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Korean grammar - Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronouns

The Korean possessive pronouns are formed by attaching the possessive marker to the pronouns.

Because of the contagious vowels there is merging and abbreviation as follows:

저의 (vowels merge)

저희 + 저희 (typically drop the )

우리 + 우리 (typically drop the )

The phrase A + 것이에요 is a very common way to say that something belongs to someone - literally '...is A's thing.'

-- And in informal spoken Korean the is typically abbreviated to - this makes pronunciation much easier.

Examples:
이것은 우리 어머니의 빨간 가방이에요.
This is our mother’s red bag.

is typically dropped when using 우리

제 친구는 호주에 살아요.
My friend lives in Australia.

저의 (vowels merge)

저희 집은 넓어요.
Our house is spacious.

is typically dropped when using 저희

우리 엄마는 직장에 있어요.
My mother is at her job.

Literally 'our mother' but commonly means 'my mother'.

제 이름은 미나예요.
My name is Mina.

(I) (my)

그는 그녀의 자전거를 좋아해요.
He likes her bike.

그녀 (she) 그녀의 (her)

그의 어머니는 친절해요.
His mother is kind.

(he) 그의 (his)

그들의 고양이는 귀여워요.
Their cats are cute.

그들 (they) 그들의 (their)

저희 자동차는 까만색이에요.
Our car is black.

is typically dropped when using 저희

당신의 전공은 영어예요.
Your major is English.

당신 (you, formal) 당신의

제 일은 즐거워요.
(I) enjoy my job.

(I) (my)

저 집이 우리 집이에요?
Is that house our house?

is typically dropped when using 우리

이것은 누구의 것이에요?
Whose is this?

누구 (who) 누구의 (whose)

누구 꺼예요?
Whose is (this)?

A very common abbreviated form of 이것은 누구의 것이에요?

이것은 누구의 책이에요?
Whose book is this?
저 차는 제 것이에요.
That car (over there) is mine.

Uses the formal 것이에요.

그 자전거는 제 꺼예요.
That bike (there) is mine.

Uses the more informal 꺼예요.

이 사람의 이름은 무엇이에요?
What is this person's name?