TOPIK 1 Grammar
Particles
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과
A postpositional word used to indicate the subject of comparison or the object that serves as a basis.
까지
A postpositional particle referring to the end of a certain range.
께서
(honorific) '가,' '이'; a postpositional particle used to indicate that the subject of an act is elevated.
도
A postpositional particle used to indicate an addition or inclusion of another thing to something that already exists.
만
A postpositional particle used when limiting the field to one thing, excluding all the others.
보다
A postpositional particle that indicates the subject of a comparison when comparing different things.
부터
A postpositional particle that indicates the start or beginning of something.
에
A postpositional particle to indicate that the preceding statement refers to a certain place or space.
에게
A postpositional particle that indicates whom a certain object belongs to.
에서
A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding word refers to a place where a certain action is being done.
으로
A postpositional particle that indicates the direction of movement.
은
A postpositional particle used to indicate that a certain subject contrasts with something else.
을
A postpositional particle used to indicate the subject that an action has a direct influence on.
의
A postpositional particle used to indicate that the referent of the following word is owned by, belongs to, is related to, originates from, or is…
이
A postpositional particle referring to a subject under a certain state or situation, or the agent of an action.
이다
A predicate particle indicating the meaning of the attribute or category of the thing that the subject of the sentence refers to.
이랑
A postpositional particle used to indicate that something is being compared or used as a criterion for comparison.
하고
A postpositional particle used to indicate that something is the subject of, or a basis for, comparison.
한테
A postpositional particle referring to the ownership or location of an object.
Sentence Endings
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-고
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending usually used when answering, omitting the question that should follow and finishing the…
-습니까
(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used when the speaker asks the listener politely.
-습니다
(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to explain the present action, state, or fact politely.
-어
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to describe a certain fact, ask a question, give an order, or advise.
-으세요
(informal addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to describe, ask a question, order, and request.
-으십시오
(formal, highly addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to politely order or request the listener to do something.
-을까
(informal addressee-lowering) A sentence-final ending used to indicate a question or assumption about something.
-읍시다
(formal, moderately addressee-raising) A sentence-final ending used to express an intention of doing a certain action together.
Connectives
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-고
A connective ending used when listing more than two equal facts.
-어서
A connective ending used to indicate that the preceding event and the following one happened sequentially.
-으니까
A connective ending used to emphasize that the preceding statement is the cause, reason, or premise for the following statement.
-으러
A connective ending used to express the purpose of an action such as going and coming.
-으려고
A connective ending used to indicate that one has an intention or desire of doing a certain act.
-지만
A connective ending used to recognize the truth of the preceding statement and add facts that are the opposite of it or different.
Pre-final Endings
See allExpressions
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-고 싶다
An expression used to state that the speaker wants to do the act mentioned in the preceding statement.
-고 있다
An expression used to state that the act mentioned in the preceding statement is continued.
-기 전에
An expression used to state that a certain act occurs earlier than the act in the preceding statement.
-어야 되다
An expression used to indicate that one needs or is obligated to do a certain thing.
-은 후에
An expression used to indicate that one does a certain act mentioned in the preceding statement and a while later, does another thing.
-을 수 있다
An expression used to indicate that one has an ability to do something.
-지 못하다
An expression used to indicate that the speaker cannot do the act mentioned in the preceding statement, or that things did not work out as the…
-지 않다
An expression used to deny the act or state indicated in the preceding statement.
이 아니다
Common questions
How many grammar points are there at TOPIK 1?
45 at 1급 itself — 19 particles, 8 sentence endings, 6 connectives, 3 pre-final endings, 9 expressions — and 45 counting every level below it.
What grammar is on the TOPIK I exam?
TOPIK I covers levels 1 and 2, so the particles and sentence endings on this page and the one below it. Grammar is never tested on its own — it appears inside reading and listening passages.
Which 1급 grammar point should I learn first?
Work down this page in order. It is grouped by kind, and within a kind by the dictionary's own order, so the points that everything else depends on come first: -겠-, -고, -고.
Grammar definitions, usage notes and examples from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.