Korean Grammar | 한국어 학교

1 Word Order — SOV Structure (어순)

Unlike English (Subject-Verb-Object), Korean follows Subject → Object → Verb order. The verb (동사) always comes at the END of the sentence.

📘 English vs Korean Word Order

English (SVO)	Korean (SOV)	Literal Korean
I eat rice.	나는 밥을 먹어요.	I (topic) rice (object) eat.
She loves Korea.	그녀는 한국을 사랑해요.	She (topic) Korea (object) loves.
They study Korean.	그들은 한국어를 공부해요.	They (topic) Korean (object) study.
I go to Seoul.	나는 서울에 가요.	I (topic) Seoul (to) go.

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Grammar Tip

In Korean, the verb always comes last. If someone starts speaking and you hear the word 먹어요 (eat) at the end, you know eating is the action! This lets Korean speakers be flexible with other word positions.

2 Korean Particles (조사)

Particles are suffixes attached to nouns that indicate grammatical function. They are the backbone of Korean sentence structure — once you master particles, grammar becomes much clearer!

🔗 Essential Korean Particles

Particle	Function	Rule	Example
은/는	Topic marker	은 after consonant, 는 after vowel	나는 학생이에요 I am a student (topic)
이/가	Subject marker	이 after consonant, 가 after vowel	비가 와요 Rain is coming (rain = subject)
을/를	Object marker	을 after consonant, 를 after vowel	밥을 먹어요 I eat rice (rice = object)
에	Location / Direction	Destination or static location	학교에 가요 I go to school
에서	Location of action	Where an action takes place	학교에서 공부해요 I study at school
의	Possessive	Like "of" or "'s"	나의 친구 My friend (friend of me)
와/과	And (with nouns)	와 after vowel, 과 after consonant	사과와 바나나 Apple and banana
도	Also / Too	Replaces 은/는 or 이/가	저도 좋아요 I like it too
만	Only	Exclusive focus	물만 마셔요 I only drink water

Particle Practice

💬 Example Sentences with Particles

저는 한국어를 배워요.

Jeoneun hangugeo-reul baewoyo.

I am learning Korean. (는=topic, 를=object)

친구가 서울에 있어요.

Chinguga Seoure isseoyo.

My friend is in Seoul. (가=subject, 에=location)

카페에서 커피를 마셔요.

Kapeseo keopireul masyeoyo.

I drink coffee at the café. (에서=action location, 를=object)

나도 김치를 좋아해요.

Nado gimchi-reul joahaeyo.

I also like kimchi. (도=also, 를=object)

3 Verb Conjugation (동사 변화)

Korean verbs always end in 다 (da) in their dictionary form. To use them in sentences, replace 다 and add the appropriate ending based on formality level and tense.

Speech Levels (존댓말 vs 반말)

🗣️ Formality Levels in Korean

Level	When to Use	"To eat" (먹다)	Translation
Formal 격식체	Official settings, strangers, broadcast	먹습니다	I eat (formal)
Polite 존댓말	Most daily use, adults, strangers	먹어요	I eat (polite)
Casual 반말	Close friends, younger people, informal	먹어	I eat (casual)

Present Tense (-아요/-어요)

The most common form is the polite present tense. Add -아요 after stems with ㅏ or ㅗ vowels, and -어요 for all other vowels.

⏰ Common Verbs Conjugated (Polite Present)

Dictionary Form	Stem	Conjugated	English
가다	가-	가요	goes/I go
오다	오-	와요	comes/I come
먹다	먹-	먹어요	eats/I eat
마시다	마시-	마셔요	drinks/I drink
자다	자-	자요	sleeps/I sleep
공부하다	공부하-	공부해요	studies/I study
좋아하다	좋아하-	좋아해요	likes/I like
배우다	배우-	배워요	learns/I learn
보다	보-	봐요	sees/I see
하다	하-	해요	does/I do

Past Tense (-았어요/-었어요)

Add -았어요 (after ㅏ/ㅗ stems) or -었어요 (all others) to form past tense.

📅 Past Tense Examples

어제 밥을 먹었어요.

Eoje babeul meogeosseoyo.

I ate rice yesterday.

서울에 갔어요.

Seoure gasseoyo.

I went to Seoul.

한국어를 공부했어요.

Hangugeo-reul gongbuhaesseoyo.

I studied Korean.

Future Tense (-을 거예요/-ㄹ 거예요)

🔮 Future Tense Examples

내일 한국에 갈 거예요.

Naeil Hanguge gal geoyeyo.

I will go to Korea tomorrow.

한국어를 배울 거예요.

Hangugeo-reul baeul geoyeyo.

I will learn Korean.

4 Making Sentences Negative (부정문)

There are two ways to negate in Korean:

🚫 Two Ways to Negate

Method	Pattern	Example	Translation
Short negation	안 + verb	안 먹어요	I don't eat
Long negation	verb stem + 지 않아요	먹지 않아요	I don't eat
Cannot	못 + verb	못 먹어요	I can't eat
Is not	noun + 이/가 아니에요	학생이 아니에요	I'm not a student

5 Forming Questions (의문문)

In Korean, questions are formed simply by changing the intonation (rising) or adding a question mark. The word order does NOT change unlike English!

❓ Question Formation

밥을 먹어요. → 밥을 먹어요?

Babeul meogeooyo → Babeul meogeooyo?

You eat rice. → Do you eat rice? (same words, rising tone)

WH- Question Words

뭐/무엇

Mwo / Mueot

What

누구

Nugu

Who

어디

Eodi

Where

언제

Eonje

When

왜

Wae

Why

어떻게

Eotteoke

How

얼마

Eolma

How much

몇

Myeot

How many

💬 Question Word Examples

이름이 뭐예요?

Ireumi mwoyeyo?

What is your name?

어디서 왔어요?

Eodiseo wasseoyo?

Where are you from?

한국어를 왜 배워요?

Hangugeo-reul wae baewoyo?

Why are you learning Korean?

지하철역에 어떻게 가요?

Jihacheoryeogeo eotteoke gayo?

How do I get to the subway station?

6 Essential Sentence Patterns (문형)

📋 Must-Know Grammar Patterns

Pattern	Meaning	Example
~이에요/예요	is/am/are (noun)	학생이에요 — (I'm) a student
~고 싶어요	want to ~	한국에 가고 싶어요 — I want to go to Korea
~해 주세요	Please do ~	천천히 말해 주세요 — Please speak slowly
~ㄹ/을 수 있어요	can / be able to	한국어를 할 수 있어요 — I can speak Korean
~아/어야 해요	must / have to	공부해야 해요 — I must study
~(으)면	if / when	한국에 가면 김치 먹어요 — If I go to Korea, I eat kimchi
~때문에	because of	비 때문에 못 가요 — Can't go because of rain
~는 것 같아요	It seems like / I think	맛있는 것 같아요 — It seems delicious

7 Connectors: 그리고, 그래서, 그렇지만, 그런데

Connectors (접속사) are conjunctions placed at the beginning of a new clause or sentence to link ideas together. These four are the most essential for flowing Korean speech.

🔗 Four Core Connectors

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	When to Use
그리고	geurigo	And / And then	Adds information; lists items or sequential actions
그래서	geuraeseo	So / Therefore	Cause → result; the result follows logically
그렇지만	geureochiman	But / However	Strong contrast; more formal than 그런데
그런데	geureonde	But / By the way	Soft contrast or topic shift; very common in conversation

💬 Connector Examples in Context

저는 한국어를 배워요. 그리고 일본어도 공부해요.

Jeoneun hangugeo-reul baewoyo. Geurigo ilbeoneo-do gongbuhaeyo.

I am learning Korean. And I also study Japanese.

비가 왔어요. 그래서 집에 있었어요.

Biga wasseoyo. Geuraeseo jibe isseosseoyo.

It rained. So I stayed home.

한국어가 어려워요. 그렇지만 재미있어요.

Hangugeo-ga eoryeowoyo. Geureochiman jaemiisseoyo.

Korean is difficult. But it is interesting.

배고파요. 그런데 돈이 없어요.

Baegopayo. Geureonde don-i eopseoyo.

I am hungry. But (the thing is) I have no money.

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Usage Tip

그런데 is one of the most common words in spoken Korean — it softens contrast and smoothly shifts topics. 그렇지만 is stronger and more formal. When in doubt, 그런데 sounds more natural in conversation.

8 And, With: -하고, -(이)랑

While 그리고 connects sentences, Korean uses specific particles to say "and/with" between nouns. The two most common casual particles are -하고 and -(이)랑.

➕ Noun Connectors: -하고 vs -(이)랑 vs 와/과

Particle	Rule	Register	Example
하고	After any noun (no variation)	Neutral / casual	친구하고 갔어요 Went with a friend
이랑 / 랑	이랑 after consonant, 랑 after vowel	Casual / colloquial	오빠랑 밥 먹었어요 Ate with my older brother
와 / 과	와 after vowel, 과 after consonant	Formal / written	선생님과 상담했어요 Consulted with the teacher

💬 Using -하고 and -랑 for "and" (listing)

사과하고 바나나를 샀어요.

Sagwahago banana-reul sasseoyo.

I bought apples and bananas.

언니랑 남동생이랑 같이 놀았어요.

Eonni-rang namdongsaeng-irang gachi noratseoyo.

I played with my older sister and my younger brother.

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Register Note

In everyday speech, 하고 and (이)랑 are interchangeable. Use 와/과 in formal writing, business emails, and academic Korean. Mixing registers sounds unnatural.

9 To/From Someone: -한테, -한테서

When saying you gave something to a person or received something from a person, Korean uses specific particles. These are different from the location particles 에 and 에서.

📨 Person-Directional Particles

Particle	Meaning	Used with	Formal equivalent
-한테	to (a person)	People, animals	-에게
-한테서	from (a person)	People, animals	-에게서
-에	to (a place/object)	Places, things	-에
-에서	from (a place)	Places	-에서

💬 -한테 and -한테서 in Sentences

친구한테 전화했어요.

Chinguhante jeonhwahaesseoyo.

I called my friend. (to my friend)

선생님한테서 한국어를 배웠어요.

Seonsaengnim-hanteeseo hangugeo-reul baewosseoyo.

I learned Korean from my teacher.

동생한테 선물을 줬어요.

Dongsaenghante seonmul-eul jwosseoyo.

I gave a gift to my younger sibling.

강아지한테서 눈을 떼지 마세요.

Gang-aji-hanteeseo nun-eul tteji maseyo.

Don't take your eyes off the puppy. (from the puppy)

ℹ️

Did you know?

Honorific form for "to a person" is -께 (e.g., 선생님께 드렸어요 — I gave it to the teacher). Use 께 when speaking respectfully about elders or superiors.

10 Telling Time (시간 말하기)

Korean uses a mix of two number systems for time: Sino-Korean numbers for minutes (분) and Native Korean numbers for hours (시). Mastering this distinction is essential!

🕐 Hours: Native Korean Numbers + 시

Time	Korean	Romanization
1:00	한 시	han si
2:00	두 시	du si
3:00	세 시	se si
4:00	네 시	ne si
5:00	다섯 시	daseot si
6:00	여섯 시	yeoseot si
7:00	일곱 시	ilgop si
8:00	여덟 시	yeodeol si
9:00	아홉 시	ahop si
10:00	열 시	yeol si
11:00	열한 시	yeolhan si
12:00	열두 시	yeoldu si

💬 Time Expressions in Use

지금 몇 시예요?

Jigeum myeot si-yeyo?

What time is it now?

세 시 반이에요.

Se si ban-ieyo.

It is half past three. (3:30)

오전 열 시 오십 분에 만나요.

Ojeon yeol si osip bun-e mannayo.

Let's meet at 10:50 AM.

오후 두 시에 수업이 시작해요.

Ohu du si-e sueob-i sijakaeyo.

Class starts at 2:00 PM.

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Key Pattern

Hours use Native Korean numbers (한, 두, 세...) + 시. Minutes use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼...) + 분. Half past is 반. AM = 오전, PM = 오후.

11 Counters (단위 명사)

Korean uses specific counting words (counters or classifiers) depending on what is being counted. The counter follows the number, and Native Korean numbers are used with most counters.

🔢 Essential Korean Counters

Counter	Used for	Example	Translation
개	General objects / things	사과 세 개	Three apples
명	People (neutral)	학생 다섯 명	Five students
분	People (honorific)	손님 두 분	Two guests
마리	Animals	고양이 한 마리	One cat
권	Books, bound volumes	책 세 권	Three books
장	Flat sheets (paper, tickets)	종이 두 장	Two sheets of paper
잔	Cups, glasses of liquid	커피 두 잔	Two cups of coffee
병	Bottles	물 한 병	One bottle of water
번	Times / turns / occurrences	세 번 봤어요	Saw it three times
살	Age (years old)	스물다섯 살	25 years old
층	Floors of a building	삼 층	Third floor
대	Vehicles, machines	자동차 두 대	Two cars

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Word Order

In Korean, counters follow the noun: [Noun] + [Number] + [Counter]. Example: 사과 세 개 (apple three pieces). The number 1–4 has special native forms: 하나→한, 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네 before a counter.

12 Present Progressive: -고 있어요

To say someone is currently doing something, attach -고 있어요 to the verb stem. This is equivalent to the English "-ing" continuous form.

▶️ -고 있어요 Conjugation Table

Dictionary Form	Present Progressive	English
먹다	먹고 있어요	is eating
가다	가고 있어요	is going
자다	자고 있어요	is sleeping
공부하다	공부하고 있어요	is studying
읽다	읽고 있어요	is reading
일하다	일하고 있어요	is working

💬 Progressive in Sentences

지금 밥을 먹고 있어요.

Jigeum bab-eul meokgo isseoyo.

I am eating right now.

친구가 전화하고 있어요.

Chinguga jeonhwahago isseoyo.

My friend is on the phone.

어제 이 시간에 자고 있었어요.

Eoje i sigan-e jago isseosseoyo.

At this time yesterday, I was sleeping. (past progressive)

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Progressive vs Simple Present

먹어요 = I eat (general habit or right now, context-dependent). 먹고 있어요 = I am eating (specifically in progress at this moment). The progressive is more precise for ongoing actions.

13 Self Introduction (자기소개)

Knowing how to introduce yourself is one of the most practical Korean skills. Here is the vocabulary you need and a complete template to follow.

👋 Self-Introduction Vocabulary

Korean	Romanization	English
이름	ireum	Name
나이	nai	Age
나라	nara	Country
직업	jigeop	Job / Occupation
취미	chwimi	Hobby
전공	jeongong	Major (in school)
고향	gohyang	Hometown

💬 Sample Self Introduction

안녕하세요! 저는 지민이에요.

Annyeonghaseyo! Jeoneun Jimin-ieyo.

Hello! My name is Jimin. (이름 — name)

저는 스물다섯 살이에요.

Jeoneun seumuldaseot sal-ieyo.

I am 25 years old. (나이 — age)

저는 미국에서 왔어요.

Jeoneun miguk-eseo wasseoyo.

I am from America. (나라 — country)

저는 학생이에요. 한국어를 공부하고 있어요.

Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo. Hangugeo-reul gongbuhago isseoyo.

I am a student. I am studying Korean. (직업 — job)

제 취미는 K-팝 듣기예요. 잘 부탁드려요!

Je chwimi-neun K-pap deutgi-yeyo. Jal butakdeuryeoyo!

My hobby is listening to K-Pop. Nice to meet you! (취미 — hobby)

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Formal vs Informal

Use 안녕하세요 and 잘 부탁드려요 in formal or semi-formal settings (meeting adults, first encounters). With friends or peers: 안녕! and 잘 부탁해!. Always bow slightly when introducing yourself in person.

14 Dates and Months (날짜)

Korean dates use Sino-Korean numbers throughout — for years (년), months (월), and days (일). The order is: Year → Month → Day.

📅 All 12 Months

Month	Korean	Romanization
January	일월	irwol
February	이월	iwol
March	삼월	samwol
April	사월	sawol
May	오월	owol
June	유월	yuwol
July	칠월	chirwol
August	팔월	parwol
September	구월	guwol
October	시월	siwol
November	십일월	sibirwol
December	십이월	sibiwol

💬 Reading Dates

오늘은 이천이십육 년 오월 십일일이에요.

Oneul-eun icheonisipyuk nyeon owol sibirileyo.

Today is May 11th, 2026. (2026년 5월 11일)

오늘이 며칠이에요?

Oneul-i myeochil-ieyo?

What is today's date?

제 생일은 삼월 이십오일이에요.

Je saengil-eun samwol isipo-il-ieyo.

My birthday is March 25th.

ℹ️

Did you know?

June (6월) is pronounced 유월 not 육월, and October (10월) is 시월 not 십월 — these are historical exceptions that dropped a consonant for easier pronunciation.

15 Degree Adverbs (정도 부사)

Degree adverbs modify adjectives and verbs to express how much. They are placed directly before the word they modify.

💯 Essential Degree Adverbs

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example Sentence
조금	jogeum	A little / slightly	조금 매워요 — It's a little spicy
좀	jom	A little (softer/casual)	좀 도와주세요 — Please help me a bit
정말	jeongmal	Really / truly	정말 맛있어요 — It's really delicious
진짜	jinjja	Really / genuinely (casual)	진짜 멋있다 — That's genuinely cool
아주	aju	Very	아주 좋아요 — Very good
많이	mani	A lot / much	많이 먹었어요 — I ate a lot
별로	byeolro	Not really (+ negative verb)	별로 안 좋아요 — I don't really like it
전혀	jeonhyeo	Not at all (+ negative verb)	전혀 모르겠어요 — I have no idea at all

💡

Negative Adverbs

별로 and 전혀 must always be used with a negative verb form (안, 못, 없다, 모르다, etc.). Saying 별로 좋아요 (without negation) sounds ungrammatical. Think of them like "not really" and "not at all" — they need the negation to be complete.

16 Making Verbs Into Nouns: -는 것

Adding -는 것 to a verb stem turns the verb into a noun phrase — the act of doing something. This is called nominalization and is extremely common in Korean.

🔤 Nominalization Tense Forms

Tense	Pattern	Example	Meaning
Present / Habitual	-는 것	먹는 것	the act of eating
Past	-(으)ㄴ 것	먹은 것	the thing (that was) eaten
Future / Planned	-(으)ㄹ 것	먹을 것	the thing to eat / will eat

💬 Nominalization in Sentences

한국어를 배우는 것이 재미있어요.

Hangugeo-reul baeuneun geot-i jaemiisseoyo.

Learning Korean is interesting.

요리하는 것을 좋아해요.

Yorihaneun geot-eul joahaeyo.

I like cooking. (the act of cooking)

제가 말하는 것을 들어요?

Jega malhaneun geot-eul deuroyo?

Are you listening to what I am saying?

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Casual Form: 거

것 is shortened to 거 in casual speech. So 먹는 것이에요 → 먹는 거예요. You will hear 거 far more often in everyday conversation.

17 More … Than …: -보다 더

To compare two things in Korean, use the structure: [A]가/이 [B]보다 더 [adjective] — meaning "A is more [adjective] than B."

⚖️ Comparative Sentences

한국어가 영어보다 더 어려워요.

Hangugeo-ga yeongeo-boda deo eoryeowoyo.

Korean is more difficult than English.

이 가방이 저 가방보다 더 비싸요.

I gabang-i jeo gabang-boda deo bissayo.

This bag is more expensive than that bag.

오늘이 어제보다 더 더워요.

Oneul-i eoje-boda deo deowoyo.

Today is hotter than yesterday.

서울이 부산보다 더 커요.

Seoul-i Busan-boda deo keoyo.

Seoul is bigger than Busan.

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Superlatives

For "the most" (superlative), use 제일 or 가장 before the adjective: 제일 맛있어요 (It's the most delicious). 더 in comparatives is often optional but makes the comparison explicit and natural-sounding.

18 To Like: 좋다 vs 좋아하다

Two words that learners often confuse: 좋다 (to be good / feel good) is an adjective, while 좋아하다 (to like) is a verb. They take different particles!

❤️ 좋다 vs 좋아하다 — Key Contrast

Word	Type	Particle Used	Example	Translation
좋다	Adjective (to be good)	Subject: 이/가	한국이 좋아요	Korea is good / I feel good about Korea
좋아하다	Verb (to like)	Object: 을/를	한국을 좋아해요	I like Korea
싫다	Adjective (to feel bad/averse)	Subject: 이/가	이 음식이 싫어요	I don't like this food / feel averse to it
싫어하다	Verb (to dislike)	Object: 을/를	이 음식을 싫어해요	I dislike this food

💬 More Examples

날씨가 좋아요!

Nalssiga joayo!

The weather is nice! (adjective — weather = subject)

저는 K-팝을 좋아해요.

Jeoneun K-pab-eul joahaeyo.

I like K-Pop. (verb — K-Pop = object)

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Quick Rule

If you can replace "like" with "is good," use 좋다 with 이/가. If it's truly "I like [something]," use 좋아하다 with 을/를. Both are correct Korean — the nuance is subtle but important for accuracy.

19 Still, Already: 아직, 벌써

These two time adverbs are essential for expressing whether something has happened yet or is still ongoing.

⏳ 아직 and 벌써 in Context

아직 먹고 있어요.

Ajik meokgo isseoyo.

I am still eating. (아직 + positive = still ongoing)

아직 안 먹었어요.

Ajik an meogeosseoyo.

I haven't eaten yet. (아직 + negative = not yet)

벌써 왔어요?

Beolsseo wasseoyo?

You're already here? (벌써 = already, with surprise)

벌써 다 먹었어요!

Beolsseo da meogeosseoyo!

You've already eaten everything! (expressing surprise)

💡

아직 vs 이미

벌써 carries a sense of surprise ("already?!"). 이미 also means "already" but is more neutral and matter-of-fact: 이미 알고 있어요 (I already know — stated plainly). Use 벌써 when something happened sooner than expected.

20 Someone, Something, Somewhere: 누군가, 무언가, 어딘가, 언젠가

Korean has specific words for indefinite references (someone, something, somewhere) and their negative counterparts used with negative verbs.

❓ Indefinite Pronouns

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example
누군가	nugunga	Someone	누군가 왔어요 Someone came
무언가 / 뭔가	mueonga / mwonga	Something	뭔가 이상해요 Something is strange
어딘가	eodinga	Somewhere	어딘가 가고 싶어요 I want to go somewhere
언젠가	eonjenga	Someday / sometime	언젠가 만나요 Let's meet someday
아무도	amudo	Nobody (+ negative verb)	아무도 없어요 Nobody is here
아무것도	amugeotdo	Nothing (+ negative verb)	아무것도 안 먹었어요 I ate nothing
아무데도	amudedo	Nowhere (+ negative verb)	아무데도 안 갔어요 I went nowhere

💡

아무...도 + Negative

The 아무...도 pattern (아무도, 아무것도, 아무데도) always requires a negative verb to follow. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of "nobody," "nothing," "nowhere" — the negation is built into the meaning but the verb must also be negative.

21 Imperative: -(으)세요

To make a polite request or command ("Please do..."), attach -(으)세요 to the verb stem. This is the standard polite imperative used with adults and in public situations.

📢 -(으)세요 Conjugation Table

Dictionary Form	Rule	Imperative	Meaning
오다	vowel stem → 세요	오세요	Please come
앉다	consonant stem → 으세요	앉으세요	Please sit
드시다	honorific for 먹다	드세요	Please eat (honorific)
보다	vowel stem → 세요	보세요	Please look / watch
기다리다	vowel stem → 세요	기다리세요	Please wait
말하다	하다 → 하세요	말하세요	Please speak

💬 Fixed Imperative Phrases

안녕히 가세요.

Annyeonghi gaseyo.

Goodbye. (said to someone who is leaving — "Please go in peace")

안녕히 계세요.

Annyeonghi gyeseyo.

Goodbye. (said by the person leaving — "Please stay in peace")

천천히 말해 주세요.

Cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.

Please speak slowly.

💡

Politeness Level

-(으)세요 is the standard polite imperative — use it with strangers, older people, and in public. It is slightly softer than a direct command. Adding 주세요 (please give/do for me) makes requests even more polite: 말해 주세요 (please speak for me).

22 Don't Do It: -지 마세요

To tell someone politely not to do something, use [verb stem] + 지 마세요. This pattern works with any verb.

🚫 -지 마세요 in Use

걱정하지 마세요.

Geokjeonghaji maseyo.

Please don't worry.

늦지 마세요.

Neutji maseyo.

Please don't be late.

여기서 담배 피우지 마세요.

Yeogiseo dambe piuji maseyo.

Please don't smoke here.

뛰지 마세요.

Ttwiiji maseyo.

Please don't run.

잊지 마세요!

Itji maseyo!

Please don't forget!

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Casual Form

The casual version of -지 마세요 is simply -지 마 (jima). Use this with close friends or younger people: 걱정하지 마! (Don't worry!). On signs and public notices, you may also see -지 마십시오 (very formal written command).

23 Method, Way, Direction: -(으)로

The particle -(으)로 is versatile: it marks direction toward somewhere, the means or method of doing something, and the material something is made of.

🛤️ Three Uses of -(으)로

Use	Meaning	Korean Example	Translation
1. Direction	toward / in the direction of	서울로 가요	Going toward Seoul
2. Means / Method	by / using / in (language)	버스로 가요	Going by bus
2. Method cont.	in (a language)	한국어로 말해요	Speaking in Korean
2. Method cont.	with (a tool)	젓가락으로 먹어요	Eating with chopsticks
3. Material	made of / from	나무로 만들었어요	Made of wood

💡

Vowel Rule

Use 로 after a vowel or the consonant ㄹ (e.g., 서울로, 버스로). Use 으로 after other consonants (e.g., 젓가락으로, 나무로 — note 나무 ends in vowel so just 로). The exception is ㄹ which takes 로 not 으로 even though it is a consonant.

24 To be Good/Poor at: 잘하다, 못하다

Use 잘하다 to say someone does something well, and 못하다 or 잘 못하다 to say they do it poorly or cannot do it.

🎯 Ability Expressions

Korean	Romanization	Meaning	Example
잘하다	jalhada	To do well / be good at	한국어를 잘해요 I am good at Korean
못하다	mothada	To be unable to / do poorly	수영을 못해요 I can't swim / am bad at swimming
잘 못하다	jal mothada	To not be good at	노래를 잘 못해요 I'm not good at singing
잘 + verb	jal + verb	To do [verb] well	잘 자요 Sleep well

💬 Examples in Sentences

그 선수는 축구를 정말 잘해요.

Geu seonsu-neun chukgu-reul jeongmal jalhaeyo.

That player is really good at soccer.

저는 요리를 잘 못해요.

Jeoneun yori-reul jal mothaeyo.

I'm not very good at cooking.

💡

못 vs 안

못 + verb = inability (physically or circumstantially can't): 못 먹어요 (can't eat — allergic, sick, etc.). 안 + verb = choice not to: 안 먹어요 (not eating — by choice). Confusing these changes meaning significantly!

25 All, More: 다, 더

다 means "all" or "entirely" (completion), while 더 means "more" (addition). Both are simple but extremely frequent in everyday Korean.

📦 다 and 더 in Use

다 먹었어요.

Da meogeosseoyo.

I ate it all. / I finished eating. (다 = entirely done)

한국어로 다 말해요.

Hangugeo-ro da malhaeyo.

I say it all in Korean. (다 = everything)

더 주세요.

Deo juseyo.

Please give me more.

더 이상 안 해요.

Deo isang an haeyo.

I don't do it anymore. (더 이상 = no more / no longer)

다 됐어요!

Da dwaesseoyo!

All done! / It's ready! (very common expression)

💡

다 vs 모두

다 emphasizes completion or entirety of an action: 다 먹었어요 (ate it all). 모두 means "all" for countable items or people: 모두 왔어요 (everyone came). In casual speech, 다 is used for both, but 모두 is more precise for groups of people.

26 Also, Too: -도 (Advanced Uses)

Beyond the basic "also/too" meaning covered in Section 2, the particle -도 has several advanced uses that give your Korean a more natural, native-like feel.

✳️ Four Advanced Uses of -도

Use	Meaning	Korean Example	Translation
1. Even	Emphasizes inclusion of unexpected subject	아이도 알아요	Even children know (it)
2. Both…and	-기도 하고 -기도 하다	좋기도 하고 나쁘기도 해요	It's both good and bad
3. Not even	Emphatic negation with quantity	하나도 없어요	There isn't even one
4. Also/Sometimes	verb + 기도 하다 = also does / sometimes does	먹기도 해요	I also eat it / I sometimes eat it

💬 Advanced -도 Examples

선생님도 몰라요.

Seonsaengnim-do mollayo.

Even the teacher doesn't know.

한국어가 어렵기도 하고 재미있기도 해요.

Hangugeo-ga eoryeopgido hago jaemiitgido haeyo.

Korean is both difficult and interesting.

돈이 하나도 없어요.

Don-i hanado eopseoyo.

I don't have even a single (penny).

가끔 한국 드라마를 보기도 해요.

Gakkeum hanguk deurama-reul bogi-do haeyo.

I sometimes also watch Korean dramas.

ℹ️

Common Learner Errors

A common mistake is using -도 with a positive verb when a negative is needed: 하나도 없어요 (correct) vs. 하나도 있어요 (ungrammatical for "not even one"). Also, remember -도 replaces 은/는 and 이/가 — never stack them: say 저도 (not 저는도 or 저가도).

Korean Grammar: 문법