Lesson 6
After studying with this lesson, you will be able to say, “This is ABC” and also ask “Is this ABC?” and “What is this?” in polite/formal Korean.
In the previous lesson, you learned how -이에요 [-i-e-yo] and -예요 [-ye-yo] can be placed after a noun to express the meaning of “It is ABC” or “I am DEF.”
Conjugation
Final consonant + -이에요 [-i-e-yo]
No final consonant (Only vowel) + -예요 [-ye-yo]
Sample Sentences
책 [chaek] + -이에요 [-i-e-yo] = 책이에요. [chae-gi-e-yo] = It is a book.
저 [jeo] + -예요 [-ye-yo] = 저예요. [jeo-ye-yo] = It is me.
* -이에요 and -예요 have a similar role to that of the English verb “to be”.
How to say “THIS”
이거 = this, this one
이 [i] (“this”) + 것 [geot] (“thing”) = 이것 [i-geot] → 이거 [i-geo]
이거 [i-geo] can be found in the dictionary as 이것 [i-geot], which is originally how it was spelled and pronounced, but over time, people began using 이거 [i-geo] for ease of pronunciation.
Sample Sentences
책이에요. [chae-gi-e-yo.] = It is a book.
이거 책이에요. [i-geo chae-gi-e-yo.] = This is a book.
카메라예요. [ka-me-ra-ye-yo.] = It is a camera.
이거 카메라예요. [i-geo ka-me-ra-ye-yo.] = This is a camera.
커피예요. [keo-pi-ye-yo.] = It is coffee.
이거 커피예요. [i-geo keo-pi-ye-yo.] = This is coffee.
사전이에요. [sa-jeo-ni-e-yo.] = It is a dictionary.
이거 사전이에요. [i-geo sa-jeo-ni-e-yo.] = This is a dictionary.
이거 뭐예요? = What is this?
In Lesson 5, we introduced the question “뭐예요? [mwo-ye-yo?]” which means “What is it?” in Korean. You can add “이거 [i-geo]” in front of “뭐예요?” to ask “What is this?”
Sample Conversation
A: 이거 뭐예요? [i-geo mwo-ye-yo?] = What is this?
B: 이거 마이크예요. [i-geo ma-i-keu-ye-yo.] = This is a microphone.
A: 이거 뭐예요? [i-geo mwo-ye-yo?] = What is this?
B: 이거 핸드폰이에요. [i-geo haen-deu-po-ni-e-yo.] = This is a cellphone.
A: 이거 뭐예요? [i-geo mwo-ye-yo?] = What is this?
B: 이거 물이에요. [i-geo mu-ri-e-yo.] = This is water.
A: 이거 뭐예요? [i-geo mwo-ye-yo?] = What is this?
B: 이거 커피예요. [i-geo keo-pi-ye-yo.] = This is coffee.
Do you remember how to say “No”?
Sample Conversation
A: 이거 커피예요? [i-geo keo-pi-ye-yo?] = Is this coffee?
B: 아니요. 이거 물이에요. [a-ni-yo. i-geo mu-ri-e-yo] = No. This is water.
Do you remember how to say “Yes, that’s right”?
Sample Conversation
A: 이거 커피예요? [i-geo keo-pi-ye-yo?] = Is this coffee?
B: 네. 맞아요. 이거 커피예요. [ne. ma-ja-yo. i-geo keo-pi-ye-yo.] = Yes, that’s right. This is coffee.