How can I practise 은/는과 이/가?

Step Ahead Korean offers free exercises on 은/는과 이/가 with instant marking, answers and explanations in Hindi. You can also take timed tests.

Is 은/는과 이/가 useful for TOPIK?

This topic is part of the Korean programme useful for TOPIK I, TOPIK II and school exams. Practising with exam-style questions improves accuracy and speed.

은/는과 이/가

Particles 1

은/는 marks the topic ("as for …"), 이/가 marks the subject ("who or what does it"). Both attach to a noun, and both depend on the batchim.

Particles — 은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 에/에서 and the rest of the particle system.

Lesson

Topic versus subject

은/는 tells the listener what the sentence is about and often contrasts (this one, not that one). 이/가 simply marks who or what performs or carries the description, and answers "who?".

은/는 श्रोता को बताता है कि वाक्य किसके बारे में है और प्रायः विरोध दिखाता है (यह, वह नहीं)। 이/가 केवल बताता है कि कौन करता है या किसमें गुण है, और "कौन?" का उत्तर देता है।

Batchim decides the form

Bachameul check: with a batchim use 은 and 이; without a batchim use 는 and 가. 물은 / 사람이 (with), 나는 / 내가 (without).

बतचिम देखें: बतचिम हो तो 은 और 이; बतचिम न हो तो 는 और 가। 물은 / 사람이 (बतचिम के साथ), 나는 / 내가 (बतचिम के बिना)।

The same noun, two roles

저는 학생이에요 (As for me, I am a student). 비가 와요 (Rain is coming - it is raining). Here 저 is the topic and 비 is the subject.

저는 학생이에요 (मेरे बारे में, मैं विद्यार्थी हूँ)। 비가 와요 (बारिश आ रही है - बारिश हो रही है)। यहाँ 저 विषय है और 비 कर्ता है।

Using 만 은/는 everywhere

Learners often put 은/는 in every sentence and never use 이/가, so a sentence like 누가 왔어요? (Who came?) has no natural answer. When the question uses 이/가, the answer should use 이/가 too.

शिक्षार्थी प्रायः हर वाक्य में 은/는 लगाते हैं और 이/가 कभी नहीं, इसलिए 누가 왔어요? (कौन आया?) का स्वाभाविक उत्तर नहीं बनता। जब प्रश्न में 이/가 हो, तो उत्तर में भी 이/가 होना चाहिए।

What TOPIK asks

TOPIK I frequently tests the choice between 은/는 and 이/가 in a short dialogue. Read which noun is being contrasted; that is almost always the topic and takes 은/는.

TOPIK I छोटे संवाद में प्रायः 은/는 और 이/가 में चुनाव पूछता है। देखें कि किस संज्ञा पर ज़ोर या विरोध है; वही प्रायः विषय होता है और उसके साथ 은/는 आता है।

Practice questions

Q1. 비___ 와요.

सही कण चुनें: 비___ 와요।

Answer: 가

💡 비는 받침이 없고 주어를 나타내므로 가을 써요.

Q2. 저___ 한국 사람이에요.

सही कण भरें: 저___ 한국 사람이에요।

Answer: 는

💡 저에는 받침이 없으므로 주제 조사 는을 써요.

Q3. 누가 왔어요? 에 대한 자연스러운 대답은?

누가 왔어요? का स्वाभाविक उत्तर कौन-सा है?

제가 왔어요
저는 왔어요
저를 왔어요
저에 왔어요

Answer: 제가 왔어요

💡 질문이 이/가를 쓰면 대답도 이/가를 써요.

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