Korean grammar

Korean Particles: The Guide That Demystifies 은/는, 이/가, 을/를

Particles are every beginner's nightmare. After 12 years using them daily, here's the explanation I wish I had from the start.

Days, Months and Dates in Korean — Practical Guide with Daily Examples

Making appointments, booking hotels, understanding concert dates — here's how to say dates in Korean.

7 min read

Korean Politeness Levels: Understanding 요, 합니다 and Casual Speech

Korean has 7 politeness levels. Here are the 3 essential ones you need to know to communicate properly.

6 min read

The 6 Politeness Levels in Korean — The Guide to Never Being Rude

Politeness in Korean isn't optional — it's the foundation of the language. After 12 years navigating these levels in Seoul, here's the complete guide.

9 min read

Korean Conjugation Is Simpler Than French Conjugation (Here's Why)

No gender, no person agreement, no subjunctive. Korean conjugation has other complexities, but it's objectively simpler.

8 min read

반말 (Banmal) — When and How to Use Casual Speech in Korean Without Offending

Switching to banmal is an important social moment in Korea. Here are the codes I learned in 12 years of Korean social life.

7 min read

Irregular Verbs in Korean — The Complete List with Examples

Korean irregular verbs follow predictable patterns. Here's the complete list organized by type, with daily life examples.

9 min read

Korean Sentence Structure — SOV Explained Simply for French Speakers

Discover why the verb always goes at the end in Korean and how to switch from French SVO logic to Korean SOV without losing your mind.

Difference Between 에 and 에서 — Finally a Clear Explanation

These two location particles trap every beginner. The difference is simple once you understand it.

6 min read

Negation in Korean — 안 vs -지 않다 vs 못 (3 Ways to Say "Not")

Discover the three ways to negate in Korean: short negation (안), long negation (-지 않다) and inability (못). Real examples and nuances.

Indirect Speech in Korean — How to Report What Someone Said

Indirect speech is essential in real conversation. Here are the 4 forms you need with concrete examples.

8 min read

Wanting in Korean — -고 싶다 and Expressions of Desire

Learn how to express your desires in Korean with -고 싶다, -고 싶어하다 and 원하다. Practical examples and cultural nuances.

Korean Conjunctions: Because, But, So, If

How to say "because," "but," "if" in Korean? Textbooks list options without explaining nuances. Here's the clear version.

9 min read

Can / Cannot in Korean — -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 and 못

Learn how to express ability and inability in Korean. Difference between -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 and 못, with daily life examples from Seoul.

Must / Have To in Korean — -아/어야 되다 and Obligations

Master obligation expressions in Korean: -아/어야 되다/하다, -(으)면 안 되다. Cultural context of duty in South Korea.

Saying Yes and No in Korean: It's More Complicated Than You Think

In Korean, yes and no don't work like in English. Here's why and how to answer correctly.

5 min read

The Future Tense in Korean — 3 Futures Explained (-(으)ㄹ 거예요, -겠다, -(으)ㄹ게요)

Master the three future forms in Korean: the intention future, the conjecture future, and the promise future. Real examples and usage contexts.

The Past Tense in Korean — -았/었어요 and Conjugation Traps

Learn Korean past tense conjugation with -았어요, -었어요 and -했어요. Irregular verbs, common mistakes, and practical exercises.

The 50 Most Used Korean Verbs with Conjugations

Master the 50 most frequent Korean verbs with their present, past and future conjugations.

The Imperative in Korean — Giving Orders Politely (Yes, It's Possible)

Discover how to give orders and make polite requests in Korean with -(으)세요, -아/어라 and -아/어 주세요. Culture and politeness.

How to Count in Korean — The Dual System That Drives Everyone Crazy (And How to Survive)

Two number systems, rules that change depending on what you're counting, and exceptions everywhere. Welcome to Korean numbers.

Comparatives and Superlatives in Korean — 보다, 가장, 제일

Learn to compare in Korean with A보다 B가 더, 가장 and 제일. Comparison structures, real examples and useful expressions.

The Adjectival Form in Korean — Turning Verbs Into Adjectives

Master Korean adjectival forms: -(으)ㄴ (past/adjective), -는 (present), -(으)ㄹ (future). Modifying nouns with verbs, examples and exercises.