See these sites :
1) https://www.topikguide.com/difference-between-%EC%9D%80%EB%8A%94-and-%EC%9D%B4%EA%B0%80/
2) https://korean.stackexchange.com/questions/6/what-are-the-differences-between-%EB%8A%94-%EC%9D%80-and-%EA%B0%80-%EC%9D%B4
if the syllable before ends with a constantant then use 은 이, if ends in vovel then use 는 가
1. 은/는 and 이/가 are probably the most confusing Korean particles (case markers) for Korean language learners.
Even the professors of Korean language find it very difficult to explain the exact difference between these two particles and the way they are used. We will try to simplify things a bit here so that it’s easy for you to understand the difference.
은/는 are called Topic particles while 이/가 are called – Subject Particles. The confusing thing is that topic and subject are sometimes not clearly distinguishable. The person or thing that is the main focus of the sentence is called the topic. The subject of the sentence is not always the topic.
For example, in the sentence “오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.” subject of the sentence is 날씨 (Weather) while the topic of the sentence is 오늘 (Today).
The subject of a sentence can also be the topic of the sentence and vice versa.
In fact, in most of the situations 은/는 and 이/가 are interchangeable. ‘이것은 책입니다’ and ‘이것이 책입니다’ are pretty much the same thing.
There are some situations when you are supposed to use any one of these particles but even if you use the wrong one, it’s not that the sentence becomes incomprehensible or something. People will still understand what you want to say. So you don’t need to take too much stress.
Just remember some rule of thumbs about the usage of 은/는 and 이/가 and you will be fine.
은/는 vs 이/가
When it’s a negative sentence with verb ‘to be’ (아닙니다 or 아니에요 i.e. is/am/are + not), you always have to use 이/가 with the preceding noun. Ex: 이것은 책이 아니에요.
If you are using 있다/없다 you should always use 이/가 with the noun before it. Ex: i) 펜이 있어요? ii) 저는 내일 시간이 없어요.
Generally when there are two nouns in a sentence and a descriptive verb (or adjective) has been used, use 은/는 with the first noun and 이/가 with the second. Ex: 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요. 이 식당은 음식이 맛있어요.
When you want to show contrast or emphasise a noun, you should use 은/는. For example – 품질이 좋은데 가격은 너무 비싸요. (Quality is good but the price is too expensive.)
Note that we have simplified the rules. There are more complicated rules and explanations but we don’t want to confuse you more. If you follow the rules mentioned above, you should be fine in most of the stituations.
2. 은/는 mark the "topic" of a sentence, while 이/가 mark a "subject". This alone doesn't really help all that much to know when exactly to use which. For me, it really clicked when I learned longer English translations of the two:
나는 집에 왔어
As for me, I came home.
Talking about me, I came home.
내가 말한 거야.
It is me who said that.
너는 뭐 해?
Regarding you, what are you doing?
내가 먹은 사과는 맛있었어.
As for the apple that the one who is me ate, it was tasty.
Whenever I am in doubt, I just replace both with these longer equivalents, and it usually works.
The 는 and 은 markers are "topic markers" and are used when introducing a new subject. The 가 and 이 markers are "subject markers" and are used when discussing a known topic. The difference can be subtle.
For example, "책은 재미있다" and "책이 재미있다" both translate to "this book is interesting," but the first one implies that a particular book is being discussed (perhaps different from another book that was just previously discussed), whereas the second one is where perhaps an additional statement is being made about the book that is already being discussed.
이 or 가 is used as the following:
A "subject" marker (I would call it a subjective "focus/topic" introducer.)
꽃이 예쁘다.
비가 내린다.
어떤 사람이 걷는다.
종이가 하얗다.
어린애가 생각이 많다. (어린애 is the governing subject; 생각 is directly connected to 많다. I would say 생각 is the sub-subject.)
내가 좋다는데 네가 왜 싫어해? (But do not say "나는 좋다는데 너는 왜 싫어해?")
((Used before 되다 or 아니다)) A "complement" marker
형이 회장이 되었다.
우리는 친구가 되었다.
형은 회장이 아니다.
우리는 친구가 아니다.
An emphasizer
((Used before -고 싶다))
김밥이 먹고 싶어?
나는 국수가 먹고 싶다.
((Used as -지가))
방이 더럽지가 않다.
나는 그 사람이 왠지 싫지가 않았다. (그 사람 is the sub-subject.)
((Used right after a noun, in a specific construction))
이곳 사람들 태반이 글을 쓸 줄 모른다.
여기에 있는 사람은 대개가 어른이다.
((Used right after a certain adverb(ial)))
저쪽에서 불빛이 번뜩이 비쳐 왔다.
네 말은 도대체가 무슨 말인지 모르겠다.
은 or 는 is used as the following (The role may differ depending on the context):
A "topic" marker (I would call it a "focus/topic" maintainer and "focus/topic" changer.)
꽃은 예쁘다. (Subject: 꽃)
이 음식은 사람이 먹는다. (Object: 음식)
우리 중 누가 성공할지는 아무도 알 수 없다. (Objectival: 우리 중 누가 성공할지)
집에는 언제 갔어? (Adverbial: 집에)
나는 국수가 먹고 싶다. (Governing subject: 나)
우리는 친구가 아니다. (Governing subject: 우리)
형은 회장이 아니다. (Governing subject: 형)
A marker for implicit or explicit comparison/contrast
꽃은 예쁘다. (Other things are not pretty.)
이 음식은 사람이 먹는다. (Human beings do not eat other food.)
나는 국수가 먹고 싶은데 너는 김밥이 먹고 싶어?
쟤는 좋다는데 너는 왜 싫다고 해?
내가 좋다는데 너는 왜 싫어해? ("I" thought that "you" also would like it, but "you" hate it.)
나는 국수가 먹고 싶다. (Others may want to eat others.)
타는 말은 동물이고 입으로 하는 말은 언어이다.
이 꽃은 예쁜데 저 꽃은 못생겼다.
내가 글은 자주 쓴다. ("I" do other things less often. / "I" do not talk so often.)
우리는 친구가 아니다. ("We" are strangers or enemies. / "They" are close friends.)
형은 회장이 아니다. (회장 is someone not my brother.)
An emphasizer
((Used right after some connective endings))
그렇게 빠르게 달리다가는 사고가 날 것이다.
장대비가 내리면은 오랜 가뭄이 끝난다.
음식을 먹더라도 지나치게는 먹지 마라.
((Used right after a noun or certain adverb(ial)))
우리에게도 문제는 있다.
아무리 바빠도 밥은 먹자.
손님이 올 것이니 밥을 넉넉히는 해라.
가끔은 네가 생각난다.
Notes:
꽃이 예쁘다 suggests that flowers the speaker has seen are pretty, whereas 꽃은 예쁘다 indicates that the speaker thinks flowers are pretty. 꽃은 예쁘다 can also argue that flowers are pretty but (the / some of) others such as insects, houses, and people aren't, which does not mean that one kind of flower is pretty but other kinds aren't.
Some examples are duplicates because they are ambiguous.
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