Korean Subject Markers 이: Contractions & Colloquialisms
The more exposure you have to K-pop songs (Korean songs) and K-dramas (Korean dramas), the more you will come across colloquial phrases that you can’t learn from textbooks.
In this post, we’ll learn some colloquial words that Korean speakers use in daily life. These expressions originate from contractions of pronouns and subject markers.
Korean Demonstrative Pronouns
| Demonstrative Pronouns | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 것 | thing, object | |
| 이것 | this | a noun that is close to a speaker |
| 그것 | that | a noun that is close to a listener or that is already mentioned in a previous sentence |
| 저것 | that over there | a noun that is far away from both a speaker and a listener |
Korean Subject Particles
이 / 가 show what the subject of the sentence is. If you’re still confused by the concepts of subject marker, please refer to these posts.
[Basic] Topic Marker 은[eun]/는[neun] vs. Subject Marker 이[i]/가[ga]
[Advanced] Topic Marker 은[eun]/는[neun] vs. Subject Marker 이[i]/가[ga]
Okay, now we’re ready to look into short forms and get more familiar with colloquial phrases.
When 이 [i] follows those pronouns, they can be contracted as follows:
| Formal | Informal / Colloquial | Meaning as Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 것 + 이 | 것이 | 게 | thing |
| 이것 + 이 | 이것이 | 이게 | this |
| 그것 + 이 | 그것이 | 그게 | that |
| 저것 + 이 | 저것이 | 저게 | that over there |
For instance, 이것이 [igeosi] combined with 이것 [igeot] and 이 [i] can be used in formal, written speech. But you won’t usually come across this phrase in colloquial situations or daily life. In other words, 이게 [ige] —the short form of 이것이 [igeosi] —is more preferred in casual speech. So if you want to sound like a native speaker, use 이게 [ige].
Let’s look at some example sentences, one by one.
1. 것이 [geosi] > 게 [ge]
| Formal | Informal / Colloquial | Meaning as Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 것 + 이 | 것이 | 게 | thing |
1) 먹을 것이 있어요? [meogeul geosi isseoyo]
→ 먹을 게 있어요? [meogeul ge isseoyo]
Is there something to eat?
- 먹다 [meokda]: to eat
- 것 [geot]: thing
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 있다 [itta]: to have, to be
2) 마실 것이 있어요? [masil geosi isseoyo]
→ 마실 게 있어요? [masil ge isseoyo]
Is there something to drink?
- 마시다 [masida]: to drink
- 것 [geot]: thing
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 있다 [itta]: to have, to be
2. 이것이 [igeosi] > 이게 [ige]
| Formal | Informal / Colloquial | Meaning as Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이것 + 이 | 이것이 | 이게 | this |
1) 이것이 이상해요. [igeosi isangheyo]
→ 이게 이상해요. [ige isangheyo]
This is strange/weird.
- 이것 [igeot]: this
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 이상하다 [isanghada]: strange, weird
2) 이것이 뭐예요? [igeosi mweoyeyo]
→ 이게 뭐예요? [ige mweoyeyo]
What is this?
- 이것 [igeot]: this
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 뭐 [mweo]: what
3. 그것이 [geugeosi] > 그게 [geuge]
| Formal | Informal / Colloquial | Meaning as Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그것 + 이 | 그것이 | 그게 | that |
1) 그것이 맞나요? [geugeosi mannayo]
→ 그게 맞나요? [geuge mannayo]
That is right/correct?
- 그것 [geugeot]: that
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 맞다 [matda]: right, correct
2) 그것이 제일 인기 많아요. [geugeosi jeil ingi manayo]
→ 그게 제일 인기 많아요. [geuge jeil ingi manayo]
That is the most popular.
- 그것 [geugeot]: that
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 제일 [jeil]: the most
- 인기 많다 [ingi manta]: popular
4. 저것이[jeogeosi] > 저게 [jeoge]
| Formal | Informal / Colloquial | Meaning as Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 저것 + 이 | 저것이 | 저게 | that over there |
1) 저것이 신상품인가요? [jeogeosi sinsangpumingayo]
→ 저게 신상품인가요? [jeoge sinsangpumingayo]
That (over there) is a brand-new product?
- 저것 [jeogeot]: that over there
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 신상품 [sinsangpum]: brand-new products
2) 저것이 제 가방이에요. [jeogeosi je gabangieyo]
→ 저게 제 가방이에요. [jeoge je gabangieyo]
That (over there) is my bag.
- 저것 [jeogeot]: that over there
- 이 [i]: (consonant +) subject particle
- 제 [je]: my
- 가방 [gabang]: bag
♥ Recommended posts for you
Korean Topic Marker Short Forms (Contractions)
Korean Object Markers 을/를: Contractions & Colloquialisms
Reference:
- Choo Miho, O’Grady William. The Sounds Of Korean. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press; 2003.
- Im H, Hong K, Chang S. Korean Grammar For International Learners. Seoul, Korea: Yonsei University Press; 2007.
- Choo Miho, Kwak Hye-Young. Using Korean: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2008.
- Korean/Demonstrative pronouns – Wikibooks, open books for an open world. Enwikibooksorg. 2016. Available at: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Korean/Demonstrative_pronouns. Accessed November 4, 2016.