Korean Language - Sentence structure

The simple structure of Korean Language can be explained as simple combinations of a subject and a predicate. The further sentence complexity is built upon this basic sentence structure. There are four basic sentence types of Korean, which are determined by the type of the verb used in the sentence.

Korean Sentence Types Chart

 

Structure

Examples

Type I Subject+ Predicative Noun+이다/있다 이것이 책이다
This is a book
Type II Subject+ Adjectival Verb ( Descriptive Verb 날씨가 좋다.
The weather is fine.
Type III Subject + Intransitive Action Verb 차동차가 달린다
The car is running
Type IV Subject + Object + Transitive Action Verb 철수가 책을 읽는다
Chulsoo reads a book

The basic structure is now further classified or say constructed into 3 more types:

1.Basic Structure

2.Modified Structure

3.Conjunctive Structure

Basic Structure

Example 1 하늘 + 이    푸르 + 다  
  noun   nominal particle verb stem   terminative ending  
Example 2 자동차 + 가 달리  + ㄴ다  
 

noun   nominal particle

verb stem   terminative ending

 
Example 3 철수 + 가 책 + 을 읽 + 는다
 

noun   nominal particle

noun  objective particle

 

The selection and use of terminative ending varies according to the verb type, the sentence type or the term of respect used in honorific forms of speech.