Use when you want to set the topic of the conversation (“as for X…”) or contrast X with something else.
A common trap: if someone is clearly asking “who?” or “what?”, answering with can sound like you’re switching topics instead of giving the requested information.
Comparison table
Spaced Review
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저는 학생이에요.jeoneun haksaeieyo. — As for me, I’m a student.
제가 학생이에요.jega haksaeieyo. — I’m the one who is a student.
민수는 학교에 가요.minsuneun hakgyoe gayo. — As for Minsu, he goes to school.
민수가 학교에 가요.minsuga hakgyoe gayo. — Minsu is the one who goes to school.
커피는 맛있어요.keopineun masisseoyo. — Coffee is tasty (coffee vs other drinks).
커피가 맛있어요.keopiga masisseoyo. — Coffee is tasty (coffee is what’s tasty).
저는 집에 가요.jeoneun jibe gayo. — As for me, I’m going home.
제가 집에 가요.jega jibe gayo. — I’m the one going home.
엄마는 와요.eommaneun wayo. — As for mom, she’s coming.
엄마가 와요.eommaga wayo. — Mom is coming (mom, not someone else).
Examples
저는 커피 마셔요.jeoneun keopi masyeoyo. — As for me, I drink coffee.
저는 커피 좋아해요. 차는 안 좋아해요.jeoneun keopi johahaeyo. chaneun an johahaeyo. — I like coffee. As for tea, I don’t like it.
If someone asks 누가 가요?nuga gayo? (“Who’s going?”), 저는 가요jeoneun gayo can feel like “As for me…”; 제가 가요jega gayo sounds like a direct answer: “I am.”
저는 커피 마셔요.
jeoneun keopi masyeoyo.
As for me, I drink coffee.
커피는 맛있어요. 차는 안 맛있어요.
keopineun masisseoyo. chaneun an masisseoyo.
Coffee is tasty. Tea isn’t.
민수는 학교에 가요.
minsuneun hakgyoe gayo.
As for Minsu, he goes to school.
#2grammarLv 1
이/가
i/ga
subject marker
When it’s the right choice
Use 이/가i/ga when you’re giving new information, answering “who/what?”, or emphasizing the subject (“X is the one…”).
It’s especially natural in short answers and corrections (when there are multiple possible subjects).
Minimal pairs (vs 은/는)
Examples
누가 와요? 엄마가 와요.nuga wayo? eommaga wayo. — Who’s coming? Mom is coming.
여기가 조용해요.yeogiga joyonghaeyo. — This place is quiet.
제가 해요.jega haeyo. — I’ll do it. (Me.)
Tip: 저 + 가jeo + ga becomes 제가, and becomes .
누가 와요? 엄마가 와요.
nuga wayo? eommaga wayo.
Who’s coming? Mom is coming.
여기가 조용해요.
yeogiga joyonghaeyo.
This place is quiet.
밥이 있어요.
babi isseoyo.
There is rice.
은/는
이/가
Core job
Topic (“as for…”) / contrast
Subject (“who/what…”) / emphasis
Typical use
Framing a statement; comparing X vs Y
Giving new info; answering “who/what?”; correcting
Good for…
“As for X…”, “X (but not Y)”
“X is/does…”, “It’s X (not Y)”
Common mistake
Using it to answer a “who/what?” question
Using it when you meant “as for…” contrast
Decision tree
If you’re setting the topic or contrasting (“as for X…”, “X vs Y”) → use 은/는eun/neun. If you’re answering “who/what?” or stressing the subject (“X is the one…”) → use 이/가i/ga.
Next steps
Rewrite drill (5 sentences): rewrite each sentence so it matches the goal.
저는 학교에 가요.jeoneun hakgyoe gayo. (Goal: Answer “Who is going?”)
제가 커피 마셔요.jega keopi masyeoyo. (Goal: Contrast yourself with someone else)
커피가 맛있어요.keopiga masisseoyo. (Goal: Make coffee the topic, not the surprise)
엄마는 와요.eommaneun wayo. (Goal: Give a direct “who?” answer)
여기가 조용해요.yeogiga joyonghaeyo. (Goal: Set “here” as the topic of the chat)
Dialogue A
A: 누가 와요?nuga wayo? — Who’s coming?
B: 엄마가 와요.eommaga wayo. — Mom is coming.
A: 민수도 와요?minsudo wayo? — Is Minsu coming too?
B: 민수는 안 와요.minsuneun an wayo. — As for Minsu, he’s not coming.
Dialogue B
A: 커피는 맛있어요.keopineun masisseoyo. — As for coffee, it’s tasty.
B: 차는요?chaneunyo? — How about tea?
A: 차는 안 좋아해요.chaneun an johahaeyo. — As for tea, I don’t like it.
B: 그럼 뭐가 좋아요?geureom mwoga johayo? — Then what do you like?
A: 커피가 좋아요.keopiga johayo. — Coffee is what I like.
Mini quiz: pick the best topic/subject form.
Write the missing form in each blank.
For pronouns, write the natural combined form (e.g., 저 + 가jeo + ga → 제가jega, 나 + 가na + ga → 내가naega).
“Who is coming?” → 엄마__ 와요.eomma__ wayo.
“As for today…” → 오늘__ 비가 와요.oneul__ biga wayo.
“There is rice (in the fridge).” → 밥__ 있어요.bap__ isseoyo.
“As for coffee, it’s tasty.” → 커피__ 맛있어요.keopi__ masisseoyo.
“I’ll do it (not you).” → ___ 해요.___ haeyo.
Answers:
가ga
은eun
이i
는neun
제가jega
Notes:
Q1: 엄마가 와요eommaga wayo answers a “who?” question, so the subject marker 이/가i/ga is the natural choice.
Q2: 오늘은oneureun frames “today” as the topic, while 비가biga keeps “rain” as the grammatical subject of the clause.
Q3: 밥이 있어요babi isseoyo is a neutral existence statement; 밥은 있어요babeun isseoyo usually implies contrast (“rice exists, but …”).
Q4: The prompt already says “as for coffee”, so 커피는keopineun matches that topic framing.
Q5: With the polite ending 해요haeyo, 제가jega is the natural subject form for “I” in this register; 내가naega is typically paired with casual endings like 해hae/할게halge.
친구는 왔어요.chinguneun wasseoyo. — As for my friend, they came.
친구가 왔어요.chinguga wasseoyo. — My friend came (it was my friend).
밥은 있어요.babeun isseoyo. — As for rice, there is some (implies contrast).
밥이 있어요.babi isseoyo. — There is rice.
여기는 조용해요.yeogineun joyonghaeyo. — As for here, it’s quiet.
여기가 조용해요.yeogiga joyonghaeyo. — This place is quiet (this one).
고양이는 밥 먹어요.goyaineun bap meogeoyo. — As for the cat, it eats.
고양이가 밥 먹어요.goyaiga bap meogeoyo. — The cat is the one eating.
민수는 해요.minsuneun haeyo. — As for Minsu, he’ll do it.
민수가 해요.minsuga haeyo. — Minsu will do it (Minsu, not someone else).
