10. Verb Conjugation 있다 (idda)

In this lesson, You will learn 있다 verb conjugation.To understand this lesson better, I recommend you to read Korean conjugation lesson first.

img

있다 Verb Conjugation

Korean grammar separates the functions of English ‘be’ into 2 pieces, 이다 and 있다. 있다 is considered as a variation of 이다 sometimes but we are going to learn it as an independent vocabulary because it has its own conjugation rules and functions.

-있다 (Location / Time)

있다 is used to describe the location and schedule or time. So, it seems to have parts of functions of English ‘be’ but what it really mean is ‘there is

 

Other verb conjugations always have several forms based on sometimes root, sometimes 받침. 있다 has only one variation. What a lovely word.

 

Basic Form (하다 style)

해요 colloquial style

EVERYTHENG

있 + 어요
= 있어요 (‘it-seoyo)

Be (location / time)
Have (possession)
Be (location / time)
Have (possession)

 

우리는 한국에 있다 (하다 speech style)
우리는 한국  있어요 (해요 speech style)
There are us in Korea
= We are in Korea
= Location

 

준은 카페에 있다 (하다 speech style)
준은 카페  있어요 (해요 speech style)
There is Jun in cafe
= Jun is in a cafe
= Location

 

세시에 수업이 있다 (하다 speech style)
세시 수업이 있어요 (해요 speech style)
There is class at 3 o’clock
= The class is at 3 o’clock / I have a class at 3 o’clock
= Schedule

 

우리는 지금 15세기에 있다 (하다 speech style)
우리는 지금 15세기 있어요 (해요 speech style)
There are us now in 15th century
= Now we are in the 15th century
= Time / Also location in time

 

Technically 있다 means ‘exist’ or ‘be here’. Often Korean textbooks and teachers teach 있다 is a locative / possessive verb. In fact, It also can be used with time and schedule.

있다 With Postpositions

Korean verb conjugation 있다 is always used with a temporal conjugation or a locative conjugation to mean ‘there is’. It has a different meaning without a postposition.

HELP US TO MAKE FREE TUTORIAL WITHOUT ADS!

있다 (Possession)

있다 also means possession without a temporal postposition or locative postposition. When 있다 verb conjugation is used as possessive, it uses subject markers 이/가 for an object. It doesn’t sound like making any sense, a subject marker for an object? And what link can there be between ‘there is’ and ‘have’? Before I explain everything. Let’s take a look how 있다 works and examples.

 

Basic Form (하다 style)

해요 colloquial style

EVERYTHENG

있 + 어요
= 있어요 (‘it-seoyo)

Be (location / time)
Have (possession)
Be (location / time)
Have (possession)

 

나는 방구 폭탄이 있다 (하다 speech style)
나는 방구 폭탄이 있어요 (해요 speech style)
There is fart bomb on me
= I have a fart bomb

 

준은 여자친구가 있다 (하다 speech style)
준은 여자친구가 있어요 (해요 speech style)
For Jun, there is girlfriend
= Jun has a girlfriend

 

모든 아시아인은 집에 용이 있다 (하다 speech style)
모든 아시아인은 집에 용이 있어요 (해요 speech style)
For every Asians, there is dragon in home
= Every Asians have a dragon in their home

The Hidden Secret of 있다

있다 verb conjugation also has a meaning of possession such as ‘have’. But possessive verb 있다 still means ‘there is’ at same time.

 

It makes really weird translations. Because the sentence is ‘there is something’ but also can be ‘I have something’ at same time. (This is why you can still use subject markers)

 

What 있다 possessive verb really means is ‘there is something on someone’, not ‘someone has something’.

 

Ancient Hidden Secret Alert : This is what ordinary textbooks and teachers don’t teach you. Need to read it very carefully.

 

컴퓨터 있다
There is a computer
A computer is there
= Computer is the subject in this sentence

 

나는 컴퓨터가 있다 (하다 speech style)
나는 컴퓨터가 있어요 (해요 speech style)
For me, There is computer
A computer is on me (my possession)
= I have a computer
= Computer is the subject in this sentence

 

여자친구 있다
There is girlfriend
= Girlfriend is the subject in this sentence

 

준은 여자친구가 있다 (하다 speech style)
준은 여자친구가 있어요 (해요 speech style)
For Jun, there is girlfriend
= Jun has a girlfriend
= Girlfriend is the subject in this sentence

With Markers

Using 있다 possessive with 은/는 markers sounds very natural. However, it’s very tricky with subject marker 이/가. You will master it in later Courses but for now, it’s enough to know 은/는 is natural for almost things.

kr_flag

Teacher

Jun Hamm

Author img

⠂Made in Korea
⠂Made of 100% Korean
⠂Adjusted as 100% Korean
⠂Ready to active Professor Mode
⠂Love to make people laugh as much as I love to teach

Hello everyone, it’s your Korean teacher Jun! Thanks for learning Korean with me! I really want to say I admire your enthusiasm and passion for learning languages. No one forced you to yet you are here on your own to expand your knowledge. I’m happy I’m a part of it ?

I spent years making all the tutorials and I really hope it’d be super duper helpful for you. Also, I should mention that this website has been possible thanks to so many people with a good heart. They are the second author of all tutorials! ?

40%
1:1 MASTER CLASS.

DISCOUNT

DON'T MISS THE SPECIAL OFFER

This Course Was $15

$15, maybe it’s nothing that you can earn after a couple of hours of labor. Or, maybe you have to work for full days to earn it only because of where you were born. And $15, It’s the average price of Korean textbooks. Life is unfair. But that’s why we can help each other, we are helping each other.

This Is Why I Published My Textbook For Free

I didn’t make it possible alone. A lot of people helped me and encouraged me and, of course, support me. I really appreciate my supporters, Team Junicorns. If my tutorials are helpful or if you want to share the same dream, join the Team Junicorns and support me to keep going.

Contact / Follow Me

ig img

Instagram

yt img

Youtube

pt img

Patreon


dc img
Join Korean Jun Community!

Go Team Junicorn!

Why Korean Jun?

Super Real Korean

Do you really use some words such as ‘a little boy’, ‘lions’ or ‘carrot’ everyday? So, I’m not going to teach those.

The Magical POWER

The ancient magical language from the far far land. Learn Korean and it’ll make you look 500% more charming.

No Fake, No False

Some wise man in the internet age said ‘Don’t believe the internet’. However, in Korean Jun, any tutorial is triple checked! Accurate than any textbooks.

HELP US TO MAKE FREE TUTORIAL WITHOUT ADS!

Build Korean Brain

Instead of forcing you to memorize words. I’m going to make you understand how Korean grammar really works. Learn Korean grammar triple faster!

Super Duper High-Quality

This is not just an internet free learning material. I spent years for the Core Grammar course.