[EN] 은/는? or 이/가? Topic Particle or Subject Particle!? Korean Lessons from Korean Sunbae

 

 

 

저는 한국선배입니다. (I am Korean Sunbae)

vs

제가 한국 선배 입니다. (I am Korean Sunbae)

[ * Irregular forms of 이/가 :

나(I; plain) +가 = 내가

저(I; humble) +가 = 제가

이거(casual form of 이것'this') + 이/가 = 이게

그거(casual form of 그것'that') + 이/가 = 그게

저거(casual form of 저것'that over there') + 이/가= 저게  ]

 

 

은/는 is a Topic Particle

이/가 is Subject Particle

 

What is subject??

In Korean, basically sentaces made by 'Subject + Object + Verb' (ex: 나 + 사과 + 먹다)

Gramatical subject of the sentance.

Subject이/가 + Object을/를(this is Object particle) + Verb

However,

은/는 is a Topic particle.

Topic은/는 + Comment!

Topic, title, keywords: it's about the contents!! (Not grammatical concept!)

 

 

제가 한국선배입니다.

제가= 저(I) +가(Subject particle)

이/가 can come only aftter the subject of the sentance.

이/가 EMPHASIZE the Subject!

 

 

저는 한국선배입니다.

저는 = 저(I) + 는(Topic particle)

은/는 is used for GENERAL INFORMATION, STATMENT or INSTRUCTION.

 

 

So, if you meet someone and that is the first time, 

you can introduce you self like

저는 한국선배입니다. 반갑습니다.

 

But, here is a specipic conversion showing 이/가.

A: Are you 한국선배?

B: No, I'm not 한국선배.

한국선배: 제가 한국선배입니다. (I'm 한국선배. ME!!!(EMPHASIZE) not anyone else.)

 

 

 

 

+

은/는 is NOT Gramtical component, so

you can use this also after LOCATION and TIME that you want to introduce.

For instance,

한국은 반도입니다. (Korea is a peninsula.) : GENERAL

한국은 사람이 많습니다(In Korea(AS FOR KOREA), there are many people.)

Gramatically 사람 is Subject(Because the verb 많습니다 maches to 사람)

so the Subject Particle'이' came after 사람.

If you say in general,

you can say '한국에 사람이 많습니다.'

 

But, if you want to introduce 한국,

you can say 한국은 사람이 많습니다.

Because 한국 is a Place, Location.

So you use 은/는 after LOCATION or TIME, you can say like

AS FOR KOREA, there are many people.

In this case, LOCATION or TIME is important in the sentance.

 

 

QUIZ:

1. It's Monday today.

오늘은? 오늘이? 월요일입니다.

>오늘은 월요일입니다.

Because this is information.

 

2. Today's whether if good.

오늘은? 오늘이? 날씨가 좋아요.

>오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.

Because,

날씨가 좋아요.

날씨is Subject and 가 is subject particle.

And

오늘 is TIME.

So this 은 is Topic Particle.

 

3. Today we are studying Korean.

오늘은? 오늘이? 한국어를 공부해요.

오늘은 한국어를 공부해요.

In this case, the actual Subject 'WE우리' is omitted. 

The sentance could be 오늘은 우리가 한국어를 공부해요.

And,

오늘 is TIME.

 

 

 

+ 

As I told you,

이/가 is used when you want to EMPHASIZE the SUBJECT.

 

내가 제일 잘나가! (I am the best! Not anyone else!! ME!!)

우리가 너를 지켜줄게!(We will protect you! Not anyone else!! WE!!)

 

And, in English,

What a blabla!!!

for this expression, you can use 이/가!

For instance,

꽃이 너무 예뻐요! (What a beautiful flower!)

(When you watch the specific flower!)

 

 

But,

if you say, 꽃은 너무 예뻐요!(Flowers are beautiful)

you are saying about flowers in general.

This is a GENERAL Statement.

 

 

 

+ 

You can use 은/는

when you say 'How anout you/her/them/anyone?'

For instance,

A: 나는 졸려.(I'm sleepy.)

너는?(How about you?)

B: 나도 졸려. (Me, too.)

 

 

+

You can use 은/는 for sequence following, second, third.... question.

Like,

A: 이름이 뭐예요?(What's your first name?)

B: 저는 한국선배입니다.

A: 성은 뭐예요? (And so, what's your family name?)

 

 

 

+ 

은/는 is used when you change topic or

there is comparison.

 

CHANGE TOPIC

A: 오늘 수업이 너무 지루해. (Today the lesson is so boring)

B: 그나저나, 어제 소개팅은 어땠어? (By the way, how was the blind date yesterday?)

 

 

COMPARISON

나는 키가 커. 우리 엄마는 손이 커.

나는(AS FOR ME,) I'm tall.

우리 엄마는(AS FOR MY MOM) her hands are big.

In this case, GRAMATICALLY

키 and 손 are Subjects.

Because the verb 커(크다)is related to 키 and 손, Not 나 or 우리 엄마.

And, in this sentance

the Topic is 나 and 우리 엄마!

 

 

+ 

you can use 은/는 

when you make sarcastic comments.

 

민호는 얼굴은 잘생겼어. (AS FOR Minho, he is only handsome. But he might be stupid...)

민호는 얼굴이 잘생겼어. (AS FOR Minho, he is handsome. This must be a compliment.)

 

 

 

See you in KOREAN SUNBAE Youtube channel!!!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKu6UiEtAvopx-Fbj9ikymQ

KOREAN SUNBAE 한국 선배