Korean for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 2

Korean language in Nountown

Talk about studying in Korean — 한국어를 공부해요 (I'm studying Korean) — with the object particle -을/를.

Conversation

  1. Bob Bob

    카일 씨, 요즘 뭐 해요?

    Kail ssi, yojeum mwo haeyo?

    Kyle, what are you doing these days?

    Tip: <요즘> = these days <해요> = verb "to do" (in present tense)

  2. Kyle Kyle

    저는 요즘 한국어를 공부해요.

    Jeoneun yojeum hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo.

    I'm studying Korean these days.

    Tip: <한국어> = korean language <공부해요> = verb "to study" (in present tense) [Note] Verbs that finish by -하다 (for example, 공부하다) are conjugated in -해요 in present tense. <-을/를> = object particle [Note] We conjugate this particle according to the syllable before. If it finishes by a vowel (ㅓ of 한국어), we use -를. If by a final consonant, we use -을.

  3. Bob Bob

    와~ 한국어를 어디에서 공부해요?

    Wa~ hangugeoreul eodieseo gongbuhaeyo?

    Wow, where do you study Korean?

    Tip: <어디에서> = where [Note] -에서 is a particle for locations where an action is taking place, like 'studying'.

  4. Kyle Kyle

    노운타운에서 공부해요.

    Nountauneseo gongbuhaeyo.

    I study in NounTown.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does the object particle -을/를 do?

Marks the direct object. -을 after consonant (한국어를 - vowel), -를 after vowel. Crucial for sentence clarity.

What is 공부해요?

'Study' (present polite). From 공부 (study, noun) + 하다 (do). One of many Korean noun + 하다 verb compounds.

How do you ask 'where ...?'

어디 (where) + particle. 어디에서 공부해요? = 'where do you study?'. -에서 marks action location.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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