To Be = 예요/이예요
- Informal Polite Style is 예요/이예요. The formal Polite Style is 입니다.
- They are equivalent to ‘am’ ‘are’ ‘is’ in English.
- They are attached to the end of a noun to make it the sentence’s predicate.
Example: That woman is my teacher. (저 여자는 나의 선생님이예요.)
Subject = That woman (저 여자는) Predicate = is + my teacher (나의 선생님 + 이예요)
- 예요/이예요 are both used for the descriptive and interrogative forms.
- The interrogative form is indicated by a rising intonation, 예요? / 이에요?
- The formal Polite Style is 입니까?
Noun with the Final Vowel = 예요 (Example: 사과예요.)
Noun with the Final Consonant = 이에요 (Example: 책상이에요.)
Example Sentences:
What’s this? (이게) 뭐예요?
It’s Kimchi. 김치예요.
Is he Korean? 그는 한국 사람이에요?
Yes, he’s Korean. 네, 그는 한국 사람이에요.
Where is this? 여기가 어디예요?
It’s Busan. 부산이에요.
Who is that? 누구예요?
That’s my uncle. 내 삼촌이예요.
Where is your hometown? 고향이 어디예요?
I am from Chicago. 시카고예요.
