25+ patterns across all levels

Korean Grammar Cheat Sheet

Essential grammar patterns organized by level — from absolute beginner to TOPIK II advanced. Click any pattern for full explanations and examples.

Beginner

18 patterns

Start here — everyday essentials · TOPIK I (Levels 1-2)

-(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 & -기보다는: TOPIK Writing Guide

Master -(으)ㄴ/는 반면에 and -기보다는 to boost your TOPIK II writing score. Learn contrast structures with a quiz and rewrite drill.

BeginnerLv.2

-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 뜻: Economy Headline Drills

Master -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 vs -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 with micro-headlines, a decision tree, and rewrite drills—sound inevitable, learn

BeginnerLv.1

-(으)ㄹ/을 두고 뜻: Read Korean headlines

Decode -(으)ㄹ/을 두고 & 논란 in Korean headlines with a simple decision tree and rewrites you can use in chat or work. Master

BeginnerLv.1

-게 되다 vs -기로 하다 뜻: ended up vs decide

Learn -게 되다 vs -기로 하다 (ended up vs decided) with an agency meter, minimal pairs, and chat rewrites—sound natural. Learn

BeginnerLv.1

-아/어 보다 뜻: Try vs Have Tried (Error Clinic)

Fix -아/어 보다 (try vs have tried) with a 3-branch chooser, ‘see’ rewrites, and 한 번 drills—master

BeginnerLv.1

-야 and -이야: How to Tease Korean Friends Casually

Master the casual endings -야 and -이야 to tease your Korean friends. Learn the 'tease-meter', avoid common mistakes, and practice with a quiz!

BeginnerLv.1

-야 vs -이야: Master Casual Korean Teasing

Learn how to use -야 and -이야 for casual Korean sentences. Master the batchim rule to tease your friends correctly and avoid common mistakes!

BeginnerLv.1

Master -(으)ㄴ/는 데다 and -기 마련이다 for TOPIK Writing

Boost your TOPIK score by mastering -(으)ㄴ/는 데다 and -기 마련이다. Learn to connect ideas and state natural laws effectively.

BeginnerLv.2

Master -(으)ㄹ수록 & -기 마련이다 for TOPIK Writing

Boost your TOPIK II writing score with -(으)ㄹ수록 and -기 마련이다. Master these essential grammar patterns with drills and a paragraph skeleton.

BeginnerLv.2

Master Hangeul Batchim: The 7 Representative Sounds

Stop mispronouncing Korean words! Master the 7 Hangeul Batchim (final consonant) sounds with our guide, pronunciation drills, and quiz.

BeginnerLv.1

Mastering Korean Verbs: 입다 vs 벗다 and Clothing Rules

Learn how to use 입다 and 벗다 correctly in Korean. Master essential clothing verbs for TOPIK and daily life with our guide and quiz.

BeginnerLv.1

N이에요 vs 예요: Master the Korean 'To Be' Verb

Learn the difference between N이에요 and 예요. Master basic Korean sentence endings with simple rules and rewrite drills.

BeginnerLv.1

에 vs 에서 뜻: Location vs Action Place

Confused by 에 vs 에서? Learn “where you go” vs “where you do” with a quick checklist, simple examples, and drills—master

BeginnerLv.1

은/는 vs 이/가: Topic vs Subject (Beginner)

Confused by 은/는 vs 이/가? Use a decision tree, 10 minimal pairs, and a rewrite drill to master

BeginnerLv.1

이/가 vs 은/는: Master the Korean Subject Marker

Stop mixing up Korean particles! Master 이/가 and 은/는 with simple rules, examples, and a quick practice quiz. Learn to speak naturally today.

BeginnerLv.1

주세요 & 부탁드려요: Polite Work Requests in Korean

Learn 주세요 & 부탁드려요 for polite workplace requests with templates, tone ladders, and what-not-to-say tips—master

BeginnerLv.1

하필 뜻: “Of all times” nuance in Korean

Understand 하필 with do/don’ts, a decision tree, and safe swaps like 굳이 and 공교롭게도—learn

BeginnerLv.1

확인 부탁드립니다 뜻: 3-level request ladder

Use 확인 부탁드립니다 and 회신 부탁드립니다 with a 3-level request ladder, rewrites, and deadline collocations—master

BeginnerLv.2

Intermediate

5 patterns

Expand your range — nuance & connectors · TOPIK II (Levels 3-4)

-(으)니까 vs -아/어서: Imperatives without snark

Clear up -(으)니까 vs -아/어서 with an imperative decision tree, 10 minimal pairs, and workplace-safe rewrites—learn

IntermediateLv.3

-기 마련이다 Meaning: Expressing Inevitable Outcomes

Master the TOPIK II grammar -기 마련이다 to describe natural laws and inevitable results. Learn how it differs from -게 뻔하다 in this guide.

IntermediateLv.3

주실 수 있을까요 & 주시면 감사하겠습니다 Meaning

Polite Korean follow-up DMs with 주실 수 있을까요 & 주시면 감사하겠습니다, plus deadline phrases and tone-fixes to sound clear, not pushy—master

IntermediateLv.3

지연되어 죄송합니다 · -까지 공유드리겠습니다 뜻

Use 지연되어 죄송합니다 and -까지 공유드리겠습니다 to give clear delay updates with concrete ETAs at work—master

IntermediateLv.3

첨부드립니다 vs 첨부합니다: Attached in Korean

Use 첨부드립니다 & 첨부합니다 naturally: a who-benefits decision tree, 10 rewrites, and spacing tips for Korean work email/DM—master

IntermediateLv.3

General Grammar

2 patterns

Grammar patterns across all levels

-(으)면 안 돼요? Meaning: Rule-Check vs Prohibition

Learn how -(으)면 안 돼요? checks rules (not scolds) and how it differs from -(으)면 안 되다 with 10 tone-safe rewrites—master

Grammar

해도 돼요 vs 하면 돼요: Permission vs Sufficiency

해도 돼요 vs 하면 돼요: permission vs sufficiency with a 5-question decision tree, minimal pairs, and tone fixes for work—learn

Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic Korean sentence structure?

Korean follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, unlike English (SVO). For example, "I eat rice" becomes "나는 밥을 먹어요" (I + rice + eat). Particles (은/는, 을/를, 이/가) mark the role of each word in the sentence.

What are Korean particles and why are they important?

Korean particles (조사) are small suffixes attached to nouns that indicate grammatical function. Key particles include: 은/는 (topic marker), 이/가 (subject marker), 을/를 (object marker), 에 (location/time), 에서 (from/at). Unlike English which relies on word order, Korean uses particles to clarify meaning.

How does Korean verb conjugation work?

Korean verbs conjugate by removing the dictionary ending -다 and adding endings based on tense, politeness level, and mood. The main speech levels are: 합쇼체 (formal polite), 해요체 (informal polite), 해체 (casual), and 하십시오체 (formal). Most learners start with 해요체 (-아/어요 endings).

What grammar do I need for TOPIK I?

TOPIK I (Levels 1-2) requires basic grammar including: sentence particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를), verb conjugation in present/past/future, basic connectors (그리고, 그래서, 하지만), and common grammar patterns like -고 싶다 (want to), -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (can), and -아/어서 (because).

How is Korean grammar different from English?

Key differences: (1) SOV word order vs SVO, (2) particles mark grammar roles instead of word order, (3) verb always comes last, (4) adjectives conjugate like verbs, (5) multiple politeness levels built into grammar, (6) subject/object can be dropped when obvious from context.