What does 이 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  책이 재미있어요.

  chaek-i jae-mi-iss-eo-yo., chaek i jae mi iss eo yo.

  Correctly attaches subject particle '이' to noun '책' ending with a consonant.

• ❌

  사과가 맛있어요.

  sa-gwa-ga mas-iss-eo-yo., sa gwa ga mas iss eo yo.

  '사과' has no final consonant, so subject particle '가' must be used.

• ⭕

  의자가 고장 났어요.

  ui-ja-ga go-jang nass-eo-yo., ui ja ga go jang nass eo yo.

  '의자' ends with a consonant, so '이' is correct.

• ❌

  나무가 크다.

  na-mu-ga keu-da., na mu ga keu da.

  '나무' has no final consonant, so '가' must be used.

• ⭕

  이 사람이 선생님이에요.

  i sa-ram-i seon-saeng-nim-i-e-yo., i sa ram i seon saeng nim i e yo.

  '이' used as demonstrative meaning 'this'.

• ⭕

  이 책이 내 거야.

  i chaek-i nae geo-ya., i chaek i nae geo ya.

  Sentence uses demonstrative '이' and subject particle '이' together.

1. When is '이' used as a subject particle?

   '이'는 어떤 경우에 주격 조사로 쓰이나요?('i'neuneo-tteongyeong-u-eju-gyeokjo-sa-rosseu-i-na-yo?, 'i'neuneotteongyeonguejugyeokjosarosseuinayo?)
   • 받침 있는 명사 뒤에(bat-chimiss-neunmyeong-sadwi-e, batchimissneunmyeongsadwie)
   • 받침 없는 명사 뒤에(bat-chimeop-neunmyeong-sadwi-e, batchimeopneunmyeongsadwie)
   • 동사 뒤에(dong-sadwi-e, dongsadwie)
   • 형용사 뒤에(hyeong-yong-sadwi-e, hyeongyongsadwie)

2. What does '이' mean when used as a demonstrative?

   '이'가 지시사로 쓰일 때 의미는?('i'gaji-si-sa-rosseu-ilttaeui-mi-neun?, 'i'gajisisarosseuilttaeuimineun?)
   • That
   • This
   • There
   • Here