Eun/neun vs i/ga (은/는・이/가): topic and subject

은/는 sets a topic or contrast. 이/가 marks the subject. Both may disappear in English translation, so compare the conversation around the sentence.

First choose the right form

After a noun ending in a consonant, use 은 or 이: 책은, 책이. After a vowel, use 는 or 가: 저는, 제가. The polite pronoun 저 becomes 제 before 가, giving 제가. This spelling change is worth learning as a whole phrase.

Compare two jobs

• 저는 학생이에요. (Jeoneun haksaengieyo.) — I am a student: introducing yourself as the topic
• 제가 학생이에요. (Jega haksaengieyo.) — I am a student: identifying who is a student

If someone asks 누가 학생이에요? (Nuga haksaengieyo?, “Who is a student?”), 제가 학생이에요 identifies you. The emphasis is on who, without making 가 a translation of “the.” When introducing yourself and saying something about yourself, 저는 학생이에요 gives a natural starting point. These are useful beginner contexts, not a rule that every sentence with new information must use 가.

Use 는 to set up a contrast

저는 커피를 마셔요 means “I drink coffee.” With a contrast in the conversation, it can suggest “As for me, I drink coffee,” while someone else chooses tea. The same words need not carry that contrast every time; context supplies it.

Neither particle simply means the English word “the” or “a.” Also, 은/는 is not limited to subjects. Learn one conversational choice at a time instead of replacing every subject particle mechanically.

Try it before looking

1. Choose the topic form after 책: 은 or 는?
2. Choose the subject form after 고양이: 이 or 가?
3. To answer “Who is a student?”, which identifies you: 저는 or 제가?

Next: finish a noun sentence with 이에요 or 예요.

Keep practising

Practise Korean words with pictures and audio. Read a short example, cover the reading, then say it again from the script.

Reference: National Institute of Korean Language. Explanations and practice here are written by Remlori.

More Korean guides

• How to read Hangul syllable blocks, one piece at a time
• Batchim for beginners: spot Korean final consonants
• Ieyo vs yeyo (이에요・예요): say “is” after a noun
• E vs eseo (에・에서): Korean places and actions