Lesson 9: Topic/Subject Marking Particles Flashcards
Do you use topic marking particles on nouns, verbs, or adjectives?
Nouns
Do you use subject marking particles on nouns or the subject of the verb of a sentence?
The subject of the verb of a sentence
What are the topic marking particles in Korean?
은 and 는
What is the main role of topic marking particles?
They let the listener know what you’re talking about or going to talk about
Where do you place topic marking particles?
After the noun
은 is placed after a word that ends in what?
A consonant
는 is placed after a word that ends in what?
A vowel
이 책은
this book
이 차는
this car
이 가방은
this bag
저는
I
Why does the Korean language use topic and subject marking particles?
To make the sentence clearer for the listener
True or False: The topic of the sentence (marked by 은 or 는) is usually the same as the subject of the sentence
True (but not always)
저는 can also mean what?
As for me
저는 학생이에요.
As for me, I am a student.
내일은 저는 일해요.
Literal translation: As for tomorrow, I work.
What are the subject marking particles in Korean?
이 and 가
이 is placed after a word that ends in what?
A consonant
가 is placed after a word that ends in what?
A vowel
이 책이
this book
가방이
bag
학교가
school
What are the nuances of -은/는?
They can mean “about” something, “as for” something, “unlike other things“, “different from other things”, or “that one is… and/but THIS is…” as well as adding a compare/contrast factor
What is the literal translation of 이거는 사과예요?
The other things are not apples, but THIS is an apple.
If someone says, “이거 커피예요” and you respond with, “이거는 물이에요”, what is the literal translation of the second sentence?
That was coffee, but THIS is water.
What is the literal translation of 이거는 오렌지 주스예요”?
And THIS is orange juice.
What is the literal translation of 이거는 뭐예요?
As for this, what is it?
True or False: It’s not necessary to use -은/는 all the time, only if you REALLY wanna emphasize the topic
True
오늘 날씨 좋네요.
The weather is good today.
What is the literal translation of 오늘은 날씨 좋네요?
The weather has been bad lately, but it’s good today.
What is the literal translation of 오늘 날씨는 좋네요?
Everything else today has been bad, but at least the weather’s good.
What are the nuances of -이/가?
They can mean “none other than” or “nothing but”, as well as adding extra emphasis to the subject
What is the literal translation of 뭐가 좋아요?
WHAT is good?
좋다
to be good (verb)
What is the literal translation of 이 책은 좋아요?
The other books aren’t good but this book is good.
What is the literal translation of 이 책이 좋아요?
The other books are fine, but there are no other books as good as this one.
True or False: If someone claims something is good, you can use -이/가 to express your opinion that what they think is bad and that you think something else is better
True
True or False: Topic/subject marking particles can be dropped entirely unless they’re absolutely needed to clarify/emphasize the meaning of something
True
복숭아
peach
그것은/그것이
that
이것은/이것이
this
For ease of pronunciation purposes, how do native Korean speakers pronounce 그것은 and 이것은?
그거는 and 이거는
비싸
expensive
