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Korean grammar - This and that: 이, 그, and 저

This and that: 이, 그, and 저

Pattern: , or + Noun

Korean has three common demonstratives that correspond to 'this', 'that', and 'that over there'.

(this) for an object close to the speaker.

(that) for an object closer to the listener than the speaker.

-- is also used when the speaker has already mentioned the object. Like 'the' in English.

(that) for an object over there, far from both the speaker and listener.

Examples:
이 학생은 가방이 있어요.
This student has a bag.
저 선생님은 차 있어요?
Does that teacher have a car?
그 소녀는 남동생 없어요.
That girl doesn't have a younger sibling.
저 곰은 꼬리가 없어요.
That (distant) bear doesn't have a tail.
이 남자는 우산이 없어요.
This man doesn't have an umbrella.
이 꽃은 빨간색이에요.
This flower is red.

빨간색 means 'red'

그 학생은 한국인이에요.
That student is Korean.
저 남자는 변호사이에요.
That (unseen) man is a lawyer
저 지하철은 역 아주 멀어요.
That (distant) subway station is very far away.

아주 means 'very' or 'extremely'

멀다 means 'to be distant' or 'to be far away'

저 사람은 한국인이에요?
Is that (distant) person a Korean?