Demonstrative and Possessive Pronouns in Korean

5. Sentences like ‘This is a book.’ 이것은 책입니다. /igʌ̹sɯn t͡ɕʰɛk imnida/

There are three types of demonstrative pronouns in Korean:

이 /i/ ‘this’ – indicates an object near the speaker.

그 /kɯ/ ‘that’ – indicates an object which is far from the speaker but is located near the listener. This can also be used if the speaker has already mentioned the object once.

저 /t͡ɕʌ̹/ ‘that’ – indicates an object which is far from the speaker and the listener.

The word 것 /kʌ̹t/ ‘thing’ is a function noun. The phrase 이것은 책입니다 (igʌ̹sɯn t͡ɕʰɛk imnida) literally means ‘This thing book is.’

Exercises

이것이 무엇입니까?	What is this?
이것은 책입니다.	This is a book.
그것이 무엇입니까?	What is that?
이것은 칼입니다.	This is a knife.
저것이 무엇입니까?	What is that?
저것은 잡지입니다.	That is a magazine.
선생님이 누구입니까?	Who are you? (polite)
저는 학생입니다.	I am a student.
그분이 누구입니까?	Who is he?
그분은 회사원입니다.	He is an employee.

Additional vocabulary

6. Sentences like ‘This is my (your, his) book.’ 이것은 제 (선생님의, 그분의) 책입니다. /igʌ̹sɯn t͡ɕe (sʰʌ̹nsʰɛŋnime, kɯbune) t͡ɕʰɛk imnida/

The possessive pronoun ‘my’ has the form 제 /t͡ɕe/ in Korean. The possessive form of the other pronouns is formed by adding the particle 의 /ɰi/ (which is read as -에 /e/), which is similar to the ending ‘s in English.

Exercises

그분은 제 친구입니다.	That is my friend.
이 것은 그분의 신문입니다.	This is his newspaper.
저것은 제 친구의 자동차입니다.	That is my friend’s car.
그것은 선생님의 가방입니까?	Is that your briefcase?
아니요, 이것은 박선생님의 가방입니다.	No, this is Mr Pak’s briefcase.
이것은 누구의 자전거입니까?	Whose bicycle is this?
그것은 민규의 자전거입니다.	That is Mingyu’s bicycle.
저것은 선생님의 오토바이입니까?	Is that your motorcycle?
예, 저것은 제 오토바이입니다.	Yes, that is my motorcycle.

Additional vocabulary