haru Korean › Grammar › Level 1A › 이거 · 그거 · 저거 + N이에요/예요
이거 · 그거 · 저거 + N이에요/예요 — this · that (near you) · that (over there) — asking what something is
This · that (near you) · that (over there) — asking what something is. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1A, lesson 4: 이거는 뭐예요? (What is this?).
What it means
이, 그, 저 point at things: 이 near the speaker, 그 near the listener, 저 far from both. 거 (written 것) means 'thing', so 이거 is 'this thing'. 뭐예요? asks 'what is it?'. The answer takes 이에요 after a consonant and 예요 after a vowel — the rule you know from Lessons 2 and 3: 책이에요, 의자예요. Notice how the word changes between question and answer: your 이거 is the other person's 그거.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 이거 | near me | 이 + 거 → 이거 |
| 그거 | near you | 그 + 거 → 그거 |
| 저거 | far from both | 저 + 거 → 저거 |
Key points
- 이거 · 그거 · 저거 — near me · near you · far from both of us
- N은/는 뭐예요? — N이에요 / N예요
Examples
- 이거 = 이 + 거. 그거 = 그 + 거. 저거 = 저 + 거.
- 거 = 것 = thing.
- 이것 = 이거. 그것 = 그거. 저것 = 저거.
- 이거는 뭐예요? — 그거는 책이에요.
- 저거는 뭐예요? — 저거는 칠판이에요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1A, lesson 2; Yonsei University Korean 1-1, lesson 2; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-1, lesson 4; Hongik University Korean 1A, lesson 2; Hanyang University Korean 1-1, lesson 1; Sogang University Korean 1A, lesson 준비2.
Also in this lesson
- N하고 N · N과/와 N — and — joining two nouns: 하고 when you speak, 과/와 in writing
- N이/가 있어요 · 없어요 — there is / there isn't — I have / I don't have
- N 주세요 — please give me N — asking for something