있다 and 없다: There is, there isn't, to have

있다 or 이다?

Both can come out as "is" in English, which is why they get mixed up. 이다 says what something is, and 있다 says where it is, or that it exists:

• 이건 제 가방이에요. igeon je gabangieyo "This is my bag." What it is.
• 제 가방은 의자 위에 있어요. je gabangeun uija wie isseoyo "My bag is on the chair." Where it is.

So ask yourself whether you're saying what the thing is or where it is.

One more thing: the thing that exists usually takes 이/가, but like any noun it can take 은/는 when you're contrasting it: 시간은 있어요 siganeun isseoyo, "I do have time (but…)". The negatives split the same way: 이다 becomes 아니다 anida, "isn't", and 있다 becomes 없다, "there isn't".

Words built with 있다 and 없다

A lot of everyday adjectives are a noun plus 있다 or 없다, written as one word:

• 재미있다 jaemiitda, "fun", and 재미없다 jaemieopda, "boring". 재미 means "fun".
• 맛있다 masitda, "tasty", and 맛없다 madeopda, "not tasty". 맛 means "taste".
• 상관없다 sanggwaneopda, "it doesn't matter". 상관 means "connection".

Talking about someone you respect

When the person is someone you'd show respect to, like a teacher, a boss or a grandparent, 있다 splits in two:

• 계시다 gyesida when they're somewhere: 사장님은 지금 안 계세요 sajangnimeun jigeum an gyeseyo, "the boss isn't in right now".
• 있으시다 isseusida when they have something: 내일 시간 있으세요? naeil sigan isseuseyo, "do you have time tomorrow?"

If you're not sure what the 시 in these words does, the (으)시 lesson explains it.