Mastering Korean Grammar: -이에요/예요 & -입니다/입니까? (To be)
Today, we’ll master one of the first and most essential grammar points in Korean: the verb “to be” (am, is, are). This is the grammar you use to introduce yourself, identify objects, and state what something “is”.
We will cover both the polite-informal (해요체) forms, -이에요/예요, and the polite-formal (합쇼체) forms, -입니다/입니까?.
1. Usage: Understanding “To Be”
This grammar pattern, called the “copula,” is attached directly to nouns. Its function is to identify or describe that noun.
Function 1: Identifying (It is…)
This is the most direct use. You are simply stating what something or someone is.
- Korean: 이것은 사과예요.
English: “This is an apple.” - Korean: 저는 학생입니다.
English: “I am a student.” (Formal)
Function 2: Politeness Levels
Choosing the right ending depends on the situation. Both are polite, but used differently.
- -이에요/예요 (Polite-Informal): This is the most common form you’ll use in daily life. It’s polite but also friendly. Use it with friends, family, coworkers, and in most social situations.
- -입니다/입니까? (Polite-Formal): This is for formal situations. Use it for presentations, news reports, job interviews, in the military, or when addressing someone in a much higher position.
2. Conjugation: How to Form “To Be”
The rules are simple and depend on whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant. They also change for statements and questions.
Polite-Informal (해요체): -이에요 / -예요
- If the noun ends in a consonant, add -이에요.
Example: 학생 (student) → 학생이에요. - If the noun ends in a vowel, add -예요.
Example: 의사 (doctor) → 의사예요.
To ask a question: Use the exact same form, but say it with a rising intonation.
Example: 학생이에요? (Are you a student?)
Polite-Formal (합쇼체): -입니다 / -입니까?
This form is even easier because it doesn’t matter if the noun ends in a vowel or consonant.
- For statements, add -입니다.
Example 1: 학생 → 학생입니다. (I am a student.)
Example 2: 의사 → 의사입니다. (I am a doctor.) - For questions, add -입니까?
Example 1: 학생 → 학생입니까? (Are you a student?)
Example 2: 의사 → 의사입니까? (Are you a doctor?)
3. Example Sentences
Let’s see these forms in action.
- Korean: 저는 마이클이에요.
English: I am Michael. (Informal, consonant) - Korean: 이것은 뭐예요?
English: What is this? (Informal, vowel) - Korean: 저 사람은 선생님이에요?
English: Is that person a teacher? (Informal, consonant) - Korean: 네, 제 친구예요.
English: Yes, (he/she) is my friend. (Informal, vowel) - Korean: 이름이 무엇입니까?
English: What is your name? (Formal, question) - Korean: 제 이름은 김민수입니다.
English: My name is Kim Minsu. (Formal, statement) - Korean: 여기가 회사입니까?
English: Is this the company? (Formal, question) - Korean: 아니요, 저기는 은행입니다.
English: No, that (over there) is a bank. (Formal, statement) - Korean: 한국 사람이에요.
English: I am Korean. (Informal, consonant) - Korean: 취미가 뭐예요?
English: What is your hobby? (Informal, vowel)
4. Key Rules and Comparisons
Here are a few crucial points to remember.
Rule 1: Politeness is Everything
The most important rule is choosing the correct form for your situation. Using `-이에요/예요` in a formal presentation is too casual. Using `-입니다` with a close friend sounds distant and strange.
Rule 2: Nouns Only!
This grammar is the “to be” verb and is only attached to nouns. Do not attach it to verb or adjective stems.
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) is an adjective.
Rule 3: Past and Future Tense
This grammar is for the present tense. To talk about the past (“was, were”) or future (“will be”), you use different forms:
- Past: Noun + 이었어요 / 였어요 (e.g., 학생이었어요 – I was a student.)
- Future: Noun + 일 거예요 (e.g., 학생일 거예요 – I will be a student.)
Rule 4: The Negative Form (“is not”)
To say “is not,” you use a different pattern. You add the subject particle 이/가 to the noun and follow it with 아니에요 (informal) or 아닙니다 (formal).
- Informal: 저는 학생이 아니에요. (I am not a student.)
- Formal: 저는 학생이 아닙니다. (I am not a student.)
I liked this article. It explains Korean copula's forms, uses, rules related to it in easy-to -understand way. I have read many articles on grammar topics, but very few were as easy-to-understand as this one.