Your goal
Look at 가, 나, 다 and 라. Learn to connect each block to its sound. At the end, choose and read the same four cards in a different order.
Before you start
You do not need to know any Korean letters yet. First, match a shape. Which card below matches ㄱ?
The middle card, ㄱ, matches. You do not need its sound for this shape task. Now look at ㅏ: a long vertical line with a short line pointing to the right.
Explore the situation
Left
Right
ㄱ and ㅏ are separate letter parts. Put ㄱ on the left and ㅏ on the right. Fit them together inside one block: 가.
Look at 가. What is on the left? ㄱ. What is on the right? ㅏ.
Learn the key points
| Consonant | Vowel | Syllable | What to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | ㅏ | 가 | Find the corner that turns down on the right. |
| ㄴ | ㅏ | 나 | Find the corner that turns right at the bottom. |
| ㄷ | ㅏ | 다 | Compare it with ㄴ and notice the upper line. |
| ㄹ | ㅏ | 라 | Follow the changes in direction. |
Change the consonant on the left and the syllable changes. Keep the same vowel, ㅏ, on the right.
How to make the sound
Try each sound briefly. These are starting cues, not an automatic pronunciation judgement.
ㅏ
Lower your jaw comfortably. Open your mouth without rounding your lips; say 아 once.
나 · 다 · 라
For 나, touch the ridge behind your upper teeth and let sound pass through the nose. For 다, close then release there. For 라, tap the ridge briefly.
가
Briefly close the airflow with the back of your tongue, then release into ㅏ. Do not say an English letter name.
Listen and read
Look at 가, 나, 다 and 라. Listen and read one syllable at a time. Each Listen button plays that syllable.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
Choose one consonant. Combine it with ㅏ. Look at the completed block and read it. Choose another consonant and try again.
Change the letters and build a syllable
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
On paper, draw four large boxes. Write 가, 나, 다 and 라, one block in each box. Compare your writing with the cards. Did you include the consonant on the left?
Practice
Now try with less help. Choose an answer. Read each completed syllable aloud when you are ready.
1. Combine ㄱ and ㅏ. Which syllable do they make?
- 나
- 가
- 라
2. Which consonant is on the left of 나?
- ㄴ
- ㄷ
- ㄱ
3. Combine ㄷ and ㅏ. Which syllable do they make?
- 라
- 나
- 다
4. Choose the consonant for 라.
- ㄱ
- ㄹ
- ㄴ
Try a new situation
The cards are now in a different order. Look at each shape; do not use its old position to guess.
Tasks
Read the text and practise saying it aloud.
First order
- 라 → 라
- 가 → 가
- 나 → 나
- 다 → 다
Review order
- 다 → 다
- 나 → 나
- 라 → 라
- 가 → 가
Check your learning
These six questions check shapes and combinations. Their score does not measure listening or pronunciation.
1. Combine ㄴ and ㅏ.
- 다
- 나
- 가
2. Find the consonant in 가.
- ㄷ
- ㄱ
- ㄴ
3. Combine ㄹ and ㅏ.
- 가
- 다
- 라
4. Where is ㅏ in 가, 나, 다 and 라?
- Below the consonant
- To the right of the consonant
- To the left of the consonant
5. Choose one combined syllable.
- ㄴ
- ㅏ
- 나
6. Choose the consonant for 다.
- ㄹ
- ㄷ
- ㄱ
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. Combine ㄱ and ㅏ. Which syllable do they make?
Answer: 가
Put ㄱ on the left and ㅏ on the right to make 가.
- 나 — 나 contains ㄴ: ㄴ + ㅏ = 나.
- 라 — 라 contains ㄹ: ㄹ + ㅏ = 라.
2. Which consonant is on the left of 나?
Answer: ㄴ
The consonant on the left of 나 is ㄴ.
- ㄷ — ㄷ is a consonant letter. ㄷ + ㅏ makes 다.
- ㄱ — ㄱ is a consonant letter. ㄱ + ㅏ makes 가.
3. Combine ㄷ and ㅏ. Which syllable do they make?
Answer: 다
ㄷ + ㅏ makes 다 inside one block.
- 라 — 라 contains ㄹ: ㄹ + ㅏ = 라.
- 나 — 나 contains ㄴ: ㄴ + ㅏ = 나.
4. Choose the consonant for 라.
Answer: ㄹ
The consonant on the left of 라 is ㄹ.
- ㄱ — ㄱ is a consonant letter. ㄱ + ㅏ makes 가.
- ㄴ — ㄴ is a consonant letter. ㄴ + ㅏ makes 나.
Learning check
1. Combine ㄴ and ㅏ.
Answer: 나
ㄴ + ㅏ = 나.
- 다 — 다 contains ㄷ: ㄷ + ㅏ = 다.
- 가 — 가 contains ㄱ: ㄱ + ㅏ = 가.
2. Find the consonant in 가.
Answer: ㄱ
In 가, ㄱ is to the left of ㅏ.
- ㄷ — ㄷ is a consonant letter. ㄷ + ㅏ makes 다.
- ㄴ — ㄴ is a consonant letter. ㄴ + ㅏ makes 나.
3. Combine ㄹ and ㅏ.
Answer: 라
ㄹ + ㅏ = 라.
- 가 — 가 contains ㄱ: ㄱ + ㅏ = 가.
- 다 — 다 contains ㄷ: ㄷ + ㅏ = 다.
4. Where is ㅏ in 가, 나, 다 and 라?
Answer: To the right of the consonant
In the blocks taught in this lesson, ㅏ goes to the right of the consonant.
- Below the consonant — With ㅏ in these examples, the vowel is on the right, not below.
- To the left of the consonant — The consonant is on the left in these examples; ㅏ is on the right.
5. Choose one combined syllable.
Answer: 나
나 is a completed syllable block made from ㄴ and ㅏ.
- ㄴ — ㄴ is a consonant letter. ㄴ + ㅏ makes 나.
- ㅏ — ㅏ is a vowel letter, not a completed syllable block.
6. Choose the consonant for 다.
Answer: ㄷ
다 = ㄷ + ㅏ.
- ㄹ — ㄹ is a consonant letter. ㄹ + ㅏ makes 라.
- ㄱ — ㄱ is a consonant letter. ㄱ + ㅏ makes 가.
Task transcripts
Opening these transcripts marks this lesson’s sound-and-card tasks as supported practice.
Model order
가 · 나 · 다 · 라
First order
라 · 가 · 나 · 다
Alternate order
다 · 나 · 라 · 가
Review and continue
Come back to these
After this lesson
Hide the 가 · 나 · 다 · 라 cards. Write the blocks you remember, one per box. Show the cards and compare.
Recall one item
In 나 = □ + ㅏ, recall the missing consonant.
Change the order
Arrange and read 라 · 다 · 가 · 나.
Check again
Read 다 · 나 · 라 · 가 and find ㅏ in each block.
Review what felt difficult
I mix up ㄱ and ㄴ.Compare the direction of each corner. →I know the letters but cannot build the blocks.Combine one consonant at a time with ㅏ. →I cannot match the sounds yet.Listen to the model again and practice one syllable at a time. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.