Duration: 6 months
Result: Pass TOPIK I level 2
Goal of this stage – Build a solid foundation in beginners grammar first and foremost.
- Don’t bother about expanding your vocabulary or perfecting your listening yet. Focus on the grammar first. I explain why this is important in this post.
- The below gives a glimpse into some of the grammar concepts (non-exhaustive) that you should cover as a beginner, arranged roughly with items to be learnt first at the top in each category. You should still stick to the flow of the course material you have chosen but you may skip anything that focus too much on vocabulary or situational phrases (e.g. self-introduction, ordering in a restaurant).
- Don’t feel frustrated about the fact that you are still not able to understand even one word of what people are saying in Korean dramas or variety shows, even with Korean subtitles. It is perfectly okay if you are not able to hold a conversation with a Korean at this stage.
Beginner Korean Quiz
Test how good your beginner Korean is with this short quiz and get a 10% off coupon for everything on this site!
Key Grammar Points to Master
Basic concepts
- Pronouns – 이/그/저
Numbers (Sino-Korean and pure Korean) and counters
Date and time
Question words e.g. 언제, 어디, 누구
Expressions of degree – 더 / 다 / 조금
Time / frequency related expressions e.g. 가금 / 벌써 / 자주 - Politeness levels – 요/ ㅂ니다
- Honorifics – 시
Verb conjugations
- Time tenses –
- Present tense -아/어요
- Future tense -ㄹ게요 / -ㄹ 거예요
- Past tense -았/었어요
- Present continuous tense -고 있어요
- Be -이에요/이예요/-ㅂ니다
- There is / isn’t -있다/없다
- Negative sentences -안 / 못 / 아니다
- Try to -아/어 보다
- Can / cannot (ability) -ㄹ 수 있다 / -ㄹ 수 없다
- Must -아/어야 되다
- Can (permission) -아/어도 되다
Particles
- Subject markers – 이/가
- Topic markers -은/는
- Object markers -을/를
- From / To / At –에/에서 / 부터 / 까지 / 한테
- And / With 와/과/하고/랑
- Multiple usage as prepositions (으)로
- Or 나/이나
- Possessive 의
- Also 도
- (More …) than 보다
Connectors
- And 고 / 그리고
- But 지만
- Therefore 아서/어서 /(으)니까
- But (milder) 은데/는데
- If (으)면
- Purpose of action (으)러
- Purpose of action (으)려고
- When (으)ㄹ 때
- While (으)면서
- Before / After 기 전에/(으)ㄴ 후에
- Then 그러면/ 그럼
Guide and Learning Materials
Tips & Advice
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