N이/가

Subject Marker

Explanation

  1. 이/가 is added to the end of a subject to designate it as the subject of the sentence. For words ending a vowel, 가 is added, and for words ending in a consonant, 이 is added.

  2. 이/가 also functions to particularly emphasize the preceding subject.

  3. It is used to express new information in a sentence, that is, the introduction of a new topic.

Details

When 가 is added to 나, 저 and 누구 they combine as follows:

나 + 가 → 내가

내가 리처드예요.
I'm Richard.
나가 리처드예요. ✕

저 + 가 → 제가

제가 할게요.
I'll do it.
저가 할게요. ✕

누구 + 가 → 누가

누가 청소하겠어요?
Who will clean up?
누구가 청소하겠어요? ✕

Kimchi Reader

Mark the subject of the sentence.

Details

Usage

  • The particle 이 is used in front of words ending in a consonant.

  • The particle 가 is used in front of words ending in a vowel.

Emphasis

The particle 이/가 can also be used to emphasize the preceding subject.

제가 할게요.
I will do it.
옛날 어느 마을에 착한 농부가 살았다. 농부는 아직 결혼하지 않고 혼자 살았다.
Once upon a time, in a village, there lived a kind farmer. The farmer was still unmarried and lived alone.

Phonetic transformation

When the particle 가 is combined with 나, 너, 저, 누구 or 무엇 a phonetic transformation takes place.

  • 나 + 가 becomes 내가

  • 너 + 가 becomes 네가

  • 저 + 가 becomes 제가

  • 누구 + 가 becomes 누가

  • 무엇 + 가 becomes 뭐가

Honorific language

In honorific language, 이/가 (Subject) is replaced by 께서 (Subject).