I asked ChatGPT for a quick refresher on Subject, Object, and Topic markers.

Subject Markers: 이/가

• 이 (i): Used after a noun ending in a consonant.
• 가 (ga): Used after a noun ending in a vowel.
• Purpose: These particles indicate the subject of the sentence, essentially who or what is performing the action.
• Example:
  • 고양이가 뛰어요. (The cat runs.)

Object Markers: 을/를

• 을 (eul): Used after a noun ending in a consonant.
• 를 (reul): Used after a noun ending in a vowel.
• Purpose: These particles indicate the direct object of the sentence, essentially what receives the action.
• Example:
  • 나는 사과를 먹어요. (I eat an apple.)

Topic Markers: 은/는

• 은 (eun): Used after a noun ending in a consonant.
• 는 (neun): Used after a noun ending in a vowel.
• Purpose: These particles indicate the topic of the sentence or the general context being discussed. The topic might not necessarily be the subject of the sentence. It provides context or contrast and often indicates what the sentence is mainly about.
• Example:
  • 나는 학생이에요. (As for me, I am a student.)
    • In this sentence, “나” (I) is the topic, but not necessarily the subject in a strict sense. The use of the topic marker helps to emphasize or contrast the information that follows.

Key Differences:

• The subject marker indicates who or what is carrying out an action.
• The object marker indicates what is affected by the action.
• The topic marker sets the scene or provides context for what the sentence will discuss. Often, sentences with topic markers might be providing new, contrasting, or emphasized information about the noun they are attached to.

Note: While this provides a basic understanding of these markers, Korean grammar often possesses nuances that require exposure and practice to fully grasp. The same noun can sometimes be used as both the topic and the subject of a sentence, leading to different nuances in meaning and emphasis.

My Korean Diary generated this text in part with GPT-4, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.

I built this list of 20 basic Korean grammar forms out using ChatGPT to serve as a quick reference.

1. -고 싶다: Want to
   저는 여행하고 싶어요 - I want to travel.

2. -아/어/여 보다: Try to
   한국어를 배워 보고 싶어요 - I want to try learning Korean.

3. -ㄹ/을 수 있다: Can (ability)
   저는 한국어를 할 수 있어요 - I can speak Korean.

4. -는데: However/Background Information
   저는 운동하는데 진짜 피곤해요 - I want to work out but I am very tired.

5. -지만: However/But
   비가 오지만 나가요 - It’s raining, but let’s go out.

6. -고 있다: Present continuous
   저는 지금 책을 읽고 있어요 - I am reading a book now.

7. -ㄴ/은/는 것 같다: It seems like
   그 사람은 학생인 것 같아요 - That person seems to be a student.

8. -게 하다: Make/Force to
   아이를 숙제하게 했어요 - I made the child do the homework.

9. -ㄹ/을 때: When
   집에 갈 때 전화해요 - Call me when you go home.

10. -자: Let’s
    같이 먹자 - Let’s eat together.

11. -는 중이다: In the middle of
    저는 일하는 중이에요 - I’m in the middle of working.

12. -아/어야 하다: Have to/Must
    공부해야 돼요 - You have to study.

13. -기 전에: Before doing
    먹기 전에 손을 씻어요 - Wash your hands before eating.

14. -기 때문에: Because
    비가 와서 우산을 가져가세요 - Bring an umbrella because it’s raining.

15. -ㄹ/을 뿐이다: Only/Nothing but
    그는 친절할 뿐이에요 - He is nothing but kind.

16. -다가: While/But then
    읽다가 잠들었어요 - I fell asleep while reading.

17. -더라고요: I saw/heard that
    그 영화 재미있더라고요 - I saw that the movie was fun.

18. -ㄴ/는 편이다: Tend to
    저는 매운 음식을 좋아하는 편이에요 - I tend to like spicy food.

19. -았/었/였으면 좋겠다: I hope/Wish
    내일 비가 오지 않았으면 좋겠어요 - I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.

20. -게 되다: End up
    결국 그 일을 하게 되었어요 - I ended up doing that job.

I asked ChatGPT to write a cute story about a monkey and cat that would be suitable practice material for lower-intermediate Korean learners. Here it is:

옛날 옛적에 우리동네에 원숭이와 고양이가 살았어요. 그들은 서로 다른 동물이었지만, 항상 친구처럼 지냈어요.

어느 날, 원숭이가 나무 위에서 놀고 있었어요. 그때 갑자기 발이 미끄러져, 원숭이는 나무에서 떨어졌어요. 그리고 다리를 다쳤어요.

고양이는 그 일을 보고, 원숭이를 도와주기로 했어요. 그녀는 물과 불을 가져와서 원숭이의 다리를 씻어주고, 상처에 약을 발라주었어요.

원숭이는 고양이에게 감사의 말을 전했어요. 그리고 그녀에게 “내가 다시 걷게 되면, 내가 너한테 선물을 줄게” 라고 말했어요.

하지만, 원숭이의 다리는 아직 아팠어요. 그래서 고양이는 매일매일 원숭이를 돌봐주었어요. 그녀는 맛있는 음식을 가져다 주고, 함께 놀아주며, 매일 밤 원숭이를 재워주었어요.

그리고 어느 날, 원숭이는 다시 걸을 수 있게 되었어요. 그녀는 고양이에게 약속한 대로, 작은 선물을 줬어요.

이후로, 그들은 더욱 친해졌어요. 그리고 그들의 우정은 영원히 계속될 거에요.

Once upon a time, a monkey and a cat lived in our neighborhood. They were different animals, but they always lived like friends.

One day, the monkey was playing on a tree. Suddenly, he slipped and fell from the tree. And he hurt his leg.

The cat saw what happened and decided to help the monkey. She brought water and fire and washed the monkey’s leg and put medicine on the wound.

The monkey thanked the cat and said, “When I can walk again, I will give you a present.”

However, the monkey’s leg still hurt. So the cat took care of the monkey every day. She brought delicious food, played with him, and put him to bed every night.

And one day, the monkey was able to walk again. As promised, she gave the cat a small gift.

From then on, they became even closer. And their friendship will last forever.

In This Entry…

• 옛날: long time ago
• 옛적에: once upon a time
• 우리동네에: in our neighborhood
• 원숭이와: monkey and
• 고양이가: cat (subject particle)
• 살았어요.: lived
• 그들은: they
• 서로: each other
• 다른: different
• 동물이었지만,: were animals but
• 항상: always
• 친구처럼: like friends
• 지냈어요.: lived.
• 어느: one
• 날,: day
• 원숭이가: monkey (subject particle)
• 나무: tree
• 위에서: on top
• 놀고: played
• 있었어요.: was.
• 그때: at that time
• 갑자기: suddenly
• 발이: foot
• 미끄러져,: slipped
• 원숭이는: monkey (subject particle)
• 나무에서: from the tree
• 떨어졌어요.: fell.
• 그리고: and
• 다리를: leg (object particle)
• 다쳤어요.: got hurt.
• 고양이는: cat (subject particle)
• 그: that
• 일을: situation
• 보고,: saw
• 원숭이를: monkey (object particle)
• 도와주기로: decided to help
• 했어요.: did.
• 그녀는: she
• 물과: water and
• 불을: fire
• 가져와서: brought and
• 원숭이의: monkey’s (object particle)
• 다리를: leg (object particle)
• 씻어주고,: washed
• 상처에: wound (object particle)
• 약을: medicine
• 발라주었어요.: applied.
• 원숭이는: monkey (subject particle)
• 고양이에게: cat (to)
• 감사의: gratitude (object particle)
• 말을: words
• 전했어요.: expressed.
• 그리고: and
• 그녀에게: to her
• “내가: I (subject particle)
• 다시: again
• 걷게: to walk (infinitive form)
• 되면,: become
• 너한테: to you
• 선물을: gift (object particle)
• 줄게”: will give.
• 하지만,: but
• 원숭이의: monkey’s (object particle)
• 다리는: leg (subject particle)
• 아직: still
• 아팠어요.: hurt.
• 그래서: so
• 고양이는: cat (subject particle)
• 매일매일: every day
• 원숭이를: monkey (object particle)
• 돌봐주었어요.: took care of.
• 그녀는: she
• 맛있는: delicious
• 음식을: food (object particle)
• 가져다: brought
• 주고,: gave
• 함께: together
• 놀아주며,: played together and
• 매일: every day
• 밤: night
• 원숭이를: monkey (object particle)
• 재워주었어요.: put to sleep.
• 그리고: and
• 어느: one
• 날,: day
• 원숭이는: monkey (subject particle)
• 다시: again
• 걸을: to walk (infinitive form)
• 수: can
• 있게: to be able to
• 되었어요.: became.
• 그녀는: she
• 고양이에게: cat (to)
• 약속한: promised
• 대로,: as promised
• 작은: small
• 선물을: gift (object particle)
• 줬어요.: gave.
• 이후로,: since then
• 그들은: they
• 더욱: even more
• 친해졌어요.: became closer.
• 그리고: and
• 그들의: their
• 우정은: friendship
• 영원히: forever
• 계속될: will continue.
• 거에요.: (end of sentence)

My Korean Diary generated this text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.