In the Korean language, nouns, pronouns, and numerals can be declined. They have eight cases: Nominative, Genitive, Accusative, Dative, Locative, Instrumental, Comitative, and Vocative.
Note that case endings are added after the noun: NOUN + ENDING
Nominative Case
The nominative case usually shows the relationship between the subject and the predicate.
The nominative case can be formed with the following endings:
가 (when the noun ends in a vowel sound) - 바다가 ("the sea")
이 (when the noun ends in a consonant sound) - 돈이 ("money")
께서 (polite form) - 아버지께서 ("father")
Examples:
비가 옵니다. "It is raining."
아이들이 있습니다. "I have children."
아버지께서 행복하십니다. "My father is happy."
Genitive Case
The genitive case is an adjectival form of a noun that shows different relationships, mainly possession, belonging, and derivation.
The genitive case can be formed with the following ending: 의
친구의 책 ("the book of the friend")
엄마의 집 ("mother's house")
Examples:
저는 그 단어의 의미를 모릅니다. "I don't know the meaning of the word."
이 책의 내용이 어때요? "What is the content of the book?"
Accusative Case
The accusative case is used to mark the direct object of a verb, the space during a movement, or the amount of time spent.
The accusative case is formed with the following endings:
를 (when a noun ends in a vowel sound) - 소리를
을 (when a noun ends in a consonant) - 말을
Examples:
노래를 잘 부릅니다. "You sing very well."
책을 읽습니다. "I read a book."
Dative Case
The dative case is used to mark an indirect object, a place, or the direction of a movement.
The dative case can be formed with the following endings:
에 (with inanimate nouns) 학교에
에게 (with animate nouns) 친구에게
께 (polite form) 할머니께
한테 (colloquial form) 아들한테
Examples:
저는 일요일에 학교에서 공부하지 않습니다. "I don't study at school on Sunday."
친구에게 편지를 썼어요. "I wrote a letter to my friend."
Locative Case
The locative case is used to mark the initial location of a movement, or the place where the movement is done.
The locative case can be formed with the following endings:
에서 (with inanimate nouns) 고향에서
에게서 (with animate nouns) 여자에게서
Examples:
우리는 학교에서 공부합니다. "We study at school."
저는 회사에서 왔습니다. "I came back from the office."
Instrumental
The instrumental case is used to mark a noun that is the instrument or means by which the subject achieves or accomplishes an action. It can also be used for a material, a reason, or the direction of a movement.
The instrumental case can be formed with the following endings:
로 (when a noun ends in a vowel sound) - 나무로
으로 (when a noun ends in a consonant sound) - 집으로
Examples:
영어로 설명해주세요. "Please, explain in English."
우리는 기차로 여행합니다. "We travel by train."
Comitative Case
The comitative case is used where English would use "in company with" or "together with".
The comitative case can be formed with the following endings:
와 (when a noun ends in a vowel sound) - 노래와
과 (when a noun ends in a consonant) - 아들과
하고 (colloquial forms) - 책하고
Examples:
누구와 날마다 전화를 합니까? "With whom do you talk on the phone everyday?"
Vocative Case
The vocative case is used for addressing people or for identifying the person being addressed.
The vocative case is formed with the following endings:
야 (when a noun ends in a vowel sound) - 수미야 "Sumi!"
아 (when a noun ends in a consonant sound) - 뻐꾹아 "Cuckoo!"
Note: Sometimes the endings of different cases can be used simultaneously in what are called "compound cases". For example:
한국에서의 생활 "life in Korea"
There are also several particles that can be used instead of case endings. See Special Particles for details.
See Also: