Elementary - Grade 2
Lesson 5: The Copula '이다' (to be)
What is '이다'?
이다 (ida) is the Korean "to be" verb. It's the equivalent of "am," "is," and "are" in English.
You use it to identify things. It works like an equals sign:
A = B
(I = student) -> "I am a student."
(That = apple) -> "That is an apple."
Unlike other verbs, 이다 attaches *directly* to the noun it's identifying.
The Golden Rule: 이에요 vs. 예요
In the present tense polite form, 이다 changes into one of two forms. The one you use depends on the *last letter* of the noun before it.
If the noun ends in a CONSONANT (Batchim):
Use 이에요
책 (chaek)
+
이에요
=
책이에요
"It is a book."
If the noun ends in a VOWEL:
Use 예요
사과 (sagwa)
+
예요
=
사과예요
"It is an apple."
Let's Practice!
Try to guess which form to use for these nouns:
- 물 (mul - water) ...ends in a consonant, so... 물이에요
- 고양이 (goyangi - cat) ...ends in a vowel, so... 고양이예요
- 선생님 (seonsaengnim - teacher) ...ends in a consonant, so... 선생님이에요