Back
Beginner

Sentence Structure & 이다

SOV order and the copula

Korean is SOV (verb last)

The verb or copula ends the sentence.

💬 Examples
저는 학생이에요.
jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.
I am a student.
📝 Topic ... 이다 at the end
이것은 책이에요.
igeoseun chaeg-ieyo.
This is a book.
📝 Predicate + copula last
이다 = 'to be' (a noun)

It attaches directly to the noun.

📊 이다 (to be), polite
After Form Example
vowel -예요 의사예요
consonant -이에요 학생이에요
plain -(이)다 학생이다
💬 Examples
의사예요.
uisa-yeyo.
(I) am a doctor.
📝 이다 → 예요 after a vowel
학생이에요.
haksaeng-ieyo.
(I) am a student.
📝 이에요 after a consonant
The plain form of 이다 is -(이)다

Used in writing and casual speech.

💬 Examples
학생이다.
haksaeng-ida.
(I'm) a student.
📝 Plain copula
고양이다.
goyang-ida.
It's a cat.
📝 Plain 이다 after a vowel (이 dropped)