Your goal
Items in the same room can be in different positions. Imagine the other person cannot see your picture: name the reference object too.
Before you start
- 책상
- desk
- 의자
- chair
- 상자
- box
After 교실에 있어요, be more precise with 책상 위에 있어요.
Explore the situation
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
book: above / on desk
Start with height. 위 and 아래 describe a vertical relationship. For 앞 and 뒤, use the marked front direction instead.
Learn the expressions
- 위
- above / on top of
- 아래
- below / under
- 옆
- beside / next to
- 앞
- in front of the reference object
- 뒤
- behind the reference object
| Reference | Position | Complete expression |
|---|---|---|
| 책상 | 위 | 책상 위에 있어요. |
| 의자 | 아래 | 의자 아래에 있어요. |
| 상자 | 옆 | 상자 옆에 있어요. |
| 책상 | 앞 | 책상 앞에 있어요. |
| 책상 | 뒤 | 책상 뒤에 있어요. |
Read the conversation
Find the book
책이 어디에 있어요?
Show meaning
Where is the book?
책상 위에 있어요.
Show meaning
It is on the desk.
Find the bag
가방이 어디에 있어요?
Show meaning
Where is the bag?
의자 아래에 있어요.
Show meaning
It is under the chair.
Build a sentence
Change the position below and check the example sentence. Then use the pieces to build your own.
Change the position and describe it
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
book: above / on desk
Example and explanation
책이 책상 위에 있어요.
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
book: below / under desk
Example and explanation
책이 책상 아래에 있어요.
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
book: beside desk
Example and explanation
책이 책상 옆에 있어요.
Top view · check the front
↓ Front of the desk
Text description of the scene
book: in front desk
Example and explanation
책이 책상 앞에 있어요.
Top view · check the front
↓ Front of the desk
Text description of the scene
book: behind desk
Example and explanation
책이 책상 뒤에 있어요.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Say the position on the desk.
Sentence pieces
- 위
- 책상
- 있어요.
- 에
2. Say the position beside the box.
Sentence pieces
- 에
- 옆
- 상자
- 있어요.
Practice
Choose the Korean expression that fits the situation.
1. The book rests on the upper surface of the desk. Choose the matching description.
- 책상 위에 있어요.
- 책상 아래에 있어요.
- 책상 옆에 있어요.
2. The bag is beneath the chair’s seat. Choose the matching description.
- 의자 위에 있어요.
- 의자 옆에 있어요.
- 의자 아래에 있어요.
3. The phone is on the floor next to the box. Choose the matching description.
- 상자 아래에 있어요.
- 상자 옆에 있어요.
- 상자 위에 있어요.
4. The umbrella is on the desk’s marked front side. Choose the matching description.
- 책상 앞에 있어요.
- 책상 위에 있어요.
- 책상 아래에 있어요.
Try a new situation
Describe the item to someone who cannot see your view. Include what it is above, below or beside. For front and behind, check the front arrow first.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 책, including the reference object.
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
book: above / on desk
책이 어디에 있어요?
Show a hint
Reference object + position + 에 있어요. Leave a space as in 책상 위에.
2. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 가방, including the reference object.
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
bag: below / under chair
가방이 어디에 있어요?
Show a hint
Reference object + position + 에 있어요. Leave a space as in 책상 위에.
3. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 휴대전화, including the reference object.
Side view · compare height
Text description of the scene
phone: beside box
휴대전화가 어디에 있어요?
Show a hint
Reference object + position + 에 있어요. Leave a space as in 책상 위에.
4. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 우산, including the reference object.
Top view · check the front
↓ Front of the desk
Text description of the scene
umbrella: in front desk
우산이 어디에 있어요?
Show a hint
Reference object + position + 에 있어요. Leave a space as in 책상 위에.
5. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 연필, including the reference object.
Top view · check the front
↓ Front of the desk
Text description of the scene
pencil: behind desk
연필이 어디에 있어요?
Show a hint
Reference object + position + 에 있어요. Leave a space as in 책상 위에.
Check your learning
Try without the example. Check both the information and the expression.
1. The pencil is on the side opposite the desk’s marked front. Choose the matching description.
- 책상 위에 있어요.
- 책상 아래에 있어요.
- 책상 뒤에 있어요.
2. Which correctly spaces the description of an item beside a box?
- 상자 옆 에있어요.
- 상자 옆에 있어요.
- 상자옆 에 있어요.
3. The listener cannot see the room. Which precisely locates the bag under the desk?
- 가방이 책상 아래에 있어요.
- 가방이 있어요.
- 가방이에요.
4. The book is on the desk; the bag is under the chair. Where is the book?
- 의자 아래에 있어요.
- 책상 뒤에 있어요.
- 책상 위에 있어요.
5. The desk’s front arrow points down the plan. An item is opposite the arrow. Which position is it?
- 책상 위에 있어요.
- 책상 뒤에 있어요.
- 책상 앞에 있어요.
6. An item moved from on top of the box to beside it. State the new location.
- 상자 옆에 있어요.
- 상자 위에 있어요.
- 상자 아래에 있어요.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. The book rests on the upper surface of the desk. Choose the matching description.
Answer: 책상 위에 있어요.
State the reference 책상 and the position 위.
- 책상 아래에 있어요. — “책상 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 위.
- 책상 옆에 있어요. — “책상 옆에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 위.
2. The bag is beneath the chair’s seat. Choose the matching description.
Answer: 의자 아래에 있어요.
State the reference 의자 and the position 아래.
- 의자 위에 있어요. — “의자 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 의자 and the position 아래.
- 의자 옆에 있어요. — “의자 옆에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 의자 and the position 아래.
3. The phone is on the floor next to the box. Choose the matching description.
Answer: 상자 옆에 있어요.
State the reference 상자 and the position 옆.
- 상자 아래에 있어요. — “상자 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 상자 and the position 옆.
- 상자 위에 있어요. — “상자 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 상자 and the position 옆.
4. The umbrella is on the desk’s marked front side. Choose the matching description.
Answer: 책상 앞에 있어요.
State the reference 책상 and the position 앞.
- 책상 위에 있어요. — “책상 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 앞.
- 책상 아래에 있어요. — “책상 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 앞.
Learning check
1. The pencil is on the side opposite the desk’s marked front. Choose the matching description.
Answer: 책상 뒤에 있어요.
State the reference 책상 and the position 뒤.
- 책상 위에 있어요. — “책상 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 뒤.
- 책상 아래에 있어요. — “책상 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. State the reference 책상 and the position 뒤.
2. Which correctly spaces the description of an item beside a box?
Answer: 상자 옆에 있어요.
Separate 상자 and 옆 and attach 에 to 옆.
- 상자 옆 에있어요. — “상자 옆 에있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. Separate 상자 and 옆 and attach 에 to 옆.
- 상자옆 에 있어요. — “상자옆 에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. Separate 상자 and 옆 and attach 에 to 옆.
3. The listener cannot see the room. Which precisely locates the bag under the desk?
Answer: 가방이 책상 아래에 있어요.
It supplies the item, reference desk and position below.
- 가방이 있어요. — “가방이 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. It supplies the item, reference desk and position below.
- 가방이에요. — “가방이에요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. It supplies the item, reference desk and position below.
4. The book is on the desk; the bag is under the chair. Where is the book?
Answer: 책상 위에 있어요.
The question is about the book, not the bag.
- 의자 아래에 있어요. — “의자 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The question is about the book, not the bag.
- 책상 뒤에 있어요. — “책상 뒤에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The question is about the book, not the bag.
5. The desk’s front arrow points down the plan. An item is opposite the arrow. Which position is it?
Answer: 책상 뒤에 있어요.
The top of a plan is not physical height. Opposite the marked front is 뒤.
- 책상 위에 있어요. — “책상 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The top of a plan is not physical height. Opposite the marked front is 뒤.
- 책상 앞에 있어요. — “책상 앞에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The top of a plan is not physical height. Opposite the marked front is 뒤.
6. An item moved from on top of the box to beside it. State the new location.
Answer: 상자 옆에 있어요.
The new position is beside, 옆.
- 상자 위에 있어요. — “상자 위에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The new position is beside, 옆.
- 상자 아래에 있어요. — “상자 아래에 있어요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The new position is beside, 옆.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 책, including the reference object.
책이 어디에 있어요?
책상 위에 있어요.
책이 책상 위에 있어요.
책은 책상 위에 있어요.
The reference is 책상 and the position is 위. Say 책상 위에 together.
2. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 가방, including the reference object.
가방이 어디에 있어요?
의자 아래에 있어요.
가방이 의자 아래에 있어요.
가방은 의자 아래에 있어요.
The reference is 의자 and the position is 아래. Say 의자 아래에 together.
3. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 휴대전화, including the reference object.
휴대전화가 어디에 있어요?
상자 옆에 있어요.
휴대전화가 상자 옆에 있어요.
휴대전화는 상자 옆에 있어요.
The reference is 상자 and the position is 옆. Say 상자 옆에 together.
4. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 우산, including the reference object.
우산이 어디에 있어요?
책상 앞에 있어요.
우산이 책상 앞에 있어요.
우산은 책상 앞에 있어요.
The reference is 책상 and the position is 앞. Say 책상 앞에 together.
5. The listener cannot see your picture. Describe 연필, including the reference object.
연필이 어디에 있어요?
책상 뒤에 있어요.
연필이 책상 뒤에 있어요.
연필은 책상 뒤에 있어요.
The reference is 책상 and the position is 뒤. Say 책상 뒤에 together.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Say the position on the desk.
책상 위에 있어요.
Separate the reference object from 위에.
2. Say the position beside the box.
상자 옆에 있어요.
상자 is the reference, 옆 the position.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall without the example
Move the same item and describe it using reference + position.
Change one detail
Change an item, person or place and make the sentence again.
Review what felt difficult
I confused above with behind.Check height separately from the front direction. →Completion and independent use are different checks. Start your review with a difficult expression.