Basic Korean

A Grammar and Workbook

Andrew Sangpil Byon

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781000258912
• Topic: Filología
• Subtopic: Idiomas

The revised second edition of Basic Korean: A Grammar and Workbook is an accessible reference grammar and workbook in one volume. The text can be used in conjunction with any primary textbook, both as a practice book to reinforce learning and as a reference guide to the basics of Korean grammar.

This book is comprised of 26 units covering key aspects of Korean grammar students would expect to encounter in their first year learning the language. Grammatical descriptions are followed by examples and exercises which allow students to reinforce and consolidate their learning. This new edition has been updated and enhanced to include more varied exercises and contemporary vocabulary and dialogues.

Clearly presented and user-friendly, Basic Korean provides readers with the essential tools to express themselves in a wide variety of situations, making it an ideal reference grammar and practice resource for both beginners and students with some knowledge of the language.

UNIT 1
Hangul (the Korean alphabet)

The Korean writing system “Hangul” is one of the most scientific and systematic writing systems in the world. Hangul comprises an alphabet of 21 vowel and 19 consonant symbols. The system was invented in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and his group of royal scholars during the Chosun dynasty of Korea (1392–1910). This unit introduces individual vowel and consonant symbols and discusses how each symbol is assembled into syllables to spell Korean words.

Vowels

Hangul has a total of 21 vowel symbols. Among them are 11 basic vowel and ten double vowel symbols. The basic vowel symbols include:

• ㅏ[a] (as in father)
• ㅓ[eo] (as in uh-oh)
• ㅗ[o] (as in home)
• ㅜ[u] (as in boo)
• ㅡ[eu] (as in pull)
• ㅣ[i] (as in feet)

• ㅐ[ae] (as in care)
• ㅔ[e] (as in met)
• ㅚ[oe] (as in wet)
• ㅟ[wi] (as in we are the world)
• ㅢ[ui] (u as in pull, followed by ee as in feet, but said quickly as one sound)

Ten double vowel symbols are made by either adding an additional stroke to some of the above basic vowel symbols or by combining basic vowel symbols. For example, by adding a stroke toㅏ [a], you get ㅑ [ya]. The following six double vowel symbols result from adding an additional stroke (in this case the y sound) to the first six vowel symbols listed above:

• ㅑ[ya] (as in yard)
• ㅕ[yeo] (as in yonder)
• ㅛ[yo] (as in yoga)
• ㅠ[yu] (as in you)
• ㅒ[yae] (as in yankie)
• ㅖ[ye] (as in yes)

Another four double vowel symbols are made by combining basic vowel symbols. For example, combining ㅗ [o] and ㅏ [a] produces ㅘ [wa]:

• ㅘ[wa] (as in wine)
• ㅝ[wo] (as in wonder)
• ㅙ[wae] (as in wait)
• ㅞ[we] (as in when)

Notice that the above four double vowel symbols have the w sound.

You may also wonder whether other vowel symbols can be combined. However, there are vowel symbols that cannot be combined together. For instance, ㅗ [o] does not combine with ㅓ [eo] or ㅔ [e], and ㅜ [u] does not combine with ㅏ [a] or ㅐ [ae]. This is because of the Korean vowel harmony principle.

In Korean, the two vowel symbols ㅏ [a] and ㅗ [o] are called “bright vowels” because they sound sonorous to native speakers. Since the vowel symbols such as ㅙ [wae], ㅘ [wa], ㅐ [ae], and ㅒ [yae] were derived from ㅏ [a] and ㅗ [o] by either adding a stroke or combining them, these vowel symbols are also considered “bright vowels.” On the other hand, ㅓ [eo] and ㅜ [u] are considered “dark vowels” along with ㅝ [wo], ㅞ [we], and ㅖ [ye]. Furthermore, ㅣ [i] and ㅡ [eu] are called “neutral vowels.” The vowel harmony principle prohibits the combination of bright and dark vowel symbols.

Consonants

Hangul has 19 consonant symbols, as shown below:

• ㅂ[b/p] (as in park, but relaxed)
• ㅍ[p] (as in pill, aspirated)
• ㅃ[pp] (as in speak, tense)
• ㄷ[d/t] (as in tall, but relaxed)
• ㅌ[t] (as in talk, aspirated)
• ㄸ[tt] (as in steam, tense)
• ㅅ[s] (as in soul)
• ㅆ[ss] (as in sea)
• ㅈ[j] (as in chill, but relaxed)
• ㅊ[ch] (as in change, aspirated)
• ㅉ[jj] (as in midget, tense)
• ㄱ[g/k] (as in kiss, but relaxed)
• ㅋ[k] (as in king, aspirated)
• ㄲ[kk] (as in skill, tense)
• ㅁ[m] (as in mother)
• ㄴ[n] (as in nose)
• ㅇ[ng] (as in king)
• ㄹ[l/r] (l as in lung...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Hangul (the Korean alphabet)
• 2 Characteristics of the Korean language
• 3 Nouns
• 4 Predicates and endings
• 5 The formal speech level and the polite speech level
• 6 The subject case particle 이/가
• 7 The special particle 은/는
• 8 Pronouns
• 9 Numbers, ordinals, and plural marker 들
• 10 Counters, the question word 몇, and some time expressions
• 11 The copula 이다/아니다 and the verb of existence and location 있다/없다
• 12 Case particles I: 을/를 and (으)로
• 13 Case particles II: 의, 에, 와/과, (이)랑, and 하고
• 14 Case particles III: 에서, 에게, 한테, 께, 에게서, and 한테서
• 15 Special particles I: 도 and 만
• 16 Special particle II: (이)나, 부터, and 까지
• 17 Past tense and double past tense markers
• 18 Negation
• 19 Irregular predicates
• 20 Expressing desire ~고 싶다, continuous actions ~고 있다, and continuous states ~어/아 있다
• 21 The endings ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 and ~(으)ㄹ까요?
• 22 Prenouns
• 23 Adverbs and adverbials
• 24 The endings ~(으)ㄹ래요 and ~(으)ㄹ게요
• 25 The suffixes ~겠 and ~(으)시
• 26 Sentence-final endings: ~지요, ~군요, ~네요, ~잖아요
• Key to Exercises
• Vocabulary Index
• Index