107 grammar points for TOPIK Levels 1 through 4, with clear explanations, examples, and common mistakes.
25 grammar points · Essential patterns for beginners: particles, verb forms, negation, and basic expressions.
이에요/예요
이에요/예요 is the polite present form of the copula 'to be,' used to identify or define nouns.
은/는
은/는 marks the topic of a sentence — the thing being talked about or contrasted.
이/가
이/가 marks the grammatical subject of a sentence, identifying who or what performs an action or exists.
을/를
을/를 marks the direct object of a verb — the thing being acted upon.
에
에 marks a location of existence, a destination of movement, or a specific point in time.
에서
에서 marks the location where an action or activity takes place.
도
도 means 'also' or 'too' and replaces the particles 은/는, 이/가, or 을/를.
와/과
와/과 connects two nouns meaning 'and' or 'with.'
(으)로
(으)로 indicates direction, means, method, or material.
하고
하고 connects nouns meaning 'and' or 'with,' commonly used in spoken Korean.
안
안 is placed before a verb or adjective to negate it, meaning 'not' or 'don't.'
못
못 is placed before a verb to express inability, meaning 'cannot' or 'unable to.'
-아/어요
-아/어요 is the polite informal present tense ending, the most commonly used verb form in everyday Korean.
-았/었어요
-았/었어요 is the polite informal past tense, formed by adding 았/었 to the verb stem.
-을/ㄹ 거예요
-을/ㄹ 거예요 expresses future plans or intentions, meaning 'will' or 'going to.'
-고 싶다
-고 싶다 expresses a desire to do something, meaning 'want to.'
-지 마세요
-지 마세요 is the polite negative imperative, meaning 'please don't.'
-(으)세요
-(으)세요 is used for polite requests and to show respect when describing someone's actions.
-고
-고 connects two verbs or clauses meaning 'and' or 'and then.'
-지만
-지만 connects two contrasting clauses, meaning 'but' or 'however.'
때문에
때문에 expresses a reason or cause, meaning 'because of.'
-(으)면
-(으)면 expresses a condition or hypothetical situation, meaning 'if' or 'when.'
-아/어서
-아/어서 connects two clauses expressing reason ('because') or sequence ('and then').
보다
보다 means 'than' and is used to compare two things.
-ㄹ 수 있다
-ㄹ/을 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility, meaning 'can' or 'be able to.'
25 grammar points · Intermediate beginner patterns: nominalizers, progressive, conditionals, and complex expressions.
-는 것
Turns a verb clause into a noun phrase, equivalent to English '-ing' or 'the fact that'.
-ㄹ 때
Expresses 'when' a certain action or state occurs.
-기 때문에
Expresses a reason or cause, meaning 'because of doing something'.
-아/어야 하다
Expresses obligation or necessity, meaning 'must' or 'have to'.
-지 않다
The standard long-form negation pattern, meaning 'do not' or 'is not'.
-고 있다
Expresses an ongoing action, equivalent to English '-ing' (present progressive).
-아/어 보다
Expresses trying or experiencing an action, meaning 'try doing' something.
-는데
Provides background information or a soft contrast, similar to 'but' or 'and' with context.
-려고
Expresses intention or purpose, meaning 'in order to' or 'intending to'.
-기 전에
Expresses that something happens before another action, meaning 'before doing'.
-ㄴ 후에
Expresses that something happens after another action, meaning 'after doing'.
-ㄹ 수 없다
Expresses inability, meaning 'cannot' or 'is unable to'.
-아/어 주다
Expresses doing an action for someone else's benefit, meaning 'do something for (someone)'.
-는 중
Expresses that an action is currently in progress, meaning 'in the middle of doing'.
-(으)면 좋겠다
Expresses a wish or hope, meaning 'I wish' or 'it would be nice if'.
-ㄴ 적이 있다
Expresses past experience, meaning 'have done before' or 'have the experience of'.
-는 게 좋다
Used to give advice or recommendations, meaning 'it's good to' or 'you'd better'.
-ㄹ 것 같다
Expresses conjecture or probability, meaning 'seems like' or 'I think (it will)'.
의
The possessive particle, equivalent to English 'of' or the possessive 's.
부터...까지
Expresses a range of time or space, meaning 'from...to' or 'from...until'.
만
A particle meaning 'only' or 'just', limiting the scope to one thing.
-(으)면서
Expresses two simultaneous actions by the same subject, meaning 'while doing'.
-아/어도 되다
Expresses permission, meaning 'may', 'is allowed to', or 'it's okay to'.
-(으)면 안 되다
Expresses prohibition, meaning 'must not' or 'is not allowed to'.
-ㄹ 줄 알다
Expresses knowledge of how to do something, meaning 'know how to'.
29 grammar points · Intermediate patterns: connecting clauses, reported speech, passive/causative, and comparatives.
-고
Connects two actions or states in sequence, meaning 'and' or 'and then'.
-아/어서
Connects clauses to express cause/reason or a natural sequential relationship.
-(으)면
Expresses a conditional or hypothetical situation, meaning 'if' or 'when'.
-(으)니까
Expresses reason or cause, usable with imperative and propositive sentences.
-거나
Connects two alternatives, meaning 'or' between verb/adjective clauses.
-(으)ㄴ데
Provides background information or expresses contrast between two clauses.
-다가
Expresses an action being interrupted or switching to another action.
-다고 하다
Reports what someone said as a statement (indirect quotation).
-냐고 하다
Reports what someone asked as a question (indirect quotation).
-자고 하다
Reports what someone suggested or proposed (indirect quotation).
-라고/달라고 하다
Reports commands or requests someone made (indirect quotation).
-이/히/리/기 (피동)
Forms passive verbs by adding suffixes -이, -히, -리, or -기 to active verb stems.
-아/어지다
Expresses a change of state ('become') or forms passive expressions.
-이/히/리/기/우/추 (사동)
Forms causative verbs meaning 'to make/cause someone to do something'.
-게 하다
A periphrastic causative meaning 'make' or 'let' someone do something.
-기 (명사화)
Turns a verb into a noun form, commonly used in set expressions.
-(으)ㅁ (명사화)
Turns a verb into a formal noun form, used in written and official contexts.
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다
Expresses knowing or not knowing how to do something.
-아/어야
Expresses a necessary condition, meaning 'must' or 'only if'.
-(으)려면
Expresses 'if you want to' or 'if you intend to', combining intent and condition.
-(으)ㄹ래요
Expresses the speaker's casual intention or asks about the listener's preference.
-고자
Expresses formal intent or purpose, meaning 'in order to' or 'with the intention of'.
-(으)ㄹ수록
Expresses a proportional relationship: 'the more X, the more Y'.
만큼
Compares to the same degree or extent, meaning 'as much as' or 'to the extent that'.
처럼/같이
Expresses similarity, meaning 'like' or 'similar to'.
-자마자
Expresses that one action happens immediately after another.
-(으)ㄴ 지
Expresses how much time has passed since an event occurred.
-도록
Expresses purpose, goal, or degree, meaning 'so that' or 'to the point that'.
-(으)ㄹ 뿐만 아니라
Expresses 'not only... but also', adding information beyond what is expected.
28 grammar points · Advanced patterns: formal conjunctions, indirect expressions, complex conditionals, and academic grammar.
-(으)ㄹ뿐더러
Adds emphasis beyond expectation: 'not only... but also/furthermore.'
-(으)므로
Formal written expression of cause/reason ('because/therefore'), used in documents and news.
-는 바람에
Expresses an unexpected cause that led to a negative result ('because of / due to').
-는 반면(에)
Contrasts two facts about the same subject: 'on the other hand / while / whereas.'
-더니
Connects a past observation to a resulting change: 'I noticed... and then...'
-(으)ㄴ/는 데다가
Adds a compounding fact: 'in addition to / on top of that.'
-(으)ㅂ시다
Formal propositive ending used for suggestions in formal/professional settings.
-는 바
Formal expression meaning 'the fact that / what one does,' used in formal writing and speech.
-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다
Expresses that something can be considered or regarded as equivalent to something else.
-기는커녕
Negates an expectation emphatically: 'far from / let alone / not even close to.'
-는 듯하다
Expresses an impression or conjecture: 'it seems like / it appears that.'
-(으)ㄹ 리가 없다
Expresses strong disbelief: 'there's no way / it can't be that.'
-다시피
Refers to shared knowledge: 'as you know / as you can see.'
-(으)ㄹ 텐데
Expresses supposition about a situation and its implications: 'I expect / I suppose that.'
-았/었더라면
Counterfactual conditional: 'if it had been / if I had done,' expressing regret about the past.
-(으)ㄹ걸
Expresses regret about not doing something ('should have') or mild speculation ('I bet').
-더라도
Expresses a hypothetical concession: 'even if / even though (hypothetically).'
-(으)ㄹ지라도
Formal/literary version of 'even if,' used in writing and formal speech.
-잖아요
Appeals to shared knowledge or reminds the listener of a known fact: 'you know / as you know.'
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
Expresses inevitability: 'have no choice but to / can only.'
-다니
Expresses surprise or disbelief at a fact or action: 'I can't believe that...!'
-에 의하면
Cites a source of information: 'according to.'
-에 관하여/관해서
Formal expression meaning 'regarding / concerning / about a topic.'
-(으)ㄴ/는 한
Sets a condition that must remain true: 'as long as / so long as.'
-에 비해(서)
Makes a comparison between two things: 'compared to / in comparison with.'
-아/어 놓다
Indicates completing an action and maintaining its result state: 'do and keep / do in advance.'
-아/어 버리다
Indicates an action is done completely, often with a sense of regret or relief.
-고 말다
Indicates an undesired outcome that ultimately happened despite efforts to prevent it.
은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서, 도, 의
10 grammar points
-아/어요, -았/었어요, -을/ㄹ 거예요, conjugation
12 grammar points
Fixed patterns and set phrases
40 grammar points
보다, 만큼, 제일/가장
5 grammar points
Connecting clauses and complex sentences
27 grammar points
-고 있다, -ㄴ 적이 있다, progressive and experience
3 grammar points
-(으)세요, formal and polite speech levels
2 grammar points
-(으)면, -아/어야 — conditional forms
8 grammar points
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