이다 vs 있다: Understanding Korean 'To Be' Verbs

The Two Korean 'To Be' Verbs

Unlike English which has one 'to be' verb, Korean has two main verbs that translate to 'to be':

• 이다 - for identity/definition (equals)


• 있다 - for existence/location (exists)

이다 - "To Be" (Identity)

이다 tells us WHAT something IS - its identity, name, or definition.

Structure:


Noun + 이다

Conjugations:




Tense	After consonant	After vowel
Present (formal)	입니다	입니다
Present (polite)	이에요	예요
Present (casual)	이야	야
Past	이었어요	였어요

Examples:




저는 학생이에요. (I am a student.)
이것은 책이에요. (This is a book.)
그분은 선생님이세요. (He/She is a teacher. - honorific)
오늘은 월요일이에요. (Today is Monday.)

있다 - "To Be" (Existence/Location)

있다 tells us WHERE something IS or that something EXISTS.

Structure:


Location에 + Noun이/가 + 있다

Conjugations:




Tense	Form
Present (formal)	있습니다
Present (polite)	있어요
Present (casual)	있어
Past	있었어요

Examples:




책이 책상 위에 있어요. (The book is on the desk.)
카페에 친구가 있어요. (My friend is at the cafe.)
시간이 있어요? (Do you have time?)
돈이 없어요. (I don't have money.) - 없다 is the negative

Key Differences

이다	있다
Identifies WHAT	Shows WHERE/EXISTS
X = Y	X exists / X is at Y
No location particle	Uses 에 for location
학생이에요 (am a student)	학교에 있어요 (am at school)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using 있다 for identity


❌ 저는 학생 있어요.
✅ 저는 학생이에요. (I am a student.)

Mistake 2: Using 이다 for location


❌ 친구는 집이에요.
✅ 친구는 집에 있어요. (My friend is at home.)

Mistake 3: Confusing 있다 (to have) with 이다


❌ 저는 차이에요. (I am a car? ❌)
✅ 저는 차가 있어요. (I have a car. ✅)

Special Cases

Location + Existence




서울에 있어요. (I am in Seoul.) - Location

Identity Statement




서울은 한국의 수도예요. (Seoul is Korea's capital.) - Definition

Having Something




시간이 있어요. (I have time.) - Existence/possession
동생이 있어요. (I have a younger sibling.) - Existence

Practice Exercise

Fill in with 이다 or 있다:

1. 저는 미국 사람___. (이에요) - identity
2. 고양이가 방에 ___. (있어요) - location
3. 오늘은 금요일___. (이에요) - identity
4. 질문이 ___? (있어요) - existence (Do you have a question?)
5. 이것은 제 가방___. (이에요) - identity

Summary

• 이다 = What something IS (identity, equals)


• 있다 = Where something IS / Something EXISTS


• When in doubt: If you can use "equals" or "is called", use 이다


• If talking about location or possession, use 있다