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.
Stages 2–3 of the Korean TokTok 4-stage curriculum (Hangul → TOPIK 6급) — the grammar reference used across TOPIK I and TOPIK II prep.
Read the pillars: Grammar for Beginners · Honorifics Mastered.
Beginner
27 patternsStart here — everyday essentials · TOPIK I (Levels 1-2)
-(으)ㄴ/는 게 좋다: How to Give Soft Advice in Korean
Master -(으)ㄴ/는 게 좋다 to give polite advice and suggestions. Learn the difference between present and past tense forms and master TOPIK grammar.
-(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.
-(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
-(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
-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
-기로 하다: How to Express Decisions in Korean
Master the TOPIK grammar -기로 하다 to express firm decisions. Learn the difference from -려고 하다 with examples and a mini-quiz.
-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
-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!
-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!
Does Korea Use Honorifics? Yes — Far More Than English Does
Yes — Korea runs on honorifics, way more than English does. They're baked into verbs, titles, and even which word you pick for "eat" or "sleep." Here's where they show up day to day, and what happens when you skip them (spoiler, I've done it).
Does Korean Have Particles? Yes — Here's Why They Matter
Yes — Korean particles are tiny suffixes that tell you who's doing what in a sentence. They replace the job word order does in English, which is why Korean can shuffle nouns around and still make sense. Here's how they actually work.
How Do Korean Honorifics Work? The Two Questions That Decide Everything
Korean honorifics feel like a maze until you realize they hinge on two questions you ask before every sentence. Once those answers click, the verb endings and the vocabulary swaps line up on their own. Here's the shortcut, plus the story of the dinner where I figured this out.
Korean Honorifics Explained: Speech Levels, Suffixes, and Titles
Korean honorifics are less a grammar rule and more a social reflex. You're reading the room — who's older, who's your boss, who's a stranger — and adjusting your verbs. Here's the practical version, starting with one sentence that shows every layer at once.
Korean Particles Examples: The 8 You'll Hear Every Day
Korean particles are the tiny glue-words that tell you which noun is the subject, which is the object, where something happened, who it belongs to. Get them wrong and your sentence goes nowhere. Here are the eight particles that cover nearly every beginner sentence, with example lines you'll actually say.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What Are Korean Particles? A Beginner's Map of 조사 (Josa)
Korean particles, called 조사 (josa), are short grammar markers attached to nouns to show their role in the sentence. This guide maps the main categories, gives you plain-English labels for each, and shows how a single sentence changes meaning as you swap them.
가위바위보! Master Korean Game Counters and Numbers
Learn how to count rounds and wins in Rock, Paper, Scissors using Korean counters 판 and 번. Master game grammar and win every match!
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
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
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.
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
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
확인 부탁드립니다 뜻: 3-level request ladder
Use 확인 부탁드립니다 and 회신 부탁드립니다 with a 3-level request ladder, rewrites, and deadline collocations—master
Intermediate
6 patternsExpand your range — nuance & connectors · TOPIK II (Levels 3-4)
-(으)ㄴ/는 편이다: How to Describe Tendencies in Korean
Master the TOPIK II grammar -(으)ㄴ/는 편이다 to describe habits and tendencies. Learn to avoid common mistakes and sound more natural. Master it now!
-(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
-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.
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
지연되어 죄송합니다 · -까지 공유드리겠습니다 뜻
Use 지연되어 죄송합니다 and -까지 공유드리겠습니다 to give clear delay updates with concrete ETAs at work—master
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
General Grammar
2 patternsGrammar 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
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
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.