이/가: Subject Marker

Example Sentences#

1. 차라리 카페 가서 수다 떠는 게 낫지 않아?¹
   Wouldn’t it be better to go to a cafe and chat instead?
   • 게 is a contraction of 것이, where 것 is a bound noun meaning ‘thing’, often used to nominalize a clause, and 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
2. “아, 이럴 수가,” 쥐가 말했다.²
   “Ah, how could this be,” the mouse said.
   • 수 is a bound noun that can mean ‘way’, ‘means’, ‘possibility’, or ‘ability’.
   • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
   • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding 가 emphasizes the existence or non-existence of a way or possibility, often highlighting contrast or emotional emphasis. The verb 있다 (to exist) is implied here.
   • 이럴 수가 is a common expression that conveys astonishment or disbelief at a situation. It often derives from fuller expressions such as 어떻게 이럴 수가 있어! (How can it be like this!) or conversationally implied phrases like 네가 어떻게 나한테 이럴 수 있어? (How could you do this to me?).
3. 오늘도 내리지 않은 결심이³
   Today, once again, an unmade decision
   • 결심 means ‘decision’ or ‘resolution’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
4. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.⁴
   Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.
   • 너 is the informal second-person pronoun meaning ‘you’, which changes to 네 when combined with 가.
   • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
5. 옛날에 한 노인이 있었습니다.⁵
   Once upon a time, there was an old man.
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
6. 달빛이 부드럽게 비출 밤⁶
   On a night gently lit by moonlight
   • 달빛 is a compound noun made up of 달 (moon) and 빛 (light), meaning ‘moonlight’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
7. 현우: 맞아, 사람이 너무 많아서 지하철도 몇 번이나 그냥 지나가고, 택시도 잘 안 잡혀서 늦을 뻔했어.⁷
   Hyunwoo: Yeah, there were so many people that a bunch of subways just passed by, and taxis were hard to catch, so I was almost late.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
8. 지수: 요즘 봤던 드라마 중에 뭐가 제일 기억에 남아?⁸
   Jisoo: Among the dramas you’ve watched recently, which one remains most memorable?
   • 뭐 is a shortened form of 무엇, meaning ‘what’.
   • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
9. 아마 실제로 십자가형을 당해야 하는 상황이 온다면, 저는 그것을 이겨낼 수 있을 것입니다.⁹
   Perhaps if a situation were to come where I had to actually be crucified, I would be able to overcome it.
   • 상황 means ‘situation’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
10. 그곳에서 한 농부가 맹인에게 포도 한 송이를 건네주었다.¹⁰
    There, a farmer handed a bunch of grapes to the blind man.
    • 농부 means ‘farmer’.
    • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
11. 비가 와도 우산은 필요 없어¹¹
    Even if it rains, I don’t need an umbrella
    • 비 means ‘rain’.
    • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
12. 낡은 노래가 다시 울려 퍼져¹²
    An old song echoes once again
    • 노래 means ‘song’.
    • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
13. 옛날에 장주라는 사람이 있었습니다.¹³
    Long ago, there was a person named Zhuang Zhou.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
14. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.¹⁴
    I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.
    • 마음 means ‘heart’ or ‘mind’, referring to one’s inner feelings and thoughts.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
15. 두 명의 스님, 한 명은 나이 든 스님이고 다른 한 명은 젊은 스님이 함께 여행하고 있었다.¹⁵
    Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.
    • 스님 means ‘monk’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
16. “나를 길들여 줘…” 여우가 말했다.¹⁶
    “Please tame me…” said the fox.
    • 여우 means ‘fox’.
    • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
17. 벽 너머 세상이 궁금했어¹⁷
    I wondered about the world beyond the walls.
    • 세상 means ‘world’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
18. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.¹⁸
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
19. 옛날에 산 아래 작은 마을이 있었습니다.¹⁹
    Once upon a time, there was a small village at the foot of a mountain.
    • 마을 means ‘village’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
20. 떡볶이는 너희가 맛있게 먹어.²⁰
    You guys enjoy the tteokbokki.
    • 너희 is the plural form of 너 (you), used to address multiple people informally.
    • 가 is a subject particle.