Lesson 06 · 이·그·저 & 이것·그것·저것
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Grammar Class · Lesson 06
이·그·저
& 이것·그것·저것
How do you say “this bag,” “that store,” or “that one over there”? Learn Korean demonstratives and make simple shopping sentences.
HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · ENGLISH EXPLANATIONS
Watch Lesson 6 with Hyeju
Learn the vocabulary and grammar with English explanations, then review the examples and try the practice below.
Do You Remember Lesson 05?
We learned the everyday polite ending -아/어요. Now let’s use it to talk about things around us.
Today’s Grammar
Korean distinguishes something near the speaker, something near the listener or already mentioned, and something away from both people.
🌿 Hyeju’s Note · 그 Is Not Just Distance
그 can point to something near the listener, but it also commonly refers to something already mentioned or known in context. English “that” does not always map to only one Korean word.
Part 1 · 이, 그, 저 + Noun
이 + noun
Use 이 when the thing is near the person speaking.
그 + noun
Use 그 for something near the listener or already mentioned.
저 + noun
Use 저 for something away from both speaker and listener.
Always add a noun
이, 그, and 저 are determiners here. Put a noun immediately after them.
Part 2 · 이것, 그것, 저것
When you want to say “this one” or “that one” without repeating a noun, use the forms below.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 이것 | this (thing) | 이것은 사전이에요. — This is a dictionary. |
| 그것 | that (thing), near the listener / mentioned | 그것은 제 가방이에요. — That is my bag. |
| 저것 | that (thing) over there | 저것은 시계예요. — That over there is a watch. |
Noun vs. Thing: Compare
| With a noun | Without a noun |
|---|---|
| 이 가방 — this bag | 이것 — this one |
| 그 가방 — that bag | 그것 — that one |
| 저 가방 — that bag over there | 저것 — that one over there |
⚠️ Common Mistake
Do not say 이것 가방 to mean “this bag.” Use 이 가방. Use 이것 on its own as a noun-like word: 이것은 가방이에요.
Everyday Spoken Forms
You will often hear shorter forms in ordinary conversation.
| Full form | Common spoken form |
|---|---|
| 이것 | 이거 |
| 그것 | 그거 |
| 저것 | 저거 |
| 이것은 | 이건 |
| 그것은 | 그건 |
| 저것은 | 저건 |
🌿 Hyeju’s Note · 이거 vs. 이건
이거 means “this (thing).” 이건 is a contraction of 이것은 and includes the topic particle 은. Compare: 이거 뭐예요? (What is this?) / 이건 가방이에요. (This is a bag.)
Shopping Examples
Compare with similar grammar
RELATED PATTERN
여기·거기·저기
화장실이 저기에 있어요.Place words from the same family: here, there (near you), over there.
LESSON 7
N의
그건 누구 가방이에요?Add a person to ask or say whose it is. In speech, 누구의 is usually shortened to 누구.
Look ahead: Lesson 7 →LESSON 22
이건 vs 이게
이게 뭐예요?이건 = 이것은 (topic), 이게 = 이것이 (subject). Both are common in “What is this?”.
Look ahead: Lesson 22 →| Pattern | Where it is | + noun | “thing” word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이 | Near the speaker | 이 책 | 이것 (이거) |
| 그 | Near the listener, or already mentioned | 그 책 | 그것 (그거) |
| 저 | Far from both | 저 책 | 저것 (저거) |
Mini Dialogue · At a Store
A 이 가방은 얼마예요?
B 오만 원이에요.
A 그 가방은요?
B 삼만 원이에요.
A points to a bag nearby; 그 가방 in the follow-up question refers to a different bag already in their shared context. The prices here are sample dialogue prices, not actual store prices.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
1. Do not put 이것 before a noun.이것 가방 → 이 가방
2. Do not treat 그 as only a distance word.
It can also refer back to something mentioned earlier.
3. Keep the topic marker in contracted forms.
이것은 → 이건; 이것 → 이거.
Common mistakes
Before a noun, use 이/그/저 alone. 이것 already means “this thing”.
이것, 그것 and 저것 are each written as one word.
The book is in your friend’s hand — near the listener — so use 그.
이건 already contains 은 (이것은). The subject form is 이게 (이것이).
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank(멀리 있는 건물을 가리키며) ______ 건물이 도서관이에요.
Check answer
저 건물이 도서관이에요.
The building is far from both of you, so use 저.
- Fill in the blank(내 손에 있는 펜을 보여 주며) ______은 제 펜이에요.
Check answer
이것은 제 펜이에요.
The pen is in your hand, and there’s no noun after it, so use 이것.
- Choose the better formA: 그 가방 비싸요? B: 아니요, (이 / 그) 가방은 싸요.
Check answer
이
B is holding the bag, so from B’s side it’s 이 가방.
- Choose the better form(식당에서 메뉴를 가리키며) (저거 / 저) 주세요.
Check answer
저거
There’s no noun after it, so you need the “thing” word: 저거 (저것).
- Find and fix the mistake그것 사람은 누구예요?
Check answer
그 사람은 누구예요?
Before the noun 사람, use 그 alone.
- Say it in KoreanWhat is that over there?
Check answer
저건 뭐예요?
저건 = 저것은. 저게 뭐예요? is also very common.
Today’s Key Point
- 이 + N = this + noun (near speaker).
- 그 + N = that + noun (near listener or contextually known).
- 저 + N = that + noun over there (far from both).
- 이것 / 그것 / 저것 can stand without another noun.
- Common spoken forms: 이거 / 그거 / 저거.
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