A Beautiful Day (Adjectives)

Predicative Adjectives: The Plain Form (-다)

In Korean, adjectives (also known as descriptive verbs or 형용사) are used to describe the state or quality of a noun. In their most basic, dictionary form, they always end in -다 (da).

This “plain form” is the simplest way to use an adjective. You simply state it after the subject. This form is most often used in writing—like in books, diaries, or articles—to state facts with a neutral tone.

Using it is very easy; there are no changes to the adjective itself.

The plain form is still quite common in spoken Korean, used when reacting to something, thinking out loud or making an exclamation to yourself rather than to a specific person.

• You eat something delicious and say 맛있다! (it’s delicious!)
• You step outside on a hot day and say 덥다! (it’s hot!)
• You see a beautiful sunset and say 예쁘다! (it’s pretty!)

이/가: The Subject Particle

In Korean, to mark the subject of a sentence, you use the particles 이 (i) or 가 (ga). Think of them as pointing out “who” or “what” is performing the action or being described.

The choice between 이 and 가 depends on whether the preceding noun ends in a consonant or a vowel.

• When the noun ends with a consonant, you use 이.
• When the noun ends with a vowel, you use 가.

It is easy to confuse 이/가 with 은/는 because 은/는 can also indicate the subject of the sentence. These two particles each carry their own subtle nuances of emphasis and contrast depending on the exact context and usage.