이 vs 이거 vs 이것 | 이, 그, 저 Lesson

안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다~

Today, I'll explain the difference between 이, 그, 저 AND 이것, 그것, 저것.

Let's first start with another group of words often confused: 여기, 거기, and 저기.

여기 - here

거기 - there (near to the person you‘re talking to, but far from you)

you

저기 - over there (far from both the speaker and listener)

Example Dialogue:

가: 너 내 펜 봤어?

A: Have you seen my pen?

나: 응, 저기 있어.

B: Yes, it’s over there.

Example Sentences:

거기까지 얼마나 더 가야 돼요?

How much farther is it until there?

거기에 사람들이 얼마나 많았어요?

How many people were there?

여기가 제가 일하는 곳입니다.

Here is the place that I work.

저는 어제 여기에 도착했어요.

I arrived here yesterday.

여기, 이 휴지로 눈물 닦아.

Here, dry your tears with this tissue.

These words can function as nouns, and adjectives as well.

Ex:

여기는 한국입니다.

Here is Korea.

저기에는 지하철 역이 없습니다.

There is no subway station over there.

If they are used in conjunction with the verbs 가다 – to go, or 오다 – to come, the direction particle or location particle, 에(서) is attached to these words.

여기에서 술 마셨어.

I drank here.

저기에 갔어요.

She went over there.

이, 그, 저 Explanation:

Here are some demonstrative pronouns :

이 = This (near speaker)

그 = That (near the other person/listener)

저 = That (over there; far away from both speaker and listener)

In Korean, 이, 그, and 저 can only work as modifiers (e.g. this car is mine; instead of this is my car).

Basically it means these words describes the noun directly in front of it.

This person is my friend.

= 이 사람은 제 친구예요. (O)

This is my friend.

= 이는 제 친구예요. (X)

Examples:

이 차 - this car

이 차는 제 것이에요. - this car is mine.

이 영화를 보고 싶어요. - I want to watch this movie.

이 피자가 맛있어요. - this pizza is delicious.

그 식당 - that restaurant

그 식당에 갔어요. - we went to that restaurant

그 집에 살고 있어요. - I live in that house.

저 사람 - that person over there

저 사람은 제 친구예요. - That person (over there) is my friend.

저 카페를 알아요? - Do you know that cafe over there?

이것, 그것, 저것 Explanation:

To use 이, 그, and 저 as pronouns (e.g. this is my car), 거/것 (thing) needs to be added after these words.

이 + 것 = 이것 = This thing.

그+ 것 = 그것 = That thing.

저+ 것 = 저것 = That thing over there.

What’s that?

= 그거 뭐예요? (O)

= 그 뭐예요? (X)

Examples:

이것은 차예요. - this (thing) is my car.

이것은 제 차예요 - This is my car.

그것은 우리 집이에요 - That is our house.

저것은 빵집이에요 - That (over there) is a bakery (bread house).

The 것 often gets shortened to 거, with no change in meaning.

이거 책이에요. = This is a book.

이거 카메라예요. = This is a camera.

이거 뭐예요? = What is this?

Dialogue:

가: 이거는 커피예요?

A: Is this coffee?

나: 아니요, 콜라예요.

B: No, it’s coke.

가: 그 바지는 얼마예요?

A: How much are those pants?

나: 사만 원이에요.

B: They are 40,000 won.

가: 저 사람은 누구예요?

A: Who is that over there?

나: 우리 반 친구예요.

B: He is my classmate. (반 means class)

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PRACTICE SECTION:

1). This is my mom.

• 엄마 - mom

• 어머니 - mother

2). This person is my mom.

• 사람 - person

3). That building is a library.

• 빌딩 - building
  

• 도서관 - library

4). That is scary.

• 무섭다

5). That bag (over there) is cute.

• 가방 - bag

• 귀엽다 - to be cute

6). That (over there) is cute.

ANSWERS:

4). 그것은 무서워요.

2). 이 사람은 우리 엄마예요.

5). 저 가방이 귀여워요.

1). 이것은 우리 엄마예요.

3). 그 빌딩은 도서관이에요.

6). 저것이 귀여워요.

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여기까지예요. That's all for this post! If you scroll a little bit down, you'll see similar posts that I think you would enjoy.