🧱 The Structure of a Korean Sentence (SOV)
Learn How Korean Sentences Are Built (It's Simpler Than You Think!)
One of the biggest differences between Korean and English is the sentence structure.
While English follows a SVO (Subject – Verb – Object) order, Korean follows SOV (Subject – Object – Verb) order.
This means in Korean, the verb always comes at the end of the sentence. Let’s break it down together! 👇
📘 Basic Word Order
| Subject (S) | Object (O) | Verb (V) |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 (I) | 밥을 (rice) | 먹어요 (eat) |
| 저는 밥을 먹어요. = I eat rice. | ||
See how the verb 먹어요 (eat) comes at the end? That’s the key to Korean sentence structure!
🔍 More Examples
| Korean Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| 그는 책을 읽어요. | He reads a book. |
| 우리는 영화를 봐요. | We watch a movie. |
| 학생이 질문을 해요. | The student asks a question. |
In every case, the verb comes last. Even if the subject or object changes, the verb stays at the end.
💡 Why This Matters
Understanding the SOV structure will help you:
- Form correct Korean sentences
- Understand Korean subtitles and dialogues
- Improve your listening skills by expecting the verb at the end
📝 Practice Time!
Try to create your own Korean sentence using this order:
- Subject: 나는 (I)
- Object: 커피를 (coffee)
- Verb: 마셔요 (drink)
Your sentence: 나는 커피를 마셔요. = I drink coffee.
Now you try with:
- 책 (book) + 읽다 (to read)
- 노래 (song) + 듣다 (to listen)
Leave your sentence in the comments — I’ll check and correct it for you! 😊
🎯 Ready to Practice Speaking?
Sentence structure gets easier with real conversation. Want to practice live?
👉 Book a 1:1 lesson with me on italki and master Korean sentence patterns with feedback and fun topics!
