Learn Hardcore Korean: gonghangi neomu keoyo.

-이 is the subject marker added to nouns ending in a consonant. It tells us that 공항 (airport) is the subject of the sentence. If a noun ends in a vowel, you’d use -가 instead.

Why is 크다 changed to 커요?

크다 (to be big) is a 2nd-class adjective whose stem ends in ㅡ. When you add -아/어요, you drop the ㅡ and attach -어 (because the other vowel in the stem isn’t ㅏ or ㅗ), then -요. So: • 크다 – stem: 크
• 크 + 어요 → 커요

What does 너무 mean here—“too much” or “very”?

Originally 너무 means “too, excessively.” In colloquial Korean it often just intensifies an adjective as “very” or “really.” Context tells you if it’s a genuine complaint (“too big”) or simple emphasis (“very big”).

Why does the sentence end in -요?

Ending a verb or adjective with -요 makes the sentence informal polite. It’s how you speak politely to strangers, acquaintances, or people older than you without being overly formal.

Why is the word order 공항이 너무 커요 and not like English?

Korean generally follows Subject–Object–Verb (SOV). Adverbs (like 너무) and modifiers come before the verb/adjective. Since there’s no object here, it’s simply: Subject (공항이) + Adverb (너무) + Adjective (커요).

Can I say 공항은 너무 커요 instead of 공항이 너무 커요?

Yes, but the nuance changes. -은/는 marks a topic and often implies contrast or sets up information that’s already known.
• 공항이 너무 커요 – neutrally states “The airport is very big.”
• 공항은 너무 커요 – “As for the airport, it’s really big (perhaps compared to something else).”

Is it okay to drop the particle and say 공항 너무 커요?

In casual speech or texting, Koreans often omit particles when the meaning is clear. However, for learners it’s good practice to include -이/가 until you’re comfortable with context-based omissions.

How would I turn this into a question like “Is the airport big?”

You can simply raise your intonation at the end:
• 공항이 커요? – “Is the airport big?” (informal polite)
For a more formal question, you could say 공항이 큰가요?.