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ibeon sueobeun jinanbeon sueopgwa biseushaeyo.

이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 비슷해요.ibeon sueobeun jinanbeon sueopgwa biseushaeyo.
This class is similar to the last class.
FromLesson 25inHardcore Korean
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Questions & Answers about ibeon sueobeun jinanbeon sueopgwa biseushaeyo.

What does the particle 은 do in 이번 수업은? How would it differ if I used 이?
  • 은/는 marks the topic: “As for this class…”. It frames what you’re talking about and can hint at contrast with other possibilities.
  • 이/가 marks the grammatical subject more neutrally or for focus.
  • Both are fine here:
    • 이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 비슷해요. (Topic; “As for this class, it’s similar…”)
    • 이번 수업이 지난번 수업과 비슷해요. (Subject; slightly more matter‑of‑fact emphasis on “this class”)
Why is 과 used after 지난번 수업 with 비슷해요?

With adjectives like 비슷하다 (“to be similar”), Korean typically links the comparison target with a connector like 와/과, (이)랑, or 하고:

  • A는 B와/과 비슷하다 = “A is similar to B.”
Does 과 mean “and” or “with/to” here?

Here 과 functions like “with/to” in the sense of “in comparison with.” It’s not listing two things; it’s marking the thing A is similar to:

  • 이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 비슷해요. = “This class is similar to last time’s class.”
When should I choose 와 vs 과 vs (이)랑 vs 하고?
  • 와/과: more formal/written. Use 과 after a consonant (수업과), 와 after a vowel (회의와).
  • (이)랑: casual/spoken. Use 이랑 after a consonant, 랑 after a vowel.
  • 하고: neutral spoken/written. All four work with 비슷하다:
  • 지난번 수업과/와 비슷해요.
  • 지난번 수업이랑/랑 비슷해요.
  • 지난번 수업하고 비슷해요.
Can I drop the repeated noun and say: 이번 수업은 지난번과 비슷해요?
Yes. 지난번 (“last time”) is understood to refer to the last class in this context, so dropping the second 수업 is natural.
What’s the difference between 지난번 수업, 지난 수업, and 저번 수업?
  • 지난번 수업: “the class from last time (the previous occasion).”
  • 지난 수업: “the previous class (the one before this one).”
  • 저번 수업: colloquial alternative to 지난번 수업 (very common in speech). In most classroom contexts, all three point to the immediately previous class.
What does 번 mean in 이번/지난번?

번 means “time/occurrence.”

  • 이번 = “this time,” 지난번 = “last time,” 다음번 = “next time.”
Why is it 비슷해요 and not something like 비슷이에요?

Because 비슷하다 is a descriptive verb/adjective, not a noun. The polite present is the 하다 → 해요 pattern:

  • Dictionary: 비슷하다
  • Polite present: 비슷해요 (“is similar”)
  • There’s no noun 비슷 that takes 이에요 here.
What are other useful forms of 비슷하다?
  • Attributive: 비슷한 (a similar …) — 예: 비슷한 내용
  • Past: 비슷했어요 / 비슷했습니다
  • Guess/future: 비슷할 거예요
  • Exclamatory: 비슷하네요
  • Negative: 비슷하지 않아요
How is the sentence pronounced naturally?
  • 이번 [이번]
  • 수업은 [수어븐] (the ㅂ links to the particle)
  • 지난번 [지난번]
  • 수업과 often [수업꽈] (tensification before 과 is common)
  • 비슷해요 typically [비스태요] (the ㅎ triggers assimilation so the ㅅ sounds like a [t] before 해요) Whole flow: [이번 수어븐 지난번 수업꽈 비스태요]
Can I use 같다 instead of 비슷하다?
  • 같다 means “to be the same/identical” or “to seem/feel like” (in patterns like -것 같다).
  • 비슷하다 means “to be similar (not identical).”
  • So:
    • 지난번 수업과 같아요. = “It’s the same as last time.”
    • 지난번 수업과 비슷해요. = “It’s similar to last time.” Avoid using 같다 if you mean “similar.”
Why not say 지난번 수업보다 비슷해요?

보다 marks “more … than” comparisons with gradable adjectives (e.g., 쉽다, 크다). 비슷하다 doesn’t fit a simple “more than X” without a third point of reference. Instead say:

  • 이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 비슷해요.
  • Or, with three items: A보다는 B와 더 비슷해요. (“Rather than A, it’s more similar to B.”)
Is 이번 수업이 지난번 수업과 비슷해요 also correct?
Yes. Using 이/가 makes “this class” the grammatical subject. The meaning is the same; the nuance shifts slightly from topical (은) to subject focus (이).
Why not 이번의 수업?

Korean usually doesn’t use 의 for simple “this/that” type attribution. 이번 acts like a determiner by itself:

  • Natural: 이번 수업
  • Stiff/unnatural in this context: 이번의 수업
Can I replace 과 with 에 (e.g., …에 비슷해요)?

No. 비슷하다 takes a connector like 와/과, (이)랑, or 하고, not 에:

  • ✅ 지난번 수업과 비슷해요.
  • ❌ 지난번 수업에 비슷해요.
How do I make the sentence more formal or more casual?
  • Formal: 이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 비슷합니다.
  • Casual: 이번 수업은 지난번 수업이랑 비슷해.
How can I intensify or hedge “similar”?
  • Intensify: 아주/매우/꽤/상당히 비슷해요.
  • Hedge/soften: 좀 비슷해요.
  • “Almost the same”: 거의 같아요.
What’s the opposite? How do I say it’s different from last time?
  • 이번 수업은 지난번 수업과 달라요. / …다릅니다.
  • You can also say 비슷하지 않아요, but 다르다 sounds more direct and natural for “different.”
Can I change the order to say both are similar to each other?

Yes:

  • 지난번 수업과 이번 수업은 비슷해요. = “Last time’s class and this class are similar.” (treats them symmetrically)
Is it okay to drop particles in casual speech?

Sometimes, yes, especially in spoken Korean:

  • 이번 수업 지난번 수업이랑 비슷해요. But for clarity and correctness (especially in writing or for learners), keep the particles:
  • 이번 수업은 지난번 수업이랑 비슷해요.

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