Basic Korean Sentence Structure

Korean usually follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order (English is SVO). The predicate (verb/adjective) normally comes at the end. Because Korean uses particles (이/가, 을/를, 은/는), word order can shift for nuance, and subjects/objects are often omitted when clear from context.
(Particles themselves will be explained in a separate post.)

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1) Sentence Components (문장의 구성 요소)

A. Subject (주어)

• 저는 학생입니다.
  (I am a student.)
• 아이가 웁니다.
  (The child cries.)

B. Object (목적어)

• 저는 사과를 먹습니다.
  (I eat an apple.)
• 그는 책을 읽습니다.
  (He reads a book.)

C. Adverbial (부사어)

• 저는 빨리 달립니다.
  (I run quickly.)
• 그는 집에서 공부합니다.
  (He studies at home.)

D. Predicate (서술어)

1) Verb Predicate (동사 서술어)

• 저는 달립니다.
  (I run.)
• 저는 사과를 먹었습니다.
  (I ate an apple.)

2) Adjective Predicate (형용사 서술어)

• 날씨가 춥습니다.
  (The weather is cold.)
• 한국어가 어렵습니다.
  (Korean is difficult.)

3) Complement Predicate with 이다

• 이분은 선생님입니다.
  (This person is a teacher.)
• 서울은 한국의 수도입니다.
  (Seoul is the capital of Korea.)

4) Special Adjectives: 있다 / 없다

• 책이 있습니다.
  (There is a book.)
• 돈이 있습니다.
  (I have money.)
• 시간이 없습니다.
  (There is no time.)
• 친구가 없습니다.
  (I don’t have a friend.)

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2) Word Order and Nuance (SV와 SOV, 영어와의 차이)

SV in Korean (자동사)

• 저는 달립니다.
  (I run.)

SOV in Korean (타동사)

• 저는 사과를 먹습니다.
  (I eat an apple.)

Contrast with English (SVO)

• I eat an apple.
• 저는 사과를 먹습니다.

👉 English places the verb before the object. Korean always places the predicate last, making the sentence “back-loaded.”

Word Order Flexibility

• 저는 밥을 먹었습니다.
  (I ate rice.) — neutral
• 밥을 저는 먹었습니다.
  (Rice, I ate.) — focus on rice

Casual afterthought (spoken only):

• 먹었어요, 밥을.
  (I ate, rice.)

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3) Omission of Sentence Elements (생략)

A. Subject omitted

• 밥을 먹었어요.
  (Ate rice. → I ate rice.)

B. Object omitted

• 저는 읽고 있어요.
  (I am reading.)

C. Both omitted

• 먹었어요.
  (I ate.)

D. In conversation

• A: 밥 먹었어? (Did you eat?)
• B: 응, 먹었어. (Yes, I did.)

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4) Commands & Questions (명령문 · 의문문)

A. Commands (명령문)

Commands are formed from the verb stem with different endings depending on politeness.

• Informal spoken: -아/어
  • 공부해.
  • (Study.)
• Informal but firm: -아/어라
  • 공부해라.
  • (Study.)
• Polite: -세요
  • 공부하세요.
  • (Please study.)
• Formal polite: -(으)십시오
  • 기다리십시오.
  • (Please wait.)

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B. Yes–No Questions (의문문)

Yes–No questions use a rising intonation or endings like -까?, -니?, -어요?.

• 학생입니까?
  (Are you a student?)
• 밥 먹었어요?
  (Did you eat?)
• Rising intonation example (informal speech):
  • 밥 먹었어↗?
  • (You ate?)

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C. WH-Questions with 육하원칙 (의문사)

• Who (누가)
  • 누가 왔습니까?
  • (Who came?)
• When (언제)
  • 언제 만납니까?
  • (When will we meet?)
• Where (어디서)
  • 어디서 공부합니까?
  • (Where do you study?)
• What (무엇을)
  • 무엇을 먹었습니까?
  • (What did you eat?)
• Why (왜)
  • 왜 늦었습니까?
  • (Why are you late?)
• How (어떻게)
  • 어떻게 갑니까?
  • (How do you go?)

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5) Spacing in Korean Sentences (띄어쓰기)

Korean sentences also require correct spacing between words. Unlike English, spacing rules are sometimes tricky because Korean is agglutinative (a language that builds meaning by attaching small grammar parts such as particles and endings to words).

• Particles (이/가, 을/를, 은/는, 에서, etc.) are not separated from the word they attach to.
  • 저는 학교에 갑니다.
  • (I go to school.)
• Each main word (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) is generally separated.
  • 오늘은 날씨가 매우 좋습니다.
  • (Today the weather is very good.)
• Auxiliary verbs and endings are attached directly to the stem.
  • 책을 읽어 보았습니다.
  • (I tried reading a book.)

👉 For beginners: write each word separately, but keep particles and verb endings attached.

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Key Takeaways

• Korean sentences can be SV (intransitive) or SOV (transitive).
• The predicate always comes last.
• Word order changes nuance but not core meaning.
• Omission is common when context is clear.
• 있다/없다 are adjectives in Korean grammar, though translated as verbs in English.
• Commands vary in politeness (-아/어, -아/어라, -세요, -(으)십시오).
• Questions can be Yes–No (intonation or endings) or WH-questions using 육하원칙.

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