
Examples:
- 저는 학생이에요. (As for me, I'm a student.)
- 한국 음식은 맛있어요. (As for Korean food, it's delicious.)
- 이 책은 재미있어요. (This book is interesting.)
5. Objects (Object Marker: 을/를)
Direct objects appear before the verb:
Standard position: Just before the verb
Examples:
- 저는 커피를 마셔요. (I coffee drink.)
- 친구가 책을 읽어요. (Friend book reads.)
- 학생이 한국어를 공부해요. (Student Korean studies.)
6. Indirect Objects (Particle: 에게/한테)
Indirect objects (recipients) come before direct objects:
Pattern: [Indirect Object] + [Direct Object] + [Verb]
Examples:
- 저는 친구에게 선물을 줬어요. (I to-friend gift gave.)
- 엄마한테 전화를 했어요. (To-mom phone did / Called mom.)
7. Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs typically appear right before the verb:
Examples:
- 빨리 가요. (Quickly go.)
- 천천히 말하세요. (Slowly speak.)
- 열심히 공부해요. (Diligently study.)
Flexible Ordering Through Particles
Because particles mark grammatical function, word order can change for emphasis or style:
Example 1: Neutral Order
저는 어제 친구에게 책을 줬어요. (I yesterday to-friend book gave.) "I gave a book to my friend yesterday."
Example 2: Emphasizing Time
어제 저는 친구에게 책을 줬어요. (Yesterday I to-friend book gave.) "YESTERDAY I gave a book to my friend."
Example 3: Emphasizing Object
책을 저는 어제 친구에게 줬어요. (Book I yesterday to-friend gave.) "It was a BOOK that I gave to my friend yesterday."
Example 4: Emphasizing Recipient
친구에게 저는 어제 책을 줬어요. (To-friend I yesterday book gave.) "To my FRIEND I gave a book yesterday."
All are grammatical because particles (는, 에게, 를) make the roles clear.
Typical Patterns by Sentence Type
Simple Statement
[Subject] + [Object] + [Verb]
- 저는 밥을 먹어요. (I eat rice.)
- 학생이 책을 읽어요. (Student reads book.)
Location Statement
[Subject] + [Location + 에] + [Existence Verb]
- 책이 책상 위에 있어요. (Book is on desk.)
- 고양이가 집에 있어요. (Cat is at home.)
Action at Location
[Subject] + [Location + 에서] + [Action Verb]
- 학교에서 공부해요. (Study at school.)
- 식당에서 밥을 먹어요. (Eat at restaurant.)
Movement
[Subject] + [Destination + 에/로] + [Movement Verb]
- 학교에 가요. (Go to school.)
- 한국으로 와요. (Come to Korea.)
Giving/Receiving
[Giver] + [Recipient + 에게] + [Object + 을/를] + [Verb]
- 저는 친구에게 선물을 줬어요. (I gave friend a gift.)
- 동생한테 돈을 받았어요. (Received money from sibling.)
Particle-Free Word Order
Some elements don't use particles and have fixed positions:
Adverbs
Adverbs typically precede what they modify:
Manner adverbs before verbs:
- 빨리 먹어요. (Eat quickly.)
- 잘 자요. (Sleep well.)
Frequency adverbs before verbs:
- 자주 가요. (Go often.)
- 항상 공부해요. (Always study.)
Determiners
Determiners precede nouns directly:
- 이 책 (this book)
- 그 사람 (that person)
- 저 집 (that house over there)
- 모든 학생 (all students)
Numbers and Counters
Numbers with counters precede the noun:
- 두 명의 친구 (two people-friend / two friends)
- 세 개의 사과 (three items-apple / three apples)
- 한 권의 책 (one volume-book / one book)
Questions and Word Order
Question words replace the element they ask about but maintain the same position:
Statement
- 친구가 책을 읽어요. (Friend reads book.)
Who Question (Subject)
- 누가 책을 읽어요? (Who reads book?)
What Question (Object)
- 친구가 무엇을 읽어요? (Friend reads what?)
Where Question
- 친구가 어디에서 책을 읽어요? (Friend reads book where?)
The questioned element stays in its normal position.
Emphasis Through Position
Front Position = Strong Emphasis
Moving an element to the beginning emphasizes it:
Neutral:
- 저는 어제 영화를 봤어요. (I watched a movie yesterday.)
Emphasizing time:
- 어제 저는 영화를 봤어요. (YESTERDAY I watched a movie.)
Emphasizing object:
- 영화를 저는 어제 봤어요. (A MOVIE is what I watched yesterday.)
Topic Position (은/는)
Using topic marker 은/는 creates contrast or emphasis:
- 저는 학생이에요. (As for me, I'm a student [but maybe others aren't].)
- 커피는 마셔요. (Coffee I drink [but maybe not tea].)
Common Patterns to Memorize
Pattern 1: Basic Action
[Subject] + [Object] + [Verb]
- 저는 물을 마셔요. (I drink water.)
Pattern 2: Location + Action
[Subject] + [Place-에서] + [Object] + [Verb]
- 도서관에서 책을 읽어요. (Read book at library.)
Pattern 3: Time + Action
[Time] + [Subject] + [Object] + [Verb]
- 어제 친구가 전화를 했어요. (Yesterday friend called.)
Pattern 4: Full Sentence
[Time] + [Place] + [Subject] + [Object] + [Manner] + [Verb]
- 어제 학교에서 저는 한국어를 열심히 공부했어요.
- (Yesterday at school I Korean diligently studied.)
Practice Strategy
- Start with standard order: Learn the basic pattern first
- Add elements gradually: Subject + Object + Verb, then add time, place
- Trust the particles: They show function regardless of position
- Observe native content: Notice how Koreans vary order for emphasis
- Practice variations: Take one sentence and reorder elements
The key principle: Particles free you from rigid word order, but the verb stays put.