Language/Korean/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Korean Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Korean learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Korean. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences. We will also look at some examples of how to use the verb in context.

The verb "be" is used to express existence or a state of being. In Korean, the verb "be" is conjugated differently depending on the subject of the sentence. The verb "be" can be conjugated into three forms:

• Present tense: 있다 (itda)
• Past tense: 있었다 (itteotta)
• Future tense: 있을 것이다 (itteul geosida)

Let's look at some examples of how to use the verb "be" in sentences.

• Present tense:

 * 저는 학생이에요 (jeoneun haksaengieyo) - I am a student. 
 * 이것은 책이에요 (igeoseun chaegieyo) - This is a book. 
 * 저희는 부모님이에요 (jeohuineun bumonimieyo) - We are parents. 
 

• Past tense:

 * 저는 학생이었어요 (jeoneun haksaengieosseoyo) - I was a student. 
 * 이것은 책이었어요 (igeoseun chaegieosseoyo) - This was a book. 
 * 저희는 부모님이었어요 (jeohuineun bumonimieosseoyo) - We were parents. 
 

• Future tense:

 * 저는 학생일 것이에요 (jeoneun haksaengil geosieyo) - I will be a student. 
 * 이것은 책일 것이에요 (igeoseun chaegil geosieyo) - This will be a book. 
 * 저희는 부모님일 것이에요 (jeohuineun bumonimil geosieyo) - We will be parents. 
 

Now let's look at a dialogue using the verb "be".

• Person 1: 저는 학생이에요 (jeoneun haksaengieyo) - I am a student.
• Person 2: 저는 교수입니다 (jeoneun gyoosuimnida) - I am a professor.
• Person 1: 저희는 친구입니다 (jeohuineun chingooimnida) - We are friends.
• Person 2: 네, 저희도 친구입니다 (ne, jeohuideo chingooimnida) - Yes, we are also friends.

To help you remember the different forms of the verb "be", here is a table with some examples:

Korean	Pronunciation	English Translation
있다	itda	to be
있었다	itteotta	was
있을 것이다	itteul geosida	will be
저는 학생이에요	jeoneun haksaengieyo	I am a student
저는 교수입니다	jeoneun gyoosuimnida	I am a professor
저희는 친구입니다	jeohuineun chingooimnida	We are friends

To improve your Korean Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

That's it for this lesson! Now you know how to use the verb "be" in Korean. Practice using the verb in sentences and conversations to improve your Korean grammar.

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Related Lessons

• Future Tense
• Negation
• Nouns
• Plurals
• Give your Opinion
• Questions
• Gender
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives