Personal Pronouns 0. the Basics

Before we start, let's make sure of two basic concepts regarding personal pronouns.

 

 

 

1. Pronouns compose sentences with particles attached behind them.

Take '나(I)' for an example.

Case	Subjective	Possessive	Objective	Possessive Pronoun	Reflective
English	I	my	me	mine	myself
Korean	내가, 나는	나의	나를	나의 것	나 자신

In English sentences, the location of each word decides its role in a sentence. In Korean however, particles do so.

• 나 + subejctive postposition '가', subsidiary particle '는' = 내가, 나는 (I)
• 나 + possessive postposition '의' = 나의 (my)

 

2. There are pronouns that are used in honorifics.

You should use proper pronouns, according to the relationship between two people, or to the circumstances in which they are.

Look at the following situation.

You: age 25
송민우(Min-woo Song): your close friend and a subordinate in the company you are in, age 25

Scene 1. In a restaurant.
송민우: 내가 전에 여기에 부모님과 와 봤는데, 음식이 괜찮더라. I had dinner with my parents here before, and the food was quite good.
You: 그래? Oh, really?

Scene 2. In a meeting in your company
You: 송민우 대리님, 발표 시작해 주세요. Mr. Song, please start your presentation.
송민우: 네, 알겠습니다. 제가 사전에 나누어 드린 책자를 먼저 봐 주십시오. Yes, sir. Please take a look at the brochure I distributed before the meeting.



Can you see the difference?

In a formal event, or when you are talking to a person older than you or in a higher social position, you use '저' instead of '나' when you refer to yourself.



Once you understand these two points, understanding Korean pronouns would become a walk in the park!