Korean 있다 and 없다 Grammar: How to Say “There Is” and “I Have” in Korean

Korean Grammar Lesson

Korean 있다 vs 없다 Grammar: How to Say “There Is” and “I Have”

Learn how Korean uses 있다 and 없다 to express existence, location, possession, and absence in clear everyday sentences.

있다 ↔ 없다 to exist or have ↔ to not exist or not have

Lesson contents What You’ll Learn Vocabulary Grammar Visual Explanation Comparison Examples Common Mistakes Practice Quiz Summary

Two of the most useful Korean verbs for beginners are 있다 and 없다. You can use them to say that something exists, that someone is at a location, that you have something, or that something is missing.

English normally separates “to be somewhere,” “there is,” and “to have.” Korean often expresses all three ideas through the same basic verb: 있다. Its opposite is 없다.

What You’ll Learn

MeaningUnderstand the two main meanings of 있다 and 없다.

Sentence patternsBuild location and possession sentences with the correct particles.

ConjugationUse polite, formal, casual, and past-tense forms naturally.

HonorificsKnow when to use 계시다 and 있으시다.

Core Vocabulary

있다itda
to exist, to be located, to have

없다eopda
to not exist, to be absent, to not have

에e
location particle used with existence

이/가i/ga
subject marker for the thing that exists

계시다gyesida
honorific “to be present”

있으시다isseusida
honorific “to have”

Grammar: The Two Main Uses

1. Existence or location: “There is” or “to be somewhere”

Use 있다 when a person or thing exists or is present at a location. Use 없다 when the person or thing is not there.

[Place + 에] + [Person or thing + 이/가] + 있어요 / 없어요

고양이가 의자에 있어요.
Goyangiga uija-e isseoyo.

The cat is on the chair.

선생님이 교실에 없어요.
Seonsaengnimi gyosil-e eopseoyo.

The teacher is not in the classroom.

2. Possession: “to have” or “to not have”

Korean often expresses possession as existence. The thing you possess is marked with 이/가 and literally “exists” in relation to you.

[Possessor + 은/는] + [Possessed item + 이/가] + 있어요 / 없어요

저는 시간이 있어요.
Jeoneun sigani isseoyo.

I have time. Literally: “As for me, time exists.”

민수는 차가 없어요.
Minsuneun chaga eopseoyo.

Minsu does not have a car.

Core rule:
있다 means that someone or something exists, is present, or is possessed.
없다 means that someone or something does not exist, is absent, or is not possessed.

Common conjugations

Speech level or tense	있다	없다
Formal polite	있습니다	없습니다
Everyday polite	있어요	없어요
Casual	있어	없어
Past polite	있었어요	없었어요
Future or probability	있을 거예요	없을 거예요

Visual Explanation

책이 있어요 A book is present.
I have a book.

↔

책이 없어요 A book is not present.
I do not have a book.

The English translation changes with context, but the Korean structure stays consistent: the noun marked by 이/가 either exists or does not exist.

Important Comparisons

있다 vs 이다

Grammar	Main function	Example
이다	Identity or classification	저는 학생이에요. I am a student.
있다	Existence, location, or possession	저는 학교에 있어요. I am at school.

에 vs 에서

Particle	Use	Example
에	Where someone or something exists	친구가 카페에 있어요. My friend is at the café.
에서	Where an action happens	친구가 카페에서 공부해요. My friend studies at the café.

계시다 vs 있으시다

Both forms are honorific, but they are used for different meanings.

계시다: respected person is present 할머니께서 집에 계세요.
Grandmother is at home.

있으시다: respected person has something 교수님은 질문이 있으세요.
The professor has a question.

Everyday Examples

한국 친구가 있어요.
Hanguk chinguga isseoyo.

I have a Korean friend.

지금 시간이 없어요.
Jigeum sigani eopseoyo.

I do not have time right now.

화장실이 어디에 있어요?
Hwajangsiri eodie isseoyo?

Where is the restroom?

냉장고에 우유가 없어요.
Naengjanggo-e uyuga eopseoyo.

There is no milk in the refrigerator.

어제는 집에 없었어요.
Eojeneun jibe eopseosseoyo.

I was not at home yesterday.

내일 회의가 있을 거예요.
Naeil hoeuiga isseul geoyeyo.

There will be a meeting tomorrow.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using 에서 with an existence verb

친구가 학교에서 있어요.

친구가 학교에 있어요. — My friend is at school.

Mistake 2: Using 안 있다 instead of 없다

돈이 안 있어요.

돈이 없어요. — I do not have money.

Mistake 3: Using 계시다 for possession

교수님은 질문이 계세요.

교수님은 질문이 있으세요. — The professor has a question.

Mistake 4: Translating word for word from English

Do not search for a separate Korean verb every time English uses “there is,” “to be located,” or “to have.” Check whether 있다 or 없다 expresses the idea naturally.

Practice

A. Complete each sentence with 있어요 or 없어요.

1. 가방에 책이 ________.
2. 오늘은 시간이 ________.
3. 우리 동네에 지하철역이 ________.
4. 냉장고에 계란이 ________.

B. Choose 에 or 에서.

1. 선생님이 교실___ 계세요.
2. 학생들이 도서관___ 공부해요.
3. 휴대폰이 책상 위___ 있어요.
4. 친구가 식당___ 밥을 먹어요.

C. Translate into Korean.

1. I have a question.
2. There is no bank near my house.
3. My grandfather is at home.
4. I did not have time yesterday.

Show practice answers

A. 1. 있어요 2. 없어요 3. 있어요 4. 없어요

B. 1. 에 2. 에서 3. 에 4. 에서

C. 1. 질문이 있어요. 2. 집 근처에 은행이 없어요. 3. 할아버지께서 집에 계세요. 4. 어제는 시간이 없었어요.

Quiz

1. Which sentence means “I have a question”?

1. 질문이 없어요.
2. 질문이 있어요.
3. 질문에 있어요.

2. Which particle normally marks a location with 있다?

1. 을/를
2. 에서
3. 에

3. Which sentence correctly says “Grandmother is at home”?

1. 할머니께서 집에 계세요.
2. 할머니께서 집에 있으세요.
3. 할머니가 집에서 계세요.

4. What is the polite past form of 없다?

1. 없습니다
2. 없었어요
3. 없을 거예요

5. Which sentence correctly says “My friend studies at the library”?

1. 친구가 도서관에 공부해요.
2. 친구가 도서관에서 공부해요.
3. 친구가 도서관이 공부해요.

Show quiz answers

1. B — 질문이 있어요.

2. C — Existence and location use 에.

3. A — Use 계시다 for the respected person’s location.

4. B — 없었어요.

5. B — An action takes place at the library, so use 에서.

Lesson Summary

Remember these four points

• 있다 expresses existence, location, or possession.
• 없다 expresses non-existence, absence, or lack of possession.
• Use 에 for the location where someone or something exists.
• Use 계시다 for a respected person’s presence and 있으시다 for respectful possession.

Related Lessons

Return to the Korean Learning Hub

Korean 에 vs 에서: Location Particles Explained

Korean 이/가: Subject Particles Explained

Korean 을/를: Object Particles Explained