The verb goes last. Everything else is flexible.
English is subject-verb-object: I drink coffee. Korean is subject-object-verb: I coffee drink.
The one fixed rule of Korean word order is that the verb ends the sentence. Everything before the verb can move around for emphasis, because small tags called particles, attached to the end of each noun, announce what job that noun is doing. English uses position to show who does what; Korean uses particles.
This is why Korean feels alien for the first week and then suddenly logical. You stop tracking position and start reading the tags.
| 저는 커피를 마셔요. | I drink coffee. jeo-neun keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo, literally: I (topic) coffee (object) drink |
| 저는 서울에 살아요. | I live in Seoul. jeo-neun seo-u-re sa-ra-yo, 에 marks the place |
Particles are role tags
A particle attaches directly to the noun before it, with no space. The three you need first: the topic particle 은/는 (what the sentence is about), the subject particle 이/가 (who or what does the action or holds the state), and the object particle 을/를 (what the action lands on, covered fully in a later unit).
Each particle comes in two forms, and the choice is purely about sound. If the noun ends in a consonant, use the form that starts with a vowel: 은, 이, 을. If the noun ends in a vowel, use 는, 가, 를. So 저 (jeo, I) takes 는, and 동생 (dong-saeng, younger sibling) takes 은.
| Role | After a consonant | After a vowel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | 은 | 는 | 저는 (as for me) |
| Subject | 이 | 가 | 날씨가 (the weather) |
| Object | 을 | 를 | 커피를 (coffee) |
Eun/neun versus i/ga: the working rule
Use 은/는 for the thing you are talking about: known information, general statements about yourself, or contrast. Use 이/가 when the noun is new information, or when it answers a who or what question. In 누가 왔어요? (nu-ga wa-sseo-yo, Who came?), the question word takes 가, because the whole point of the sentence is that unknown subject.
The two often appear together. 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요 means 'as for today, the weather is good': 오늘 is the frame, 날씨 is the subject inside that frame. This double pattern is everywhere in Korean, so learn to read it early. For the full contrast with more edge cases, the Study Desk article linked below goes deeper.
| 저는 학생이에요. | I am a student. jeo-neun hak-saeng-i-e-yo, introducing yourself is topic territory |
| 누가 전화했어요? | Who called? nu-ga jeon-hwa-hae-sseo-yo, question words about the subject take 가 |
| 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요. | The weather is nice today. o-neu-reun nal-ssi-ga jo-a-yo, topic frame plus subject inside it |
When you introduce yourself or state a general fact about yourself, default to 은/는. When something new pops into the conversation, tag it with 이/가. That heuristic carries you through A1.
Saying 'X is Y': the copula
To say A is B, Korean attaches 이에요 or 예요 to the second noun: 이에요 after a consonant, 예요 after a vowel. 학생이에요 means 'is a student'; 가수예요 means 'is a singer'. The copula glues onto the noun like a particle, and the sentence still ends in a verb-like word, keeping the verb-final rule intact.
| 친구는 한국 사람이에요. | My friend is Korean. chin-gu-neun han-guk sa-ram-i-e-yo, 이에요 after the consonant ㅁ |
| 저는 가수예요. | I am a singer. jeo-neun ga-su-ye-yo, 예요 after the vowel ㅜ |
Korean drops what context already says
Once a topic is established, Korean omits it. If someone asks what you are drinking, you answer 커피를 마셔요, with no 저는 at all. Repeating the subject in every sentence is a strong sign of translated English. Trust the context; Korean listeners do.
| 커피를 마셔요. | (I) am drinking coffee. keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo, the subject is understood and dropped |
| 책이 책상 위에 있어요. | The book is on the desk. chae-gi chaek-sang wi-e i-sseo-yo, 있어요 states existence or location |
Pronunciation corner
Particles glue onto the noun, and the noun's final consonant links straight into them.
| 은/는 (eun/neun) | [ɯn] / [nɯn] | both use the flat-lipped eu vowel: 'uhn' with spread lips |
| 이에요 (ieyo) | [i.e.jo] | three light syllables, ee-eh-yo, no stress on any of them |
| 책이 (chaegi) | [tɕʰɛ.ɡi] | the k of 책 links on: 'cheh-gee', never 'chek-ee' |
| 좋아요 (joayo) | [tɕo.a.jo] | the ㅎ between vowels goes silent: 'cho-ah-yo' |
Practice drill
Fill each blank with the correct particle, or follow the instruction. Answers give the particle alone unless a full sentence is asked for.
저___ 미국 사람이에요. (introducing yourself)Show answer
는저 ends in a vowel, and self-introduction takes the topic particle
날씨___ 좋아요. (the weather is nice, new remark)Show answer
가날씨 ends in a vowel
동생___ 학생이에요. (talking about your younger sibling)Show answer
은동생 ends in the consonant ㅇ
누___ 전화했어요?Show answer
가who-questions mark the unknown subject with 가
물___ 있어요? (is there water?)Show answer
이물 ends in the consonant ㄹ
오늘___ 비가 와요. (as for today)Show answer
은오늘 ends in the consonant ㄹ, and it frames the sentence
Put in order: 마셔요 / 저는 / 커피를Show answer
저는 커피를 마셔요.subject, object, verb
가방___ 무거워요. (the bag is heavy, new information)Show answer
이가방 ends in the consonant ㅇ
Frequently asked questions
Is Korean word order really flexible?
Everything before the verb can move for emphasis because particles mark each noun's role. The verb-final rule itself is fixed in standard sentences, so end with the verb and you are safe.
Do I always need to state the subject?
No. Korean drops subjects and topics whenever context makes them obvious, and natural speech does this constantly. Include the subject when you introduce it or when leaving it out would be ambiguous.
How do I know which form of a particle to use?
Look at the last letter of the noun. Ends in a consonant: 은, 이, 을. Ends in a vowel: 는, 가, 를. The rule is purely phonetic and has no exceptions.
What is the difference between 이에요 and 있어요?
이에요/예요 is the copula, 'A is B': 학생이에요, I am a student. 있어요 states existence or location, 'there is' or 'is at': 책이 있어요, there is a book. English 'is' covers both, which is why they get confused.
Related deep dives