Basic states and preparation | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic states, preparation, and time..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic states and preparation to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

juh-NUHN gee-BOO-nee duh JOH-ah-yoh. I am feeling better.
B

저는 아주 바빠요.

juh-NUHN ah-JOO BAH-ppah-yoh. I am very busy.
A

저는 이제 준비됐어요.

juh-NUHN ee-JEH joon-BEE-dweh-ssuh-yoh. I am ready now.
B

저는 준비가 안 됐어요.

juh-NUHN joon-BEE-gah ahn DWEH-ssuh-yoh. I am not ready.
A

저는 시간이 더 필요해요.

juh-NUHN shee-GAH-nee duh peel-LYOH-heh-yoh. I need more time.
B

시간 있어요?

shee-GAH-nee-SSUH-yoh? Do you have time?

Word by Word

저는 “저는” means “as for me” or “I” in these statements about the speaker’s condition. The ending 는 marks the speaker as the topic. It commonly comes before a description of one’s state, as in “저는 아주 바빠요.”
기분이 “기분이” refers to one’s mood or feeling in “기분이 더 좋아요.” The ending 이 marks the mood or feeling as what is being described. A common reuse pattern is 기분이 + a description of the feeling; new example: “기분이 좋아요.”
더 “더” means “more” in “기분이 더 좋아요,” so the feeling is better than before. It is placed before the word describing the improved state. A common reuse pattern is 더 + a description, such as “더 필요해요” in this dialogue.
좋아요 “좋아요” means “is or feels good” here, and “기분이 더 좋아요” means that the speaker feels better. It is the polite form used to state a condition. The dictionary form is 좋다, and 좋아요 is its polite form here.
아주 “아주” means “very” in “저는 아주 바빠요.” It strengthens the description that follows, showing that the speaker is very busy. A reliable reuse pattern is 아주 + a descriptive word, as in 아주 바빠요.
바빠요 “바빠요” means “am busy” in “저는 아주 바빠요.” It is the polite form used to describe the speaker’s current state or schedule. The dictionary form is 바쁘다, and 바빠요 is its polite form here.
이제 “이제” means “now” or “at this point” in “저는 이제 준비됐어요.” It places the statement in the current time, indicating that the speaker is ready at this point. It commonly comes before a statement about what is true now.
준비됐어요 “준비됐어요” means “am ready” in “저는 이제 준비됐어요.” It describes reaching a state of readiness and is a polite expression. It can be reused in the exact pattern “이제 준비됐어요” when telling someone that preparation is complete now.
준비가 “준비가” refers to preparation or readiness in “준비가 안 됐어요.” The ending 가 marks readiness as what is being described; together with “안 됐어요,” the expression says that the speaker is not ready. A common reuse pattern is 준비가 + 됐어요 or 안 됐어요.
안 “안” means “not” in “준비가 안 됐어요.” It comes before “됐어요” to negate the state of being ready. A reliable reuse pattern is 안 + a verb or descriptive word when stating that something does not happen or is not the case.
됐어요 In “준비가 안 됐어요,” “됐어요” contributes the idea of being in a completed or established state, so the whole expression means “is not ready.” It is the polite form used in this statement about readiness. Its exact meaning here comes from the full expression “준비가 안 됐어요,” not from the word alone.
시간이 “시간이” means “time” as the thing that is needed in “시간이 더 필요해요.” The ending 이 marks time as what is being described as necessary. A common reuse pattern is 시간이 필요해요 when saying that time is needed.
필요해요 “필요해요” means “is needed” in “시간이 더 필요해요,” which naturally means “I need more time.” Korean presents the needed thing, “시간이 더,” as the subject of this expression. A reliable reuse pattern is a needed thing + 이/가 필요해요.
시간 “시간” means “time” in the question “시간 있어요?” Here it refers to available or free time rather than a particular clock time. It can be used directly before 있어요 when asking whether someone has time.
있어요 “있어요” means “have” or “be available” in “시간 있어요?” Korean uses this existence expression to ask whether someone has time available. The polite question pattern is “N 있어요?”; in this dialogue, “시간 있어요?” asks whether the listener has time.

Grammar Points

N이/가 + adjective/verb

기분이 더 좋아요.

gee-BOO-nee duh JOH-ah-yoh.

My mood feels better.

이/가 marks the subject of a sentence. Korean often uses it where English uses a possessive or a subject without an equivalent particle.

안 + verb/adjective

준비가 안 됐어요.

joon-BEE-gah ahn DWEH-ssuh-yoh.

I am not ready.

안 comes before a verb or adjective to make it negative. Here, 안 됐어요 means “is not ready.”

Korean Vocabulary

기분 noun
gee-BOON mood; feeling 기분이

저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

더 adv
duh more; better

저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

바빠요 adj
BAH-ppah-yoh be busy

저는 아주 바빠요.

시간 noun
shee-GAHN time 시간이

저는 시간이 더 필요해요.

아주 adv
ah-JOO very

저는 아주 바빠요.

이제 adv
ee-JEH now

저는 이제 준비됐어요.

있어요 verb
ee-SSUH-yoh have; there is

시간 있어요?

저 pron
juh I 저는

저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

좋아요 adj
joh-AH-yoh feel good; be good

저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

준비가 안 됐어요 phrase
joon-BEE-gah ahn DWEH-ssuh-yoh be not ready

저는 준비가 안 됐어요.

준비됐어요 verb
joon-BEE-dweh-ssuh-yoh be ready

저는 이제 준비됐어요.

필요해요 verb
peel-LYOH-heh-yoh need

저는 시간이 더 필요해요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am feeling better.

Show Answer저는 기분이 더 좋아요.

I am very busy.

Show Answer저는 아주 바빠요.

I am ready now.

Show Answer저는 이제 준비됐어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

be ready

Show Answer준비됐어요

need

Show Answer필요해요

time

Show Answer시간이

feel good; be good

Show Answer좋아요