예요, 이에요, and 있어요

These three Korean endings (**예요 / 이에요 / 있어요**) look similar but have **different meanings and grammatical functions**. Let’s break them down clearly 👇

### 🌸 1. **이에요 / 예요 — “to be” (am, is, are)**

These are **copula endings** (like the English verb *to be*).

They attach to **nouns** to say what something *is*.

| Ending  | Used After              | Example | Meaning       |

| ------- | --------------------------- | ------- | ----------------- |

| **이에요** | A **consonant**-ending noun | 학생이에요.  | (I) am a student. |

| **예요**  | A **vowel**-ending noun | 고양이예요.   | (She) is a cat.  |

Ending

Used After

Example

Meaning

이에요

Noun ending in Consonant

학생이에요

(I) Am a strudent.

예요

Noun ending in Vowel

고양이예요

(She) is a cat.

🪄 Tip:

* Think of it as “= is/are/am.”

* No space before it — it attaches directly to the noun.

* The choice (이에요 vs. 예요) depends on the **final sound** of the noun.

📘 Example pairs:

* 저는 모델**이에요**. → I’m a model.

* 제 고양이**예요**. → She is my cat.

### 🌼 2. **있어요 — “there is / I have / to exist”**

This is the **verb 있다 (to exist, to have)** in polite form.

It shows *existence* or *possession*, not identification.

Usage

Example

Meaning

To show existence (there is/are)

사람이 있어요!

There is a person!

To show possession (have)

앵무새가 있어요.

(I) Have a parrot.

To show presence [in a certain place]

( SUBJECT am/is/are [in PLACE] )

강아지가 정원에 있어요.

The puppy is in the garden.

🪄 Opposite: **없어요** = there isn’t / I don’t have.

---

### 💡 Summary Chart

Function

Meaning in English

Structure

Example

이에요/ 예요

is / am / are

NOUN+이에요/예요

저는 작가예요.

( I’m a writer. )

있어요

have / there is/are

NOUN+이/가 있어요

책이 있어요.

( There is a book. / I have a book. )

---

### 🔍 Quick Comparison:

* ❌ 저는 작가 **있어요.** → ❌ wrong (mixing grammar)

* ✅ 저는 작가 **예요.** → ✅ I am a writer.

* ✅ 책이 **있어요.** → ✅ I have a book. / There is a book.