This, It and That

Please refer to Korean Listening Exercise - This, It and That  for the audio recording of the sentences found in this lesson.

In this lesson, we learn about some of the most common and useful words, 'This, It and That.'

• This = 이것
• It = 그것
• That = 저것

Example sentences

[Informal written form]

• 이것은 연필이다. = This is a pencil.
• 그것은 창문이다. = It is a window.
• 저것은 꽃이다. = That is a flower.

[Polite written form]

• 이것은 연필입니다. = This is a pencil.
• 그것은 창문입니다. = It is a window.
• 저것은 꽃입니다. = That is a flower.

Note: For more information on the formality and the written and spoken forms, please read Nouns - Present, Past.

이것, 저것 and 그것 are mainly used in the written form. The equivalent spoken forms are 이건, 그건 and 저건.

Please note that 이건, 그건 and 저건 are actually contracted forms of 이것은, 저것은 and 그것은.

• 이것은 → 이건
• 그것은 → 그건
• 저것은 → 저건

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Here are the sentences in the spoken form.

[Informal spoken form]

• 이건 연필이야.
• 그건 창문이야.
• 저건 꽃이야.

[Polite spoken form]

• 이건 연필이에요.
• 그건 창문이에요.
• 저건 꽃이에요.

"Here, there and over there" are used in similar ways to "This, it and that".

• Here = 여기
• There (it) = 거기
• Over there = 저기

Alternatively, (A bit more formal)

• Here = 이곳 (Lit. This place)
• There (it) = 그곳 (Lit. That place (it) )
• Over there = 저곳 (Lit. That place over there)

Example sentences

• 이곳은 어디예요? = Where is this place? (Where are we?)
• 이곳은 서울이에요. = This place is Seoul (We're in Seoul.)

• 저곳은 뭐예요? = What is that place over there?
• 그곳은 서울시청이에요. = That place (It) is a Seoul City Council.

• 저기는 어디예요? = Where is that over there?
• 저기는 남대문이에요. = That is Namdaemun (shopping center).
• 그리고 여기는 세종문화회관이에요. = And this place is Sejong Cultural Center.

여기는 is also usually contracted to 여긴 for the pronunciation's sake.

• 여기는 → 여긴
• 거기는 → 거긴
• 저기는 → 저긴

Similarly, 이, 그 and 저 are used with 쪽 to make the following words to denote a certain direction.

• 이쪽 = This direction
• 그쪽 = That direction (it)
• 저쪽 = That direction

Example sentences

• 이쪽은 거실이에요. = This way is (to) the living room.
• 그쪽은 베란다예요. = That way (It) is (to) to the verandah.
• 저쪽은 출구예요. = That way is (to) the exit.

• 샘 [Sam]: 여기 화장실 어디 있어요? [Where is the toilet here?]
• 민지 [Minji]: 화장실은 저쪽에 있어요. (The toilet is that way.)
• 샘 [Sam]: 서점은 어디 있어요? [What about a bookstore? (Lit. Where is a bookstore?)]
• 민지 [Minji]:서점은 이쪽에 있어요. [The bookstore is this way.]

이, 그 and 저 are used with nouns to mean 'this, it and that' respectively.

• 이 나무 = This tree
• 그 집 = That house (It)
• 저 산 = That mountain

• 이 사과 맛있어요 = This apple is delicious
• 저 사과도 맛있어요 = That apple is delicious, too.

• 이 음식점은 비빔밥이 유명해요 = This restaurant is famous for Bibimbap. (Lit. This restaurant, Bimbimbap is famous.)
• 저 빌딩은 63빌딩이에요 = That building is the 63 building. (The landmark building in Seoul)

Note:

Bibimbap - is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means "mixed meal." Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with 나물, namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and 고추장, gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It can be served either cold or hot.[1]


Reference: [1] Wikipedia: Bibimbap, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap