있다/없다 (Existenz & Besitz)

있다/없다 — Existence & Possession

있다 and 없다 are two of the most important words in Korean. They express both existence (there is/isn't) and possession (have/don't have).

Polite forms:

Pattern 1 — Existence (there is/isn't):

Pattern 2 — Possession (have/don't have):

Key rule: The thing that exists or is possessed takes 이/가 (subject marker), NOT 을/를. This is because 있다 means 'X exists' — X is the subject, not the object.

Location with 에: Use 에 to mark where something exists: 책상 위에 책이 있어요. (There is a book on the desk.)