jeoneun doni isseoyo.

I have money.

Breakdown of jeoneun doni isseoyo.

• ~이: subject particle
• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 있다: to have
• 돈: money

Questions & Answers about jeoneun doni isseoyo.

Why are there two particles in 저는 돈이 있어요?

In Korean you often mark the topic of the sentence and the subject separately. 저는 uses the topic particle -는, so it means “as for me.” 돈이 uses the subject particle -이, meaning “money” is the subject of the verb 있어요 (“there is” / “have”). Literally it’s “As for me, money exists.”

Why do we use 이/가 on 돈 instead of the object markers 을/를?

The verb 있다 is intransitive—it expresses existence or possession by stating that something “exists.” The thing that exists takes the subject markers -이/가, not the object markers -을/를. If you used a transitive verb like 가지다 (“to hold/possess”), then 돈을 가지고 있어요 would use -을.

Why is 저 used instead of 나 for “I” in this sentence?

나 is the informal “I.” When you speak politely (using -요 endings), you should use the humble pronoun 저. So in polite conversation you say 저는, not 나는.

Can I drop 저는 or even 돈이 in casual speech?

Yes. Korean often omits topics and subjects when they’re clear from context. Casual forms include:

• 돈이 있어요 (“Money exists,” implying “I have money.”)
• 돈 있어요? or 돈 있어? (even more casual / dropping both the particle -이 and the -요 ending)

How do I say “I don’t have money”?

Use the negative of 있다, which is 없다. In polite speech: 저는 돈이 없어요. You could also drop 저는 and say 돈이 없어요.

What level of politeness is 있어요, and when would I use 있습니다 instead?

있어요 is the polite informal (or “standard polite”) form—you’d use it in everyday conversation with strangers or coworkers. 있습니다 is the formal polite form, appropriate in announcements, business settings, or when you need to be extra respectful.

How do I turn 저는 돈이 있어요 into a question: “Do you have money?”

Simply raise your intonation or add a question mark:

• 돈이 있어요? (polite)
• 돈 있어요? (more casual—dropping -이)

How would I talk about having had money or having money in the future?

Use the past and future tense of 있다:

• Past: 저는 돈이 있었어요 (“I had money.”)
• Future: 저는 돈이 있을 거예요 (“I will have money.””)