있다/없다 (Existence & Possession)
있다 (to exist/have) and 없다 (to not exist/not have)
Can express existence and possession using 있다/없다 with correct particle usage
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
시간이 있어요.
I have time.
돈이 없어요.
I don't have money.
책상 위에 책이 있어요.
There is a book on the desk.
오빠가 있어요?
Do you have an older brother?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
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:
| Dictionary | Polite (해요체) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 있다 | 있어요 | there is / have |
| 없다 | 없어요 | there isn't / don't have |
Pattern 1 — Existence (there is/isn't):
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 여기에 고양이가 있어요. | There is a cat here. |
| 여기에 고양이가 없어요. | There is no cat here. |
Pattern 2 — Possession (have/don't have):
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 저는 시간이 있어요. | I have time. |
| 저는 돈이 없어요. | I don't have money. |
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.)
Common Error Patterns
Used 을/를 instead of 이/가 with 있다/없다
있다 means 'X exists', so X is the SUBJECT (이/가), not the object (을/를): 시간이 있어요, NOT *시간을 있어요
Used 안 + 없다 (double negative)
없다 is already negative. Don't add 안: 없어요 (not *안 없어요)
시간이 있어요.
I have time.
Possession: 시간 (time) + 이 (subject, after consonant) + 있어요 (exists/have). Literally: 'Time exists (for me).'
돈이 없어요.
I don't have money.
없다 is the direct opposite of 있다: 돈 (money) + 이 (subject) + 없어요 (doesn't exist). No need for 안 or other negation — 없다 IS the negative.
책상 위에 책이 있어요.
There is a book on the desk.
Location existence: 책상 위 (on the desk) + 에 (location) + 책 (book) + 이 (subject) + 있어요 (exists). Location comes before the subject.
오빠가 있어요?
Do you have an older brother?
Asking about family: 오빠 (older brother, used by females) + 가 (subject) + 있어요? (exists?). Questions use the same form — just rising intonation.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises