Learn Korean

This, It and That

In this lesson, we learn about some of the most common and useful words, 'This, It and That.'

•This = 이것

•It = 그것

•That = 저것

Example sentences

[Informal written form]

•이것은 연필이다. = This is a pencil.

•그것은 창문이다. = It is a window.

•저것은 꽃이다. = That is a flower.

[Polite written form]

•이것은 연필입니다. = This is a pencil.

•그것은 창문입니다. = It is a window.

•저것은 꽃입니다. = That is a flower.

이것, 저것 and 그것 are mainly used in the written form. The equivalent spoken forms are 이건, 그

건 and 저건.

Please note that 이건, 그건 and 저건 are actually contracted forms of 이것은, 저것은 and 그것은.

•이것은 이 → 건

•그것은 그 → 건

•저것은 저 → 건

Here are the sentences in the spoken form.

[Informal spoken form]

•이건 연필이야.

•그건 창문이야.

•저건 꽃이야.

[Polite spoken form]

•이건 연필이에요.

•그건 창문이에요.

•저건 꽃이에요.

"Here, there and over there" are used in similar ways to "This, it and that".

•Here = 여기

•There (it) = 거기

•Over there = 저기

Alternatively, (A bit more formal)

•Here = 이곳 (Lit. This place)

•There (it) = 그곳 (Lit. That place (it) )

•Over there = 저곳 (Lit. That place over there)

Example sentences

•이곳은 어디예요? = Where is this place? (Where are we?)

•이곳은 서울이에요. = This place is Seoul (We're in Seoul.)

•저곳은 뭐예요? = What is that place over there?

•그곳은 서울시청이에요. = That place (It) is a Seoul City Council.

•저기는 어디예요? = Where is that over there?

•저기는 남대문이에요. = That is Namdaemun (shopping center).

•그리고 여기는 세종문화회관이에요. = And this place is Sejong Cultural Center.

여기는 is also usually contracted to 여긴 for the pronunciation's sake.

•여기는 → 여긴

•거기는 거 → 긴

•저기는 저 → 긴

Similarly, 이, 그 and 저 are used with 쪽 to make the following words to denote a certain direction.

•이쪽 = This direction

•그쪽 = That direction (it)

•저쪽 = That direction

Example sentences

•이쪽은 거실이에요. = This way is (to) the living room.

•그쪽은 베란다예요. = That way (It) is (to) to the verandah.

•저쪽은 출구예요. = That way is (to) the exit.

•샘 [Sam]: 여기 화장실 어디 있어요? [Where is the toilet here?]

•민지 [Minji]: 화장실은 저쪽에 있어요. (The toilet is that way.)

•샘 [Sam]: 서점은 어디 있어요? [What about a bookstore? (Lit. Where is a bookstore?)]

•민지 [Minji]:서점은 이쪽에 있어요. [The bookstore is this way.]

이, 그 and 저 are used with nouns to mean 'this, it and that' respectively.

•이 나무 = This tree

•그 집 = That house (It)

•저 산 = That mountain

•이 사과 맛있어요 = This apple is delicious

•저 사과도 맛있어요 = That apple is delicious, too.

•이 음식점은 비빔밥이 유명해요 = This restaurant is famous for Bibimbap. (Lit. This restaurant, Bimbimbap is famous.)

•저 빌딩은 63 빌딩이에요 = That building is the 63 building. (The landmark building in Seoul)