![Korean Object Markers (Object Particles) 을 [eul] / 를 [reul]](http://organickorean.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/korean-object-markers-object-particles-.png)
Korean Object Markers (Object Particles) 을 [eul] / 를 [reul]
Object particles (object markers) in Korean have two forms. They signify that a noun is acting as the object of the sentence. Nouns ending in a consonant use 을 [eul], and nouns ending with a vowel use 를 [reul].
Object Markers | Examples | Meaning as Object | |
---|---|---|---|
Nouns ending in a consonant | 을 [eul] | 케이팝을 [keipabeul] | K-pop |
Nouns ending in a vowel | 를 [reul] | 한국 드라마를 [hanguk deuramareul] | Korean dramas |
Now do you understand the usage rules of the two different forms? It’s the same as with the topic markers and subject markers, isn’t it? Since 을 [eul] begins with a vowel sound, it comes after nouns ending in a consonant. And when 를 [reul] begins with a consonant, it follows nouns ending in a vowel.
In colloquial speech, 을/를 is frequently dropped when the sentence object is obvious from the context.
Take a look at some examples.
Nouns ending with a consonant + 을
1
I’m reading a book.
책을 읽고 있어요. [chegeul ilgo isseoyo]
Colloquial: 책 읽고 있어요.
책 읽고 있어요 (without the object particle 을) is also acceptable. Here, 읽고 있어요 (be reading) is the verb, and 책 (book) is the object.
2
I sat on the sofa and watched television.
소파에 앉아 텔레비전을 봤어요. [sopae anja tellebijeoneul bwaseoyo]
Colloquial: 소파에 앉아 텔레비전 봤어요.
3
I drink a cup of water every morning.
저는 매일 아침 물 한 컵을 마셔요. [jeoneun meil achim mul han keobeul mashyeoyo]
Colloquial: 저는 매일 아침 물 한 컵 마셔요.
Notice that both the topic marker 는 and the object marker 을 are used in this sentence. Here, 마셔요 (drink) is the verb, and 물 한 컵 (a cup of water) is the object.
4
My father usually takes the subway.
우리 아빠는 주로 지하철을 타요. [uri appaneun juro jihacheoreul tayo]
Colloquial: 우리 아빠는 주로 지하철 타요.
5
I love K-pop.
저는 케이팝을 정말 좋아해요. [jeoneun keipabeul jeongmal joaheyo]
Colloquial: 저는 케이팝 정말 좋아해요.
Word List | |||
---|---|---|---|
책 [chek] | book | 읽다 [ikda] | to read |
소파 [sopa] | sofa, couch | 앉다 [anda] | to sit |
텔레비전 [tellebijeon] | television | 보다 [boda] | to watch, see |
매일 [meil] | every day | 아침 [achim] | morning |
물 [mul] | water | 컵 [keop] | cup |
마시다 [masida] | to drink | 아빠 [appa] | father |
지하철 [jihacheol] | subway | 타다 [tada] | to take, ride, get on |
케이팝 [keipap] | Kpop | 좋아하다 [joahada] | to like |
Nouns ending with a vowel + 를
Keep in mind that 를 comes after a vowel, and the object markers can be dropped if the object is obvious from the context.
1
I drink coffee every morning.
저는 매일 아침 커피를 마셔요. [jeoneun meil achim keopireul mashyeoyo]
Colloquial: 저는 매일 아침 커피 마셔요.
2
My wife likes Korean dramas.
제 아내는 한국 드라마를 좋아해요. [je aneneun hanguk deuramareul joaheyo]
Colloquial: 제 아내는 한국 드라마 좋아해요.
3
My daughter is learning Chinese.
제 딸은 중국어를 배우고 있어요. [je ddareun junggugeoreul beugo isseoyo]
Colloquial: 제 딸은 중국어 배우고 있어요.
4
I often watch Korean movies.
한국 영화를 자주 봐요. [hanguk yeonghwareul jaju bwayo]
Colloquial: 한국 영화 자주 봐요.
Word List | |||
---|---|---|---|
매일 [meil] | every day | 아침 [achim] | morning |
커피 [keopi] | coffee | 마시다 [masida] | to drink |
아내 [ane] | wife | 한국 드라마 [hanguk deurama] | Korean drama |
좋아하다 [joahada] | to like | 딸 [ddal] | daughter |
중국어 [junggugeo] | Chinese language | 배우다 [beuda] | to learn |
한국 영화 [hanguk yeonghwa] | Korean movie | 자주 [jaju] | frequently |
보다 [boda] | to watch, see |
Reference:
- Henry J. Amen, Kyubyong Park. Korean For Beginners: Mastering Conversational Korean. Tuttle Publishing; 2010.
- Jaehoon Yeon, Lucien Brown. Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge Comprehensive Grammars). 1st ed. Routledge; 2011.