Particles: 을/를, 에, 에서
Learn object particles and location particles to build basic sentences.
This lesson introduces the three object and location particles that form the backbone of every Korean sentence: 을/를 (object marker), 에 (destination/time), and 에서 (location of action). Mastering these three is what separates 'I can say a few phrases' from 'I can build my own sentences'. The choice between 을 and 를 is purely phonological — 을 after consonants, 를 after vowels. There is no meaning difference.
에 and 에서 both relate to place, but the distinction matters: 에 marks a destination or location of static existence ('가다, 오다, 있다' style verbs), 에서 marks the place where an action happens ('하다, 먹다, 공부하다' style verbs). 'I'm going to school' is 학교에 가요. 'I'm studying at school' is 학교에서 공부해요. Native speakers feel this distinction so strongly that mixing them up is one of the few errors that can momentarily confuse them. Practice with the examples until the choice becomes automatic.
을/를 — Object Particle
을 is used after consonant-ending nouns, 를 after vowel-ending nouns. They mark the object of a verb (what you eat, drink, see, etc.).
에 vs 에서 — Location Particles
에 marks a destination or point in time ('to', 'at'). 에서 marks where an action takes place ('at', 'in'). Think: 에 = direction/existence, 에서 = action happens here.