This Korean grammar list sorts 161 connector and sentence-ending patterns into beginner, intermediate and advanced lists, each mapped to a TOPIK level. Open the list that matches your level, name the first patterns to study, and follow each pattern to its own lesson.
What Is on the Korean Grammar List?
The Korean grammar list is a set of 161 patterns that attach to verbs and adjectives, sorted by the level at which learners usually meet them. A pattern here is an ending or a short phrase that adds a meaning, such as "and", "because", "when", "want to" or "I heard that".
Two kinds of pattern are listed. A connector joins two clauses, as in 저는 아침을 먹고 학교에 가요 ("I eat breakfast and go to school"). A sentence ending closes a sentence and adds a stance, such as a wish or a guess. The two kinds are taught on the site under Korean connectors and Korean sentence endings.
The sentence uses -고 to join two actions, and you can say 먹고 as [먹꼬]. The next section helps you choose a list.
Which Level List Should You Open?
Open the list that matches the exam level you are studying for. The table shows each list with its CEFR band, its TOPIK level, its pattern count and a starter trio of patterns.
| List | CEFR | TOPIK level | Patterns | Starter trio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | A1 to A2 | TOPIK I, levels 1 and 2 | 46 (A1 10, A2 36) | -고, -지만, -아/어서 |
| Intermediate | B1 | TOPIK II, levels 3 and 4 | 66 (B1) | -다가, -(으)ㄹ수록, -도록 |
| Advanced | B2 to C1 | TOPIK II, levels 5 and 6 | 49 (B2 43, C1 6) | -는 바람에, -(으)ㄴ/는 탓에, -(으)ㄹ망정 |
The beginner patterns appear in the reading and listening sections of TOPIK I. The intermediate and advanced patterns appear in the reading, listening and writing sections of TOPIK II, and writing questions 51 to 54 depend on them most. The level placement is an editorial estimate, so use it as a study plan.
Korean Grammar Lists by Level
Each level list below has its own page with every pattern, a short gloss and a link to the lesson. The three snippets give a taste of each one.
Beginner Grammar: 46 Patterns for TOPIK I
The beginner Korean grammar list covers the patterns you need for everyday sentences: joining actions with -고, giving reasons with -아/어서 and -(으)니까, saying when with -(으)ㄹ 때, wishes with -고 싶다, and requests with -아/어 주세요. It has 10 patterns at A1 and 36 at A2.
Intermediate Grammar: 66 Patterns for TOPIK 3-4
The intermediate Korean grammar list adds nuance: worry and thanks, discovery, wishes and plans, guesses, reactions, and the whole reported-speech set. A typical entry is -(으)며, as in 그는 음악을 들으며 책을 읽는다 ("He reads a book while listening to music").
Advanced Grammar: 49 Patterns for TOPIK 5-6
The advanced Korean grammar list maps 49 patterns to TOPIK II levels 5 and 6, with 43 patterns at B2 and 6 at C1. It groups them by meaning and adds a chooser table and a register guide. A typical entry is -는 바람에, for an unexpected event that caused a bad result.
The limit of these snippets: they describe each list, not each pattern. Open a level list for the full set.
How Do You Know When to Move up a Level?
Move up a level when you can use the first five patterns of your current list without looking them up. This is an editorial heuristic, and it is not an official test. A quick check: write one sentence with each of the five patterns, then say it aloud.
If you are unsure, test yourself with the grammar quizzes before you decide. A pair of look-alike patterns often explains a stall. For example, if -아/어서 and -(으)니까 feel the same, read -아/어서 vs -(으)니까, which gives a rule based on the sentence type. The wider set of look-alike pairs is in the Korean grammar comparisons hub, so each list can be paired with the comparisons that match its level.
What Is Not on These Lists?
These lists hold connectors and sentence endings only. Other topics have their own subhubs, so they are not duplicated here.
- Particles such as 은/는, 이/가 and 을/를: see Korean particles.
- Past, present and future: see Korean tenses.
- Politeness levels such as -요 and -습니다: see Korean speech levels.
- 안 and 못: see Korean negation.
- Describing words and adverbs: see Korean modifiers.
- Helper verbs such as -아/어 보다: see Korean auxiliary verbs.
To study by topic instead of level, go back to the Korean grammar hub. For lists built around exam sections, see the TOPIK grammar pages, which group patterns by test level.
Practise the Patterns on Each List
Practise each list with the matching resource, then check yourself.
- The Korean grammar flashcards review each list with examples.
- The grammar quizzes test your choices.
- The grammar worksheets give printable practice.
A short routine works well: review five patterns, write one sentence for each, and read one comparison page when two patterns feel alike. In short, this Korean grammar list gives you one place to choose your level and one path to each lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grammar patterns do I need for TOPIK I? No official count exists, so this site cannot give a required number. The beginner list holds 46 patterns at levels A1 and A2, mapped to TOPIK I (levels 1 and 2), and it is a sensible study set. Learning every pattern is not a pass mark; using the common ones correctly matters more.
Should I finish the beginner list before the intermediate list? Mostly yes. Intermediate patterns assume that you can already use the first beginner patterns, such as -고, -아/어서, -(으)면 and -(으)ㄹ 수 있다. Use the self-placement rule above: if you can use the first five patterns of a list without looking them up, move to the next list.
Why are particles not on the grammar list? The lists hold connectors and sentence endings only. Particles such as 은/는 and 이/가 are a separate system with their own subhub, and so are tenses, speech levels, negation, modifiers and auxiliary verbs. Keeping them apart avoids repeating the same lessons on two pages.
Is there an official TOPIK grammar list? This site does not rely on one. The official TOPIK site (topik.go.kr) publishes level descriptions, but the level placement used here is an editorial estimate based on common textbook order. Treat it as a study plan, not as an official list of tested patterns.
Where can I practise these patterns? Each list has matching practice: grammar flashcards by level, grammar quizzes and printable worksheets. The comparison pages help with look-alike pairs such as -아/어서 and -(으)니까. The practice section above links to each resource.