Breakdown of geu badasga geuncheo-e masissneun sikdangi isseoyo.
~에~e
destination particle
~이~i
subject particle
있다issda
to have
식당sikdang
restaurant
그geu
that
근처geuncheo
vicinity
바닷가badasga
beach
맛있다masissda
tasty
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about geu badasga geuncheo-e masissneun sikdangi isseoyo.
What does 그 mean in this sentence, and why is 그 used instead of 저 or 이?
그 is a demonstrative meaning “that,” used for something known or previously mentioned (often near the listener).
- 이 (“this”) refers to something near the speaker.
- 저 (“that over there”) refers to something far from both speaker and listener.
So 그 바닷가 means “that beach” you and I know about, not necessarily one that’s right next to us.
Why is -에 attached to 근처, and what does 바닷가 근처에 mean?
근처 means “vicinity” or “nearby area,” and the particle -에 marks a location (“at/near”).
- 바닷가 근처에 literally means “at/near the beach’s vicinity,” i.e. “near the beach.”
How does 맛있는 modify 식당, and how is this adjective form created from 맛있다?
맛있는 is the attributive (pre-noun) form of the descriptive verb 맛있다 (“to be delicious”). To turn a present-tense adjective/verb into a noun modifier, drop -다 and add -는:
- 맛있다 → 맛있는 식당 (“a delicious restaurant”)
What is the function of 식당이 있어요 here; why do we use 있다?
In Korean, 있다 is used to express existence (“there is/are”). You mark the thing that exists with the subject particle 이/가.
- 식당이 있어요 = “A restaurant exists,” i.e. “There is a restaurant.”
Could we use the topic marker 은/는 instead of the subject marker 이/가 on 식당, and what nuance would change?
Yes.
- 식당이 있어요 is a neutral way to state existence.
- 식당은 있어요 puts a slight contrast or emphasis on “restaurants as for them,” as if you’re saying, “At least there is a restaurant (though maybe something else is lacking).”
What level of politeness is conveyed by 있어요, and what are some alternative forms?
있어요 is the polite (informal polite) form used in everyday conversation with strangers or adults you’re not very close to.
- Formal polite: 있습니다
- Casual/familiar: 있어
Why is the word order 그 바닷가 근처에 → 맛있는 식당이 → 있어요, instead of following English order?
Korean follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) pattern and often places time/place phrases first. Here:
- 그 바닷가 근처에 (location)
- 맛있는 식당이 (subject + modifier)
- 있어요 (verb/existential)
This order emphasizes “where” something exists before naming “what” exists.