TOPIK I · LEVEL 1
안 V
Put 안 right before a verb or adjective to say that something does not happen or is not the case, often by choice.
능력·허락·의무Can, may & mustHan: In 'noun + 하다' verbs, 안 must come right before 하다, splitting the noun from 하다.
Examples
이 커피는 안 달아요.This coffee isn't sweet.
어제 숙제를 안 했어요.I didn't do my homework yesterday.
저는 고기를 안 먹어요.I don't eat meat.
오늘은 학교에 안 가요.I'm not going to school today.
Don’t mix up
안 Vvs못 V안 = I don't (choice); 못 = I can't (ability or circumstances). 수영 안 해요 vs 수영 못 해요.안 VvsV/A + 지 않다Same meaning, but -지 않다 is longer and more formal, common in writing: 안 가요 = 가지 않아요.
안 VvsV + 지 마세요Use -지 마세요 to tell someone not to do something; 안 can't do this: 가지 마세요 (Don't go).
How to build it
안+V/A (N + 하다 → N + 안 + 하다)
가다 → 안 가요; 공부하다 → 공부 안 해요
- With 'noun + 하다' verbs, 안 goes between the noun and 하다: 운동 안 해요, not 안 운동해요.
- Do not use 안 in commands or suggestions; use -지 마세요 / -지 맙시다 instead.
- Some words have their own negative form: 있다 → 없다, 알다 → 모르다, 이다 → 아니다.
- Tense and politeness are marked on the verb, not on 안: 안 갔어요 (didn't go).
Classic mistake
Wrong: 저는 주말에 안 공부해요.
Right: 저는 주말에 공부 안 해요.
In 'noun + 하다' verbs, 안 must come right before 하다, splitting the noun from 하다.
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All TOPIK grammar- -지 않다Add -지 않다 to a verb or adjective stem to say that something does not happen or is not true, like 'do not' or 'is not'.
- 못 VPut 못 before a verb to say you cannot do it because of lack of ability or outside circumstances, not because you don't want to.
- -(으)로-(으)로 marks the direction you head toward, the means or tool you use, or what something is made of.
- -(이)나(이)나 links two nouns as alternatives ("A or B"), and after a number it shows an approximate amount in questions or a surprisingly large amount in statements.
- -(으)ㄹ 거예요Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to say what you plan to do in the future, or to make a guess about something you are not sure of.
- -(으)시--(으)시- goes inside a verb or adjective to show respect to the person doing the action (the subject).
- -(으)려고Links an intention to the action taken to achieve it: 'in order to, so as to'. Neutral, everyday register.
- -(으)세요-(으)세요 is the polite honorific ending: it shows respect to the subject in statements and questions (선생님은 책을 읽으세요), and with action verbs it politely tells or asks the listener to do something (앉으세요).
- -(으)ㅂ시다-(으)ㅂ시다 suggests doing something together: 'let's …' in a formal, polite style.