Lesson 9 - The Particles that Make it All Clear: 하고 and Friends

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Today we’re going to talk once again about the Particles series, and we’re going to talk about a series of particles that have the same meaning and functions. I’m talking about -하고, -와/과 and -이랑/랑.  

They all have the same meaning and function, that is ‘and’ ‘with’ and similar. They're pretty easy to use and to distinguish, but note that there’s a couple of differences that don’t make them all the same.  

Let’s start by looking at the first one, which is -하고. It is used between nouns, and it doesn’t have a different form for noun endings. Let's look at some examples: 

나는 엄마하고 살아요 

I live with my mum 

내 동생은 그녀의 반 친구하고 공부해요 

My younger sibling studies with her classmate 

내 아버지는 커피하고 아이스크림을 먹어요 

My father eats coffee and ice cream  

로마하고 밀라노하고 정말 유명해요 

Rome and Milan are very famous 

Now, let’s move on to -와 and -과. These two particles are more likely to be used in books or works like such. You won’t hear them in common conversation, like the other two. They have a peculiar form. Unlike other grammar patterns, if you have a consonant ending noun you won’t have to use -와 like you would think; in fact, you’d have to use -과.  

Their rule is the following: 

when you want to use this pattern, keep in mind that if you have a consonant ending noun you will have to attach -과 to it; whereas when you have a vowel ending noun, -와 is the one you will need to use. 

Now, let’s look at some examples to make it all clearer: 

선생님과 대학생이 교실에 있어요 

The teacher and the university students are in the classroom 

나는 남동생과 영화관에 가요 

I go to the cinema with my younger brother 

의사가 환자와 지금은 수술실에 가요 

The doctor goes to the surgery room with the patient 

내가 차와 주스를 주문해요 

I order tea and juice 

Last but not least, there's the last pair of particles of this post: -랑 and -이랑. Like the previous one, there are two forms; one destined to be used with a consonant ending nouns and one with vowel ending nouns. Like -하고, they’re very common in conversation and informal situations. You probably could hear them in some dramas or even interviews of your favorite idol; tv shows or realities and so on. 

They're pretty simple to use, like the other ones. Let’s look at some examples together: 

친구랑 커피숍에서 차를 마셔요 

I drink tea at a coffee shop with my friend

네 남친이 책이랑 영화를 많이 좋아해! 

Your boyfriend likes books and movies a lot! 

오늘은  한국어 수업이랑 중국어 수업이 있어요 

Today I have Korean lesson and Chinese lesson 

그 교수가 한국어랑 언어학을 가르쳐요 

That professor teaches Korean and Linguistics 

Note that several of the sentences written above see these particles translated into ‘with’ instead of ‘and’. That's because they all have both of these meanings. It all depends on the context, so watch out! 

VOCABS SET ON QUIZLET: 1 

KPOPOLOGY WEBSITE: Home, KPOPOLOGY Explains 

DROPBOX FILES: Main folder, Lesson 9 Practice 


I will see you next time with another grammar post!

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