SDLC 112 Sixth Learning Journal

[Hongzhen Chen]

This week, we learnt about some basic grammars in Korean, especially the verb to be 이다 in Korean. Unlike English, Korean makes no distinction for the choice of verb to be (am, are, is) between first-person, second-person and third-person subjects. Only a single verb to be 이다 is used. However, there should be different forms of "to be" added after different nouns, which is based on the vowels and consonants in the previous nouns. If the noun ends with a vowel, use 예요 or 야. If the noun ends with a consonant, then use 이에요 or 이야. For example, 버스예요 (It is a bus), 지갑이에요 (It is a wallet). Besides, only 이다 or its modified forms are attached to nouns. Korean adjectives are verb-like and do not require 이다 for sentence construction. The subject of a sentence can also be omitted if it is understood by the context, and verb is always at the end of a Korean sentence. For example, "It is a book" could be written in 책입니다, 책이에요. 책인다, and 책이야. While they are express e same meaning, 책 (book) is the noun in the sentences.