In this lesson
What you will learn
- 01Find the predicate at the end first
- 02Distinguish the two basic sentence patterns
- 03Build a sentence by putting chunks together
- 04Read a long sentence from the end
A basic Korean word order is subject → (object) → predicate. An object appears with verbs that take one, and the predicate usually comes last to express an action, state, or identity.
저는 사과를 먹어요.
저는 / 사과를 / 먹어요.
Korean can omit words that are clear from context, and a word may move forward for emphasis. Start by finding the predicate at the end, then check the chunks before it in order.
Find the predicate at the end of a sentence
When reading a Korean sentence, look at the ending first. The predicate usually comes at the end.
A predicate does more than describe an action. It completes the sentence by expressing an action, state, or identity.
비가 와요.
와요 · the action or event of rain falling
책이 재미있어요.
재미있어요 · the state of the book
저는 학생이에요.
학생이에요 · the speaker’s identity
저는 물을 마셔요.
마셔요 · the action of drinking
Check with example sentences
저는 / 사과를 / 먹어요.
민수가 / 커피를 / 마셔요.
저는 / 한국어를 / 공부해요.
친구가 / 음악을 / 들어요.
오늘은 / 비가 / 와요.
지수는 / 도서관에서 / 책을 / 읽어요.
Two basic sentence patterns
Not every sentence has an object. First, learn to distinguish these two basic patterns.
A. Subject + predicate
A short sentence that tells what someone does or what state something is in.
- 비가 와요.
- 책이 재미있어요.
- 민수가 자요.
These sentences express a complete meaning without an object.
저는 바빠요.
B. Topic/subject + object + predicate
With verbs such as eat, drink, read, and watch, place the object before the predicate because the action has a target.
- 저는 물을 마셔요.
- 민수가 영화를 봐요.
- 친구가 음악을 들어요.
- 저는 한국어를 공부해요.
| Chunk | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / Minsu / a friend | Who or what the sentence is about | 저는 |
| water / a movie / music | The target of the action | 물을 |
| drink / watch / listen | Completes an action or state | 마셔요 |
How to build a sentence
When building a Korean sentence, it is easier to choose the final predicate first than to move words into English word order.
Sentence to build: “I study Korean.”
- Step 1: Decide who the sentence is about
저는
- Step 2: Add the object of the action
한국어를
- Step 3: Put the predicate at the end
공부해요
The completed sentence is:
Try building sentences the same way with other words.
| Who/what | What (object) | Predicate | Completed sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 저는 | 커피를 | 마셔요 | 저는 커피를 마셔요. |
| 친구가 | 음악을 | 들어요 | 친구가 음악을 들어요. |
| 민수가 | 책을 | 읽어요 | 민수가 책을 읽어요. |
Rather than translating word by word, choose the final predicate and then add the chunks before it.
A table of time, place, object, and predicate
Adding time and place makes a sentence longer, but the basic principle stays the same: information such as time, place, and object usually comes before the predicate.
| Chunk | Role | Question |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘 | Time | When? |
| 도서관에서 | Place | Where? |
| 한국어를 | Object | What? |
| 공부해요 | Predicate | What action is being described? |
When reading, check the sentence from the end toward the beginning.
- 공부해요: What do you do?
- 한국어를: What do you study?
- 도서관에서: Where do you study?
- 오늘: When do you study?
This sentence omits 저는. In Korean, it is natural to leave out the subject when the conversation already makes clear who is studying.
저는 오늘 도서관에서 한국어를 공부해요.
오늘 도서관에서 한국어를 공부해요.
Both sentences are natural and correct.
Check your sentence reading and building
Read the sentence
| Check this | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the final predicate? | 마셔요 |
| What is being drunk? | 커피를 |
| Who is the sentence about? | 지수는 |
Now read one more sentence.
- Predicate: 읽어요
- Object: 책을
- Place: 학교에서
- Subject: 친구가
- Time: 오늘
Build a sentence
Move the chunks to complete the sentence
Drag or tap the chunks into the empty slots. Once all three slots are filled, you can check your answer.
Sentence slots
Word chunks
Move all 3 chunks into the slots.
Quick quiz
Try all quizzes → →1. In 사과를 민수가 먹어요, what is eaten? Use the particle to tell.
2. In 저는 학생이에요, what does the predicate identify?
3. In 민수가 커피를 마셔요, who drinks?
Next steps for reading and building natural sentences
You have learned the most basic Korean word order. Next, learn the particles attached to each chunk to say more precisely who did what.
은/는: the topic you are talking about
은/는 signals, “I am going to talk about this now.”
저는 한국어를 공부해요.
오늘은 비가 와요.
이/가: who acts or what is in a state
이/가 often clarifies who performs an action or what is in a particular state.
민수가 커피를 마셔요.
비가 와요.
을/를: the object of an action
을/를 marks the target of an action.
사과를 먹어요.
책을 읽어요.
음악을 들어요.
To start, practise in this order.
- Find the predicate at the end of the sentence.
- Before the predicate, find the target of the action.
- Identify who or what the sentence is about.
- When time or place is included, read it as a chunk before the predicate.
- Remember that subjects and objects clear from context may be omitted.
Continue exploring other lessons
Previous lesson / Next lesson
Build on your Hangul reading skills, then learn particles in the next lesson to make your sentences more precise.
← Previous lessonBuild your first syllables and wordsCombine consonants and vowels to read your first syllables and short words.
Next lesson →Topic particle 은/는Learn how 은/는 introduces what a sentence is about. Choose 은 or 는 based on the final sound, then read simple sentences that contrast two topics.