Lesson 22 · 은/는 vs 이/가
HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · BEGINNER · 22
Both 저는 학생이에요 and 제가 학생이에요 can be correct, but they answer different conversational needs. 은/는 sets a topic or contrast; 이/가 marks a subject and often helps identify new or focused information.
How the pattern works
1 · Choose the sound form
After a consonant, use 은 or 이: 학생은, 학생이. After a vowel, use 는 or 가: 민수는, 민수가. These particles attach directly to nouns.
2 · Set the topic with 은/는
저는 학생이에요 presents information about me. Think ‘As for me, I am a student.’ The topic does not have to be old information in every sentence.
3 · Show a contrast with 은/는
이 공책은 제 공책이에요. 저 공책은 민수 씨 공책이에요. The two notebooks are contrasted. 은/는 can highlight this contrast even when the nouns are newly mentioned.
4 · Answer ‘who?’ with 이/가
누가 왔어요? — 민수가 왔어요. The answer identifies Minsu as the person who came. 누구 + 가 becomes 누가; 저 + 가 becomes 제가, and 나 + 가 becomes 내가.
5 · Avoid an absolute rule
이/가 is a subject marker; it does not always mean ‘new.’ 은/는 is a topic or contrast marker; it does not always mean ‘old.’ Context and emphasis decide. Korean can also omit particles in informal speech, but keep them while practicing.
6 · One sentence can contain both
저는 이름이 민수예요. means ‘My name is Minsu.’ 저는 sets the topic and 이름이 marks the subject inside the comment about that topic. There is no rule that a sentence must use only one of the two particles.
Examples in context
저는 학생이에요.
Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.
I am a student.
민수는 학생이에요. 유나 씨는 선생님이에요.
Minsuneun haksaeng-ieyo. Yuna ssineun seonsaengnim-ieyo.
Minsu is a student. Yuna is a teacher.
누가 왔어요? 민수가 왔어요.
Nuga wasseoyo? Minsuga wasseoyo.
Who came? Minsu came.
어느 가방이 제 가방이에요?
Eoneu gabang-i je gabang-ieyo?
Which bag is my bag?
이 공책은 제 공책이에요. 저 공책은 민수 씨 공책이에요.
I gongchaegeun je gongchaeg-ieyo. Jeo gongchaegeun Minsu ssi gongchaeg-ieyo.
This notebook is mine. That notebook is Minsu's.
이것이 제 휴대폰이에요.
Igeos-i je hyudaepon-ieyo.
This is my phone.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 2
N이/가 있어요
오늘은 시간이 없어요.
With 있어요/없어요 and adjectives, the thing that exists or is described usually takes 이/가.
LESSON 28
-고 싶어요
시원한 물이 마시고 싶어요.
With -고 싶어요, both 을/를 and 이/가 are possible. 이/가 puts extra focus on what you want.
LESSON 41
께서
할머니께서 오셨어요.
For people you respect, 이/가 becomes 께서 (and 은/는 becomes 께서는).
| Pattern | Main job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 은/는 | topic, contrast, general facts | 저는 학생이에요 |
| 이/가 | subject, new information, answer to “who/what?” | 민수가 왔어요 |
| 도 | also | 저도 학생이에요 |
| 께서 | subject (honorific) | 할머니께서 오셨어요 |
Dialogue: First Day of Class
On the first day of class, the teacher checks names. Notice when the speakers use 은/는 to introduce or contrast, and 이/가 to answer “who?” or “which?”.
Point: 제가 민수예요 answers the teacher’s “who?” question, so it uses 이/가. 저는 미국 사람이에요 then adds information about me with 은/는. 그 가방은 … 이 우산은 … contrasts two things.
은/는 or 이/가? A Quick Checklist
When you are not sure, check the situation first.
| Situation | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing yourself or saying something about a topic | 은/는 | 저는 학생이에요. |
| Answering “who / what / which?” | 이/가 | 누가 왔어요? — 민수가 왔어요. |
| Contrasting two things | 은/는 | 커피는 좋아해요. 차는 안 좋아해요. |
| The thing that exists, is missing, or is liked with 있다 / 없다 / 좋다 | 이/가 | 시간이 없어요. 고양이가 좋아요. |
| Question words as the subject (누구, 뭐, 어디) | 이/가 | 누가, 뭐가, 어디가 |
Common mistakes
An answer to 누가 (“who?”) takes 이/가.
In a self-introduction you set yourself as the topic: 저는. (저 + 가 would become 제가.)
When asking where something is, use 이/가 with 있어요. (화장실은 어디예요? is also natural.)
나 + 가 becomes 내가 (and 저 + 가 becomes 제가).
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blanksA: 누___ 이 케이크를 만들었어요? B: 제___ 만들었어요.
Check answer
누가, 제가
Asking and answering “who?” both use 이/가: 누가, 제가.
- Fill in the blank사과는 좋아해요. 그런데 바나나___ 안 좋아해요.
Check answer
그런데 바나나는 안 좋아해요.
Contrast between apples and bananas → 은/는: 바나나는.
- Choose the better form(처음 보는 고양이를 보고) 어, 저기 고양이(가 / 는) 있어요!
Check answer
가
You’ve just noticed it — new information — so 이/가.
- Choose the better form지구(는 / 가) 둥글어요.
Check answer
는
A general fact about a topic → 은/는.
- Find and fix the mistake그 일은 저가 할게요.
Check answer
그 일은 제가 할게요.
저 + 가 becomes 제가.
- Say it in KoreanThis one is my bag. That one is my friend’s.
Check answer
이건 제 가방이에요. 저건 친구 가방이에요.
Two things are contrasted, so both take 은/는: 이건, 저건.
Your turn
Introduce yourself with 저는. Then place two notebooks on a table and contrast them with 은/는. Finally, ask 누가 왔어요? and answer with a name plus 이/가.
Questions Learners Often Ask
Why is it 누가, not 누구가?
누구 + 가 is shortened to 누가. In the same way, 저 + 가 → 제가 and 나 + 가 → 내가. You will hear these short forms all the time.
Can one sentence use both 은/는 and 이/가?
Yes, and it is very common. In 저는 이름이 민수예요 (“My name is Minsu”) and 저는 눈이 커요 (“My eyes are big”), 저는 sets the topic and 이/가 marks the subject inside the comment about that topic.
Can I just leave the particle out?
In casual speech, Koreans often drop particles: 저 학생이에요. While you are learning, keep them. Choosing the particle is the best way to practice how Korean organizes information.
Key point
은/는 tells the listener what you are talking about or contrasting. 이/가 marks the subject and is especially useful when identifying who or what. Learn the difference through question-and-answer pairs.
Romanization is a reading aid. Read the Hangul as often as you can; English spelling cannot reproduce every Korean sound.
M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher
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