Basic Korean particles with examples

Korean particles are short words that attach to the end of a noun. They show the job of that noun in the sentence: the topic, the subject, the object, a place or a time. Many particles have two forms. You choose the form by looking at the last sound of the noun: does it end in a consonant (a final consonant, called 받침, batchim) or in a vowel? This guide shows the most useful particles for beginners, with simple everyday and workplace examples.

How to choose the right form

Look at the last syllable of the noun. If it has a consonant at the bottom, use the "after a consonant" form. If it ends in a vowel, use the "after a vowel" form.

• 물 (water) ends in ㄹ, a consonant: 물이, 물을
• 커피 (coffee) ends in a vowel: 커피가, 커피를

Two forms need extra care:

• With 와/과, 과 comes after a consonant (빵과) and 와 comes after a vowel (우유와). Many learners mix these up, so learn them as a pair: 빵과 우유, 우유와 빵.
• With 으로/로, a noun that ends in ㄹ takes 로, not 으로: 지하철로 (by subway), 연필로 (with a pencil).

은/는: the topic

은/는 marks what you are talking about. It often comes at the start of a sentence. It is also used to compare or contrast two things.

• 저는 네팔 사람이에요. — I am Nepali.
• 오늘은 일이 많아요. — Today there is a lot of work.
• 커피는 좋아해요. 그런데 차는 안 좋아해요. — I like coffee. But I don't like tea. (contrast)

이/가: the subject

이/가 marks the subject. It is often used for new information, or for the answer to "who?" or "what?".

• 물이 없어요. — There is no water.
• 누가 왔어요? 친구가 왔어요. — Who came? My friend came.

Three common words change shape with 가: 저 + 가 = 제가 (I), 나 + 가 = 내가 (I, casual), 누구 + 가 = 누가 (who).

은/는 or 이/가?

A simple beginner rule: use 이/가 when you answer "who?" or "what?", and when something new appears. Use 은/는 for a topic you are already talking about, or to compare two things. The difference becomes clearer with more reading, so do not worry if it feels unclear at first.

을/를: the object

을/를 marks the thing that receives the action.

• 밥을 먹어요. — I eat a meal.
• 커피를 마셔요. — I drink coffee.
• 장갑을 끼세요. — Please put on gloves.

For more verbs to practise with 을/를, see everyday actions vocabulary.

에: where you go or are, and when

• 회사에 가요. — I go to the company.
• 기숙사에 있어요. — I am in the dormitory.
• 아홉 시에 시작해요. — It starts at nine o'clock.
• 월요일에 쉬어요. — I rest on Monday.

Do not add 에 to 오늘 (today), 내일 (tomorrow), 어제 (yesterday) or 지금 (now). Say 내일 가요, not 내일에 가요.

에서: where an action happens, and "from"

• 공장에서 일해요. — I work at a factory.
• 식당에서 점심을 먹어요. — I eat lunch in the cafeteria.
• 네팔에서 왔어요. — I came from Nepal.

에 or 에서?

Use 에 with verbs of being and moving: 있어요, 없어요, 가요, 와요. Use 에서 with action verbs: 일해요, 먹어요, 공부해요.

와/과 and 하고: "and" and "with"

• 빵과 우유 — bread and milk (빵 ends in a consonant)
• 우유와 빵 — milk and bread (우유 ends in a vowel)
• 동료하고 같이 일해요. — I work together with a coworker.

와/과 is common in writing, such as notices. 하고 is more common in speech, and it never changes form.

도: "also", "too"

• 저도 네팔 사람이에요. — I am Nepali too.
• 오늘도 일해요. — I work today too.

도 takes the place of 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를. Say 커피도 마셔요, not 커피를도. With 에 and 에서, add 도 after them: 회사에서도 (at the company too).

의: "of" or "'s"

• 회사의 규칙 — the company's rules
• 친구의 가방 — my friend's bag

In speech, 의 is often dropped (친구 가방), and when it is used it usually sounds like 에 (e). 저의 (my) usually becomes 제: 제 이름은 라주예요. (My name is Raju.)

으로/로: by, with, toward

• 버스로 가요. — I go by bus.
• 지하철로 와요. — I come by subway. (지하철 ends in ㄹ, so 로)
• 손으로 들어요. — I lift it with my hands.
• 왼쪽으로 가세요. — Please go to the left.

In notices, 으로/로 also shows a change: 9시로 바뀝니다. (It changes to 9 o'clock.) You will see this often in short notices.

One sentence, many particles

저는 오늘 창고에서 동료하고 상자를 옮겨요. — Today I am moving boxes with a coworker in the warehouse.

When you read a sentence in a test, find the particles first. They tell you who does what, where and when. Even very short texts, like workplace signs in Korean, become easier when you know these small words.

Mini self-check

Choose the right particle for each blank. Answers are below.

1. 저( ) 학생이에요.
2. 물( ) 마셔요.
3. 동생( ) 와요.
4. 식당( ) 점심을 먹어요.
5. 지하철( ) 회사에 가요.
6. 세 시( ) 회의가 있어요.

Answers: 1. 는 (저 ends in a vowel) 2. 을 (물 ends in a consonant) 3. 이 (동생 ends in a consonant) 4. 에서 (eating is an action) 5. 로 (지하철 ends in ㄹ) 6. 에 (a time)

Next step

Particles appear in almost every reading question. Practise spotting them in the EPS reading practice set, then find more grammar and reading lessons on the grammar and reading topic page. For official test information, always check the EPS official portal.