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Topic/Subject/Object particles in Korean I've been learning korean for a while, but i still struggle with these particles. Here's an example to work from:

수연의 책은 여기에 있어요 = Soo-yeon’s book is here

This one has emphasis on *the book* being here

수연의 책이 여기에 있어요 = Here is Soo-yeon’s book

This one has more emphasis on here being where the book is

수연의 책을 여기에 있어요 = what about this?

Is what I’ve said right? And how do the particles change the sentence? Which sentence is most correct?

Thankyou!!

Answers · 2

1
Welcome to italki.com Subject particle(이,가) is used only after subject. Object particle(을,를) is used only after object. Topic particle(은,는) can be used after subject, object, adverb. Topic particle is mostly used for emphasizing the word. But topic particle with subject is a little tricky. 1. 수연의 책은 여기에 있어요(O) 2. 수연의 책이 여기에 있어요(O) 3. 수연의 책을 여기에 있어요(X) In the sentence "Soo-yeon’s book is here" 수연의 책(Soo-yeon’s book) is a subject object particle(을,를) cannot be used with subject(수연의 책), so #3 is wrong. Both #1 and #2 are correct. The usage is different. #1 is the answer for "Where is Soo-yeon’s book?" #2 is the answer for "What is here?" cf. A cat eats a fish. 1. 고양이가 물고기가 먹어요.(X) 2. 고양이가 물고기는 먹어요.(O) 3. 고양이가 물고기를 먹어요.(O) Here fish(물고기) is an object. For more explanation about 은,는,이,가, refer to https://www.italki.com/question/386014

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