Your goal
Keep ㄱ in 가 and change ㅏ. You get 거, 고 and 구. At the end, read eight syllables in two groups: one with ㄱ and one with ㄴ.
Before you start
Remember 가 = ㄱ + ㅏ. In 나 = □ + ㅏ, which consonant goes in the box?
Left, right, above and below describe the shapes and positions. You are not being tested on the Korean spelling of these instruction words.
Explore the situation
Left
Right
Left
Right
In ㅏ, the short line points right from the long vertical line. In ㅓ, it points left. Both vowel letters go to the right of the consonant.
Learn the key points
| Vowel | Short line | Vowel position | Combination |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅏ | Right | To the right of the consonant | ㄱ + ㅏ = 가 |
| ㅓ | Left | To the right of the consonant | ㄱ + ㅓ = 거 |
| ㅗ | Above | Below the consonant | ㄱ + ㅗ = 고 |
| ㅜ | Below | Below the consonant | ㄱ + ㅜ = 구 |
Above
Below
Above
Below
ㅗ and ㅜ have a long horizontal line. Place these vowels below the consonant. Fit both letters into one block, not two separate boxes.
How to make the sound
Try each sound briefly. These are starting cues, not an automatic pronunciation judgement.
아 · 어
Open wider for 아. For 어, keep the lips unrounded and try a slightly smaller opening. Each is one steady vowel, not two sounds.
오 · 우
Round your lips for both. For 우, raise the tongue and try a smaller lip opening. Notice the lip change from 어 to 오.
Listen and read
Compare 가 with 거, then 고 with 구. Look at the cards and read one syllable at a time.
Compare the sounds
Try it with help
Select ㄱ, then try ㅏ → ㅓ → ㅗ → ㅜ. Notice when the layout changes from side by side to top and bottom.
Examples by condition
| Consonant | Vowel | Final consonant | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | ㅏ | None | 가 |
| ㄱ | ㅓ | None | 거 |
| ㄱ | ㅗ | None | 고 |
| ㄱ | ㅜ | None | 구 |
| ㄴ | ㅏ | None | 나 |
| ㄴ | ㅓ | None | 너 |
| ㄴ | ㅗ | None | 노 |
| ㄴ | ㅜ | None | 누 |
Now choose ㄴ and build 나, 너, 노 and 누. Its shape may look slightly different with another vowel or font, but it is still the same consonant ㄴ.
Practice
Check the direction of the short line separately from the vowel's position. After choosing an answer, read the completed syllable aloud.
1. ㄱ + ㅓ = ?
- 고
- 거
- 가
2. Where does the short line in ㅜ point from the long horizontal line?
- Above
- Right
- Below
3. ㄴ + ㅗ = ?
- 노
- 너
- 누
4. In 거, where is the vowel ㅓ relative to ㄱ?
- Below
- Left
- Right
Try a new situation
This order differs from the model. Read four syllables with ㄱ, then four with ㄴ. Within each group, the consonant stays the same while the vowel changes.
Tasks
Read the text and practise saying it aloud.
First order
- 거 → 거
- 구 → 구
- 가 → 가
- 고 → 고
- 누 → 누
- 나 → 나
- 노 → 노
- 너 → 너
Review order
- 구 → 구
- 고 → 고
- 거 → 거
- 가 → 가
- 너 → 너
- 노 → 노
- 나 → 나
- 누 → 누
Check your learning
These six questions check direction and syllable construction. Listening and reading aloud are considered separately in your reflection.
1. ㄱ + ㅜ = ?
- 구
- 고
- 거
2. Change only the vowel in 나 to ㅓ. What do you get?
- 누
- 노
- 너
3. Choose the vowel in 고.
- ㅜ
- ㅗ
- ㅓ
4. Which side of the long vertical line has the short line in ㅓ?
- Left
- Right
- Below
5. In 구, where is ㄱ relative to ㅜ?
- Right
- Below
- Above
6. ㄴ + ㅏ = ?
- 너
- 나
- 노
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. ㄱ + ㅓ = ?
Answer: 거
Put ㅓ to the right of ㄱ to make 거.
- 고 — 고 uses ㅗ below the consonant.
- 가 — 가 combines ㄱ and ㅏ.
2. Where does the short line in ㅜ point from the long horizontal line?
Answer: Below
In ㅜ, the short line points down.
- Above — A short line pointing up makes ㅗ.
- Right — Compare up and down for ㅜ. A right-pointing short line occurs in ㅏ.
3. ㄴ + ㅗ = ?
Answer: 노
Put ㄴ above ㅗ inside one block to make 노.
- 너 — 너 has ㅓ to the right of ㄴ.
- 누 — 누 uses the vowel ㅜ.
4. In 거, where is the vowel ㅓ relative to ㄱ?
Answer: Right
ㅓ goes to the right of ㄱ. Its short line points in a different direction from the vowel's position.
- Below — The vowels placed below in this lesson are ㅗ and ㅜ.
- Left — Its short line points left, but the whole vowel ㅓ is placed to the right of ㄱ.
Learning check
1. ㄱ + ㅜ = ?
Answer: 구
Place ㅜ below ㄱ to make 구.
- 고 — 고 contains ㅗ.
- 거 — 거 contains ㅓ on the right.
2. Change only the vowel in 나 to ㅓ. What do you get?
Answer: 너
Keep ㄴ and change ㅏ to ㅓ to make 너.
- 누 — 누 uses ㅜ.
- 노 — 노 uses ㅗ.
3. Choose the vowel in 고.
Answer: ㅗ
고 = ㄱ + ㅗ.
- ㅜ — ㅜ would make 구.
- ㅓ — ㅓ would make 거.
4. Which side of the long vertical line has the short line in ㅓ?
Answer: Left
In ㅓ, the short line is on the left.
- Right — A short line on the right makes ㅏ.
- Below — For ㅓ, compare the left and right sides of the vertical line.
5. In 구, where is ㄱ relative to ㅜ?
Answer: Above
Put ㅜ below and ㄱ above.
- Right — This combination is not arranged side by side.
- Below — The lower position belongs to ㅜ.
6. ㄴ + ㅏ = ?
Answer: 나
Combine ㄴ and ㅏ in one block to make 나, as in the previous unit.
- 너 — 너 contains ㅓ.
- 노 — 노 contains ㅗ.
Task transcripts
Opening these transcripts marks this lesson’s sound-and-card tasks as supported practice.
Model order
가 · 거 · 고 · 구
First order
거 · 구 · 가 · 고 · 누 · 나 · 노 · 너
Alternate order
구 · 고 · 거 · 가 · 너 · 노 · 나 · 누
Review and continue
Come back to these
Later today
Write one confusing pair, ㅏ/ㅓ or ㅗ/ㅜ, and read 가/거 or 고/구.
One recall task
Write ㄱ + ㅗ as one syllable block.
Change the order
Read 너, 나, 누 and 노 in a new order. Explain the vowel positions.
Check again
Read 구, 가, 고, 거, 노, 누, 너 and 나 in a new order.
Review what felt difficult
Basic consonants are difficultReview the shapes of ㄱ and ㄴ and their combinations with ㅏ. →I mix up the vowel pairsCompare the short line and the vowel position in the examples. →Repeat an activity whenever you need more practice.