Particles 은/는 and 이/가

In Korean, particles attach to a word to show its role in the sentence. "Eun/neun" marks the topic, and "i/ga" marks the subject.

은/는 (Topic Marker)

"Eun/neun" marks the topic of a sentence, with a sense of "as for ~." Use "eun" after a final consonant and "neun" after a vowel.

Ending	은/는	Example
No final consonant	는	저는 (jeoneun) – as for me
Has final consonant	은	선생님은 (seonsaengnimeun) – as for the teacher

이/가 (Subject Marker)

"I/ga" marks the subject of an action or state. Use "i" after a final consonant and "ga" after a vowel.

Ending	이/가	Example
No final consonant	가	친구가 (chinguga) – the friend
Has final consonant	이	선생님이 (seonsaengnimi) – the teacher

At the beginner level, it's enough to remember that "eun/neun" is for introducing and comparing, while "i/ga" is for new information and subjects. The finer distinction comes naturally with practice.

은/는 for Contrast

"Eun/neun" is often used to compare or contrast two things, highlighting how they differ, as in "jeoneun gayo, chinguneun an gayo" (I'm going, but my friend isn't).

Common Mistake

Use "i/ga" for new information you're introducing for the first time, as in "han haksaengi wasseoyo" (A student came). When you bring up a topic you both already know, use "eun/neun."

💡 Tip: The final-consonant rule is the same throughout: has a final consonant → eun/i, no final consonant → neun/ga. Think of it as adding the vowel-containing form whenever the word ends in a consonant.