Elementary - Grade 2

Lesson 3: Basic Sentence Structure (SOV)

The Golden Rule of Korean

This is the most important concept you will learn for Korean grammar. If you understand this, you're on your way to making sentences!

English is an SVO language: Subject - Verb - Object.
(Example: I eat an apple.)

Korean is an SOV language: Subject - Object - Verb.
(Example: I an apple eat.)

Let's See it in Action

English (SVO)

I
eat
an apple

Korean (SOV)

저는
사과를
먹어요
I (Subject)
Apple (Object)
Eat (Verb)

The One Unbreakable Rule: The Verb is LAST

In English, the verb "eat" is in the middle. In Korean, the verb 먹어요 (meogeoyo) is always at the very end. This is the most consistent rule in Korean.

In fact, the Subject and Object can sometimes be omitted or even swapped (thanks to particles, which we'll learn next) and the sentence still makes sense... as long as the verb is last!

Note: Those little "를" (reul) and "는" (neun) particles are how we know *who* is the subject and *what* is the object. We will learn all about them in Grade 3! For now, just focus on the order: Subject - Object - Verb.

More Examples (SOV)

  • "I drink milk."

    저는 우유를 마셔요.

    (jeo-neun uyu-reul masyeoyo.)

    Literally: "I milk drink."

  • "The student reads a book."

    학생이 책을 읽어요.

    (haksaeng-i chaeg-eul ilgeoyo.)

    Literally: "Student book reads."

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