Today we are going to learn Basic Korean Grammar 있어요 없어요 (=there is [is not] or to have [not to have]). Let’s look at how today’s grammar is used in the sentences.
있다/없다 grammar
있다/없다 Both are verb endings in the Korean language. 있다 means to have something or to exist and 없다 means not to have something or not exist. 있다/없다 are basic forms of 있어요 없어요. Let’s see some examples-
There is a vacuum cleaner in my house. 우리집에는 청소기가 있어요.
It’s raining outside. 밖에 비가 와요.
One of my friends asks: “Do you have an umbrella?” 우산이 있어요?
If you have an umbrella: “Yes, I have an umbrella.” 우산이 있으면 우산이 없어요.
If you do not have an umbrella, you can answer: “No, I don’t have an umbrella.” 우산이 없으면 아니요 우산이 없어요 라고 대답합니다.
이/가 있어요 없어요 Korean grammar rule
‘이/가 있어요, 이/가 없어요’ attach after a noun, ‘이/가 있어요’ is used when you have the preceding noun and ‘이/가 없어요’ is used when you don’t have the preceding noun. For example-
If you have an umbrella, you can use ‘이 있어요’ after the noun ‘우산 (=an umbrella). “I have an umbrella.” 우산이 있어요.
If you don’t have an umbrella, you can use ‘이 없어요’ after the noun ‘우산 (=an umbrella). “I don’t have an umbrella.” 우산이 없어요.
If you have a Korean friend, you can use ‘가 있어요’ after the noun ‘한국 친구 (= a Korean friend).’ “I have a Korean friend.” 한국 친구가 있어요
If you don’t have a Korean friend, you can use ‘가 없어요’ after the noun ‘한국 친구 (= a Korean friend).’ “I don’t have a Korean friend.” 한국 친구가 없어요.
How to use 이/가 있어요 없어요?
When do we use ‘이 있어요’ and ‘가 있어요’? Let’s find out.
The rule of ‘이/가 있어요’ is the same as ‘이/가 아니에요‘.
‘If a noun has the final consonant, like 우산 (=umbrella), you should use ‘이 있어요.’
‘우산 (an umbrella)’ becomes ‘우산이 있어요 (=I have an umbrella).’
On the other hand, if a noun does not have the final consonant or if a noun has a vowel ending, like 한국 친구 (a Korean friend), you should use ‘가 있어요.’
‘한국 친구 (=a Korean friend)’ becomes ‘한국 친구가 있어요 (=I don’t have a Korean friend.)’
In spoken language, ‘이/가’ can be omitted.
For example, “I have um umbrella.”우산있어요.
“I have a Korean friend.” 한국친구 있어요.
있다/없다 Practice
Let’s practice which one (‘이 있어요/가 있어요’) should be used after the given nouns.
에어컨 (air conditioner)
Does ‘컨’ have the final consonant?
It has the final consonant: ㄴ
‘이 있어요’ should go after the noun ‘에어컨.’
‘에어컨 (=air conditioner)’ becomes ‘에어컨이 있어요 (=There is an air conditioner).
동생 (younger brothers and sisters)
Does 동생 (=younger brothers and sisters) have the final consonant?
It has the final consonant: ㅇ
Which one should we use after the noun?
‘이 있어요’ should be used.
‘동생 (=younger brothers and sisters)’ becomes “동생이 있어요 (=I have younger brothers and sisters.)”
침대 (bed)
Does ‘대’ have the final consonant?
It does not have the final consonant.
You should use ‘가 있어요’ after the noun.
‘침대 (=bed) becomes “침대가 있어요 (=There is a bed / I have a bed).
오빠 (older brother)
Does ‘빠’ have the final consonant?
It does not have the final consonant.
Which one should we use after the noun?
We should use ‘가 있어요.’?
‘오빠 (=older brother)’ becomes “오빠가 있어요 (=I have an older brother.)
Let’s sum up before doing practice.
If a noun has the final consonant, ‘이 있어요’ should go after the noun. ( 명사 마지막 글자에 받침이 있으면 이 있어요 를 사용해요.)
“I have an umbrella.” 우산이 있어요.
“There is an air-conditioner.” 에어컨이 있어요.
“I have younger brothers and sisters.” 동생이 있어요.
If a noun does not have the final consonant, ‘가 있어요’ should go after the noun. (명사 마지막 글자에 받침이 없으면 가 있어요 를 사용해요.)
“I have a Korean friend.” 한국 친구가 있어요.
“There is a bed.” 침대가 있어요.
“I have an older brother.” 오빠가 있어요.
Let’s do some more practice.
Let’s imagine ‘O’ means ‘to have’, ‘X’ means ‘not to have and find out which one (either ‘이/가 있어요 or ‘이/가 없어요’) should be used in the blank.
I (O) a Korean friend.
What should be in the blank?
‘한국 친구 (=a Korean friend)’ does not have the final consonant, so ‘가 있어요’ is correct. ‘한국 친구가 있어요
There (X) a television in a dormitory. 기숙사에 텔레비전—–.
What should be in the blank?
‘전’ has the final consonant, so ‘이 없어요’ is correct.
“There is not a Television in my dormitory.” 기숙사에 텔레비전이 없어요.
Do you (O) older sister? 누나— 있어요?
What should be in the blank?
누나 (=older sister)’ does not have the final consonant. So ‘가 있어요’ is correct. 누나가 있어요?
If you have older sisters, Yes, I have. 누나가 있어요.
If you don’t have any older sisters, “No, I don’t have.” 누나가 없으면 아니요 없어요.
(O) a desk in a dormitory? 기숙사에 책상—-?
What should be in the blank?
‘이 있어요 (= is there)’
‘상’ has the final consonant, so 책상이 있어요 is correct.
If there is a desk, Yes, there is. 책상이 있으면 네 있어요.
If there is not any desk – No, there is not. 책상이 없으면 아니요 없어요.
Is there a bed in the room? 방에 침대—?
방에 침대가 있어요?
혹시 방에 책상 (O)? – By any chance, (O) a desk in the room?
혹시 방에 책상이 있어요?
Then, (O) a refrigerator? 그럼 방에 냉장고–(O) –?
그럼 방에 냉장고 가 있어요? (= is there refrigerator)?
될 수 있다 meaning
The exact meaning of 될 수 있다 is …can be or …..can be done. 될 수 있다 is made up of two different words they are 되다 + 수 있다. 되다 means be or become and 수 있다 means can, can do, to be able to or ability. Lets see some examples-
매력적인 여점원이 상품 판매에 도움이 될 수 있다.Attractive salesgirl can help to increase sales.
여러분도 회사의 주인이 될 수 있다!You can also be the owner of a company.
외국인들은 부정직한 판매원들의 만만한 피해자가 될 수 있다.Foreigners can be easy victims of dishonest salespeople.
있어요 없어요 grammar Conclusion

We’ve done all the practices. Let’s summarise what we’ve learned. Today, we’ve learned ‘N이/가 있어요[없어요].’
‘이/가 있어요[없어요]’ is used when you have the preceding noun [or not].
If the preceding noun has the final consonant, ‘이 있어요’ is used.
If the preceding noun does not have the final consonant, ‘가 있어요’ is used.
We’ve looked some example sentences:–
I have an umbrella. 우산이 있어요.
I don’t have an umbrella. 우산이 없어요.
I have a Korean friend. 한국 친구가 있어요.
I don’t have a Korean friend. 한국 친구가 없어요.