Korean Grammar Made Easy: -거나 vs –(이)나

TOPIK 1 learners often get confused between -거나 and (이)나.Both can be used to express “or,” but they are used in different situations and follow different grammar rules.

In this post, we’ll clearly compare the two grammar points, give practical examples, and show how they commonly appear in TOPIK.

🔎 Why Is This Important?

In TOPIK 1, “or” questions appear frequently.However:

• -거나 connects verbs

• (이)나 connects nouns

Knowing what comes before the particle makes everything easy.

1️⃣ [Grammar Focus: –거나]

It is used to connect verbs.It expresses a choice between actions.

👉 Structure: Verb stem + -거나

It means:

• “or”

• “Either A or B”

Examples:

• 저는 집에서 쉬거나 영화를 봅니다.

  (I rest at home or watch a movie.)

• 주말에 공부하거나 친구를 만나요.

  (On weekends, I study or meet friends.)

• 커피를 마시거나 차를 마실 거예요.

  (I will drink coffee or tea.)

👉 The key point: You are choosing between actions (verbs).

2️⃣ [Grammar Focus: – (이)나]

It is used with nouns.It connects two nouns and expresses a choice.

👉 Structure: Noun + (이)나

It means:

• “or”

• “Something like”

• sometimes “at least” (different usage, but TOPIK 1 mainly tests choice)

Examples (Choice Between Nouns)

• 커피나 차를 마셔요.

  (Drink coffee or tea.)

• 영화나 드라마를 봅니다.

  (I watch movies or drama.)

• 토요일이나 일요일에 만나요.

  (Let’s meet on Saturday or Sunday.)

👉 The key point: You are choosing between things (nouns).

📝 Learning Tip!: Check the word before the blank.

• If it’s a verb stem → -거나

• If it’s a noun → (이)나

Easy Memory Trick

Grammar	Used With	Meaning	Example
-거나	Verb	action or action	먹거나 자요
(이)나	Noun	noun or noun	빵이나 샌드위치

 Conclusion

The difference between -거나 and (이)나 is actually simple once you check the word before the particle.

• Verb → -거나

• Noun → (이)나

This grammar point appears regularly in the Test of Proficiency in Korean, so mastering it can help you quickly secure easy points in TOPIK 1.

If you remember just one thing:

👉 Always check whether it’s an action or a thing.