Comprehensive Korean Grammar - Beginner 1 (초급 1)
All 51 Beginner 1 Korean grammar structures across 15 lessons from the Comprehensive Korean textbook: essential particles, polite sentence endings, numbers, tenses, irregular conjugations (ㅡ, ㄹ, ㅂ, ㄷ), and everyday expressions.
Lesson 1: 소개 – Introduction3 grammar points
Declarative and interrogative sentences with 입니다/입니까 and topic particle 은/는.
Lesson 2: 학교 – School5 grammar points
Demonstratives of place and thing, subject particle 이/가, existence 에 있다/없다, and negation 이/가 아니다.
- 여기 / 거기 / 저기yeogi / geogi / jeogi#04여기 / 거기 / 저기 – Here, there, over there (Place Demonstratives)Here / there / over there
- 이것 / 그것 / 저것igeot / geugeot / jeogeot#05이것 / 그것 / 저것 – This, that, that over there (Thing Demonstratives)This thing / that thing / that thing over there
- N + 이/가N + i/ga#06N + 이/가 – Subject ParticleMarks the grammatical subject of a sentence
- N + 에 있다/없다N + e itda/eopda#07N + 에 있다/없다 – To be at N / There is (not) at NTo exist / not exist at a location; to have / not have
- N + 이/가 아니다N + i/ga anida#08N + 이/가 아니다 – Is not N (Copula Negation)Is not / am not / are not N
Lesson 3: 일상생활 – Daily Life4 grammar points
Formal polite endings -ㅂ/습니다, -ㅂ/습니까?, object particle 을/를, and action location particle 에서.
- V/A + -ㅂ/습니다V/A + -p/seumnida#09V/A + -ㅂ/습니다 – Formal Polite Declarative EndingFormal polite declarative sentence ending for verbs and adjectives
- V/A + -ㅂ/습니까?V/A + -p/seumnikka?#10V/A + -ㅂ/습니까? – Formal Polite Interrogative EndingFormal polite question ending for verbs and adjectives
- N + 을/를N + eul/reul#11N + 을/를 – Object ParticleMarks the direct object of a transitive verb
- N + 에서N + eseo#12N + 에서 – At / in N (Location of Action)At / in (the place where an action takes place)
Lesson 4: 날짜와 요일 – Dates and Days2 grammar points
Conjunction particle 와/과 and time/location particle 에.
Lesson 5: 하루 일과 – Daily Schedule3 grammar points
Native Korean numbers, informal polite ending -아/어요 (이에요/예요), and direction particle 에 가다/오다.
- 하나, 둘, 셋… (고유어 수사)hana, dul, set...#15Native Korean Numbers 1–10 (하나, 둘, 셋, 넷…) & CountersNative Korean number system used for counting items, hours, and age
- V/A + -아/어요 (N + 이에요/예요)V/A + -a/eoyo#16V/A + -아/어요 & N + 이에요/예요 – Informal Polite Sentence EndingThe most common polite sentence ending for everyday conversation
- N + 에 가다/오다/다니다N + e gada/oda/danida#17N + 에 가다/오다/다니다 – To go / come / attend N (Destination Particle)To go to / come to / commute regularly to a place
Lesson 6: 주말 – Weekend4 grammar points
Negation adverb 안, past tense -았/었-, particle 하고, and propositive ending -(으)ㅂ시다.
- 안 + V/Aan + V/A#18안 + V/A – Do not / Is not (Short Negation)Not / do not (short negation of verbs and adjectives)
- V/A + -았/었-V/A + -at/eot-#19V/A + -았/었- – Past Tense MarkerPast tense suffix indicating completed actions or past states
- N + 하고N + hago#20N + 하고 – And / with (Colloquial Particle)And / with
- V + -(으)ㅂ시다V + -(eu)psida#21V + -(으)ㅂ시다 – Let's… (Formal Polite Propositive Ending)Let's do… together!
Lesson 7: 물건 사기 (1) – Shopping (1)3 grammar points
ㅡ irregular conjugation, contrastive particle 은/는, and desire expression -고 싶다.
- ㅡ 불규칙 (Bất quy tắc ㅡ)eu bulgyuchik#22ㅡ Irregular Conjugation (ㅡ 불규칙)Vowel ㅡ drops when followed by an ending starting with -아/어
- N + 은/는 (Đối chiếu)N + eun/neun (contrast)#23N + 은/는 (Contrast) – Contrastive Topic ParticleWhereas / while / as for (contrasting two subjects or objects)
- V + -고 싶다 / -고 싶어하다V + -go sipda#24V + -고 싶다 / -고 싶어하다 – Want to do VWant to / would like to do an action
Lesson 8: 음식 – Food3 grammar points
Intention/future suffix -겠-, long negation -지 않다, and polite imperative -(으)세요.
- V + -겠-V + -get-#25V + -겠- – Will (Speaker's Intention & Polite Expressions)Will / shall (expresses the first-person speaker's intention or polite fixed phrases)
- V/A + -지 않다V/A + -ji anta#26V/A + -지 않다 – Do not / Is not (Long Negation)Not / do not (long-form negation for verbs and adjectives)
- V + -(으)세요V + -(eu)seyo#27V + -(으)세요 – Please do V (Polite Imperative & Request)Please do… (polite request or command)
Lesson 9: 집 – Home3 grammar points
Direction particle (으)로, informal intention ending -(으)ㄹ래요, and additive particle 도.
- N + (으)로 (Phương hướng)N + (eu)ro (direction)#28N + (으)로 (Direction) – Toward / to NToward / in the direction of / to
- V + -(으)ㄹ래요V + -(eu)llaeyo#29V + -(으)ㄹ래요 – I'll / Would you like to… (Informal Intention)I want to / I'll do (statement); Would you like to do? (question)
- N + 도N + do#30N + 도 – Also / too (Additive Particle)Also / too / even
Lesson 10: 가족 – Family4 grammar points
Large native Korean numbers, honorific particle 께서/께서는, honorific suffix -(으)시-, and ㄹ irregular conjugation.
- 스물, 서른, 마흔… (고유어 수사 2)seumul, seoreun, maheun...#31Native Korean Tens (20–90) & Expressing Age (살 / 세)Native Korean numbers 20–99 used for age and counting quantities
- N + 께서/께서는N + kkeseo/kkeseoneun#32N + 께서/께서는 – Honorific Subject / Topic ParticleHonorific subject/topic marker for respected persons
- V/A + -(으)시-V/A + -(eu)si-#33V/A + -(으)시- – Subject Honorific SuffixHonors the subject performing the action or holding the state
- ㄹ 불규칙 (Bất quy tắc ㄹ)rieul bulgyuchik#34ㄹ Irregular Conjugation (ㄹ 불규칙)Final consonant ㄹ drops before endings beginning with ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ
Lesson 11: 날씨 – Weather4 grammar points
Connective ending -고, time range 부터 ~ 까지, future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요, and ㅂ irregular conjugation.
- V/A + -고V/A + -go#35V/A + -고 – And / and then (Connective Ending)And / and then (lists actions/states or sequential events)
- N + 부터 ~ N + 까지N + buteo ~ N + kkaji#36N + 부터 ~ N + 까지 – From… to… (Time Range)From (starting time) to / until (ending time)
- V/A + -(으)ㄹ 거예요V/A + -(eu)l geoyeyo#37V/A + -(으)ㄹ 거예요 – Will / Probably (Future Tense & Conjecture)Will / going to (future plan); probably (conjecture)
- ㅂ 불규칙 (Bất quy tắc ㅂ)bieup bulgyuchik#38ㅂ Irregular Conjugation (ㅂ 불규칙)Final consonant ㅂ changes to 우 (or 오) before vowel endings
Lesson 12: 전화 – Phone Calls3 grammar points
Recipient particles 에게/한테/께, contrastive connective -지만, and intention pattern -(으)려고 하다.
- N + 에게 / 한테 / 께N + ege / hante / kke#39N + 에게 / 한테 / 께 – To (Recipient Particle for People/Animals)To (a person or animal receiving an action)
- V/A + -지만V/A + -jiman#40V/A + -지만 – But / although (Contrastive Connective)But / however / although
- V + -(으)려고 하다V + -(eu)ryeogo hada#41V + -(으)려고 하다 – Intend to / Plan to do VIntend to / plan to / be about to do V
Lesson 13: 생일 – Birthday3 grammar points
Causal connective -아/어서, suggestion question -(으)ㄹ까요?, and inability adverb 못.
- V/A + -아/어서 (Nguyên nhân)V/A + -a/eoseo (reason)#42V/A + -아/어서 (Reason) – Because / since / soBecause / since / so (expresses cause or reason)
- V + -(으)ㄹ까요?V + -(eu)lkkayo?#43V + -(으)ㄹ까요? – Shall we… / Shall I…? (Suggestion & Question)Shall we do…? / Shall I do…?
- 못 + Vmot + V#44못 + V – Cannot do V (Short Ability Negation)Cannot do V (due to external circumstances or lack of ability)
Lesson 14: 취미 – Hobbies3 grammar points
Ability pattern -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다, verb nominalization -기 / -는 것, and ㄷ irregular conjugation.
- V + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다V + -(eu)l su itda/eopda#45V + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 – Can / Cannot do VCan / cannot; be able to / unable to do V
- V + -기 / -는 것V + -gi / -neun geot#46V + -기 / -는 것 – Verb Nominalization (-ing / to V)Nominalizes a verb into a noun phrase ('doing V' / 'to do V')
- ㄷ 불규칙 (Bất quy tắc ㄷ)digeut bulgyuchik#47ㄷ Irregular Conjugation (ㄷ 불규칙)Final consonant ㄷ changes to ㄹ before vowel-initial endings
Lesson 15: 교통 – Transportation4 grammar points
Distance range 에서 ~ 까지, instrument/means particle (으)로, and purpose of movement -(으)러 가다/오다.
- N + 에서 ~ N + 까지N + eseo ~ N + kkaji#48N + 에서 ~ N + 까지 – From… to… (Location & Distance Range)From (starting location) to (destination)
- N + (으)로 (Phương tiện/Công cụ)N + (eu)ro (means)#49N + (으)로 (Means / Instrument) – By / with / in NBy means of / with / in (transport, tool, material, language)
- V + -(으)러 가다/오다V + -(eu)reo gada/oda#50V + -(으)러 가다/오다 – Go / come in order to do VGo / come in order to do an action
- N + 을/를 타다 / 갈아타다N + eul/reul tada / garatada#51N + 을/를 타다 / 갈아타다 – To ride / take / transfer (Transportation)To take/ride a vehicle (타다) and to transfer vehicles/lines (갈아타다)
Key Grammar & TOPIK Exam Focus – Beginner 1
1. Core Particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서, 와/과, 하고, 도)
★★★★★Structures: N + 은/는 | N + 이/가 | N + 을/를 | N + 에/에서
Key tip: Distinguish clearly between '에' (static location, destination, time) and '에서' (location of action, starting point).
2. Formal & Informal Polite Endings (-ㅂ/습니다, -아/어요)
★★★★★Structures: V/A + -ㅂ/습니다 | V/A + -아/어요 | N + 이에요/예요
Key tip: Stems ending in ㅏ/ㅗ take -아요; other vowels take -어요; 하다 becomes 해요.
3. 4 Core Irregular Conjugations in Beginner 1 (ㅡ, ㄹ, ㅂ, ㄷ)
★★★★★Structures: ㅡ 탈락 | ㄹ 탈락 | ㅂ -> 우/오 | ㄷ -> ㄹ
Key tip: ㄹ drops before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ; ㅂ changes to 우 before vowels (except 돕다/곱다 -> 오); ㄷ changes to ㄹ before vowels.
4. Tenses & Honorifics (Past -았/었-, Future -(으)ㄹ 거예요, Honorific -(으)시-)
★★★★★Structures: V/A + -았/었- | V/A + -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | V/A + -(으)시-
Key tip: When the subject is an elder or superior, pair 께서/께서는 with -(으)세요 and special honorific verbs (드시다, 주무시다, 계시다).
