TOPIK 1 Grammar – Summary of basic Korean grammar for beginners

TOPIK 1 Grammar provides the essential foundation for anyone starting to learn Korean. It focuses on simple sentence structures, polite endings, and commonly used grammar patterns that appear in daily conversations and the TOPIK I exam. By mastering these basic rules, learners can understand short texts, express their thoughts clearly, and build confidence for higher levels. It’s the perfect starting point for beginners aiming to communicate naturally in Korean.

TOPIK 1 Grammar

Introduction to TOPIK 1 Grammar

The TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is an official exam designed to assess the Korean language ability of non-native speakers for study, work, or living purposes in Korea. At the TOPIK I (Level 1–2) stage, grammar plays a crucial role—it forms the foundation for understanding sentences, writing correctly, and expressing ideas clearly throughout the test.

Introduction to TOPIK 1 Grammar

Learning Korean grammar for TOPIK 1 before practicing mock tests helps learners grasp essential sentence structures such as verb conjugations, polite endings like “-요,” particles, and expressions of time and action. With a solid understanding of these basics, test-takers can approach vocabulary and grammar questions with greater confidence and accuracy.

Compared to higher levels (TOPIK II), the grammar in TOPIK 1 is simpler and focuses on everyday communication patterns without complex transformations or abstract expressions. It serves as an important stepping stone for building a strong foundation before advancing to intermediate or advanced Korean grammar.

For effective learning, beginners can use reliable resources such as the Migii TOPIK app, the Sejong Korean textbooks, or the EPS-TOPIK materials — all of which provide structured grammar lessons and exercises closely aligned with the actual test format.

Basic grammar structures in TOPIK 1 (TOPIK 1 Grammar List)

In TOPIK 1, learners are introduced to the most essential Korean grammar structures that form the foundation for everyday communication. These include how to conjugate verbs and adjectives politely, as well as how to express time, place, possession, and action. Understanding these patterns helps beginners build accurate and natural sentences, which are crucial for both the TOPIK exam and real-life communication.

Verb and Adjective Conjugation:
In Korean, verbs and adjectives must be conjugated according to formality and tense. The polite ending “-요” is commonly used in daily conversation, showing respect without being overly formal. For example, 가요 (I go) and 예뻐요 (It’s pretty) are polite forms used in spoken Korean. In more formal or written contexts, endings like “-습니다 / -ㅂ니다” are used, as in 갑니다 (I go) or 감사합니다 (Thank you). Learning when to use each ending is important for choosing the right level of politeness in communication.

Grammar Patterns for Time, Place, Possession, and Action:
Expressions of time and place are typically marked by particles such as 에 (at/to) and 에서 (at/in). For example, 학교에 가요 means “I go to school,” while 집에서 공부해요 means “I study at home.” The particle 의 shows possession, as in 친구의 책 (“a friend’s book”), and 하고 or (이)랑 can connect nouns or mean “with,” as in 엄마하고 같이 가요 (“I go with my mom”). These patterns help learners describe actions, relationships, and situations clearly and naturally.

Example Sentences for Practice:
Students can reinforce their understanding of grammar through short and practical sentences such as:

• 저는 학생이에요. (I am a student.)
• 지금 집에 있어요. (I’m at home now.)
• 내일 영화를 봐요. (I will watch a movie tomorrow.)
• 친구하고 커피를 마셔요. (I drink coffee with my friend.)

These examples illustrate how grammar patterns are applied in real communication and appear frequently in the TOPIK I exam.

Summary Table – TOPIK 1 Grammar List

These grammar structures form the core foundation of the Korean language at the beginner level and are essential for success in the TOPIK 1 exam. Mastering them not only improves comprehension and accuracy in test questions but also helps learners communicate confidently in everyday situations.

Classification of grammar according to function

Grammar for Time and Action: -았/었어요, -(으)ㄹ 거예요

In Korean, expressing the time of an action—whether it happened in the past, is happening now, or will happen in the future—is an essential part of grammar in TOPIK 1. Two of the most common and important patterns for this purpose are -았/었어요 (past tense) and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (future tense). These basic structures frequently appear in the TOPIK I exam and are widely used in daily conversation.

Grammar for Time and Action: -았/었어요, -(으)ㄹ 거예요

1. -았/었어요 – Past Tense
The grammar pattern -았/었어요 is used to describe actions or states that occurred in the past.

• When the verb stem contains the vowels ㅏ or ㅗ, use -았어요.
• When it contains other vowels, use -었어요.
• Verbs with the root 하- take the special form 했어요.

Examples:

• 어제 영화를 봤어요. → I watched a movie yesterday.
• 친구를 만났어요. → I met a friend.
• 공부했어요. → I studied.

This structure often appears with past time expressions such as 어제 (yesterday), 지난주 (last week), or 작년 (last year). It helps speakers naturally describe what they did or share past experiences.

2. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 – Future Tense
On the other hand, the pattern -(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses an action or plan that will take place in the future.

• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, add -을 거예요.
• If it ends with a vowel, add -ㄹ 거예요.

Examples:

• 내일 영화를 볼 거예요. → I will watch a movie tomorrow.
• 친구를 만날 거예요. → I will meet a friend.
• 한국에 갈 거예요. → I will go to Korea.

This pattern is commonly used with future time expressions such as 내일 (tomorrow), 다음 주 (next week), or 곧 (soon). It can indicate both intention (“I’m going to…”) and prediction (“It will…”).

Overall, the two grammar patterns -았/었어요 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 form the foundation for expressing time and tense in Korean. Mastering them allows learners to clearly describe past and future actions, an essential skill for both everyday communication and achieving success in the TOPIK 1 exam.

Grammar of cause and reason: -아서/어서, -지만

In Korean, expressing cause, reason, or contrast is an important part of forming complete and logical sentences. At the TOPIK 1 level, two grammar patterns frequently used for this purpose are -아서/어서 (because, so) and -지만 (but, although). These structures help connect ideas smoothly and are essential for both speaking and writing naturally in Korean.

1. -아서/어서 – To express cause or reason
The pattern -아서/어서 is used to explain the reason or cause for an action or situation. It can be translated as “because” or “so” in English.

• When the verb stem has the vowels ㅏ or ㅗ, use -아서.
• When the verb stem has other vowels, use -어서.
• Verbs ending in 하- change to 해서.

Examples:

• 비가 와서 집에 있었어요. → Because it rained, I stayed at home.
• 배가 아파서 약을 먹었어요. → Because I had a stomachache, I took medicine.
• 시간이 없어서 못 갔어요. → I couldn’t go because I didn’t have time.

This structure cannot be used with commands or requests. It simply shows a direct relationship between cause and result.

2. -지만 – To express contrast or opposition
The pattern -지만 means “but” or “although” and is used to contrast two different ideas or actions. It connects two clauses where the second clause is opposite to or different from the first.

Examples:

• 한국어는 어렵지만 재미있어요. → Korean is difficult, but interesting.
• 날씨가 추웠지만 운동했어요. → It was cold, but I exercised.
• 저는 학생이지만 일도 해요. → I am a student, but I also work.

This pattern is very useful in both conversation and writing when you want to show a contrast in thought or emphasize a surprising or opposite result.

Summary Table – Grammar of Cause and Reason

Together, -아서/어서 and -지만 are among the most frequently used grammar structures in beginner Korean. Mastering them allows learners to connect ideas logically, explain reasons clearly, and express contrasts naturally — all of which are essential skills for success in TOPIK 1 and real-life Korean communication.

Grammar for expressing preference and ability: -고 싶어요, -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요

This grammar pattern is often used in Korean to talk about what someone wants to do or is able to do. It is very common in daily conversations and appears frequently in TOPIK 1 exams.

Grammar for expressing preference and ability: -고 싶어요, -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요

• -고 싶어요 is attached to the verb stem to express desire or wish. It means “want to…” in English.
  → Example: 한국에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go to Korea.)
  → Example: 물을 마시고 싶어요. (I want to drink water.)
• -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 expresses ability or possibility, meaning “can” or “be able to…”.
  → Example: 한국어를 말할 수 있어요. (I can speak Korean.)
  → Example: 수영할 수 있어요. (I can swim.)

These two grammar patterns are essential for beginners because they help learners talk about personal interests, goals, and skills naturally. Mastering them allows students to express themselves more freely in both speaking and writing.

Descriptive and Comparative Grammar: -보다, -같아요
These two grammar patterns are commonly used in TOPIK 1 to describe and compare people, things, or situations in Korean. They help learners express similarities and differences naturally in everyday conversations.

• -보다 is used to make comparisons, meaning “than” in English. It is attached to the noun that is being compared.
  → Example: 사과보다 바나나가 더 맛있어요. (Bananas are tastier than apples.)
  → Example: 오늘보다 내일이 더 추워요. (Tomorrow is colder than today.)
• -같아요 is used to express similarity or resemblance, meaning “seems like” or “looks like.”
  → Example: 그 사람은 선생님 같아요. (That person looks like a teacher.)
  → Example: 날씨가 봄 같아요. (The weather feels like spring.)

Both -보다 and -같아요 are essential for describing feelings, impressions, and comparisons. Mastering them helps learners build more expressive sentences and improves both speaking and writing skills in Korean.

To deepen your understanding, download the complete TOPIK 1 Grammar List (50 essential grammar points) — a neatly organized file including explanations, examples, and exercises for practice.

Here are 50 grammar topik 1 download links:

 

How to learn TOPIK 1 grammar effectively

Learning Korean grammar for TOPIK 1 becomes much easier when you follow the right methods and structure. Instead of memorizing each grammar point separately, focus on understanding how they connect in real communication. This helps build both accuracy and fluency in your Korean foundation.

• Study by themes and sentence patterns rather than isolated rules. Group grammar points related to time, location, or action together to understand how they function in similar contexts.
• Use the Migii TOPIK app to practice grammar through real test-style questions. This helps you get familiar with actual exam formats and improve your response speed.
• Combine listening, speaking, and writing when reviewing grammar. Try making your own sentences, saying them aloud, and listening to native examples to reinforce memory.
• Review smart before the exam by summarizing key grammar points and practicing sample questions under timed conditions.

After mastering the grammar, you should regularly practice with real TOPIK 1 test papers to apply what you’ve learned and get used to the exam structure. Doing this helps identify weak areas and boosts confidence before the test day.

Below are some recommended TOPIK 1 practice tests with download links:

Conclusion

Mastering TOPIK 1 grammar is the foundation for building all other Korean skills — from reading and writing to listening and speaking. For beginners, it’s better to study a little every day rather than trying to memorize too much at once. Consistent learning helps you retain grammar naturally and apply it confidently in real situations. Start your journey today and explore more high-quality study materials with Migii TOPIK to make your Korean learning easier and more effective!