Difference between revisions of "Contrast marker vs subject marker"
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| − | + | Although both sets of particles are equivalent to the subject in English, they function in Korean as markers for either the topic of the sentence (은/는) or the subject of the sentence (가/이). | |
| + | <br /> <br /> | ||
| + | === '''The topic marker (은/는) has three main functions:''' === | ||
| + | <br /> <br /> | ||
| + | (1) Talk about general or habitual information concerning a noun. <br /> | ||
| + | Ex: 저는 민지이고 대학생입니다. I'm Minji and I'm a college student. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | (2) Change the topic of conversation <br /> | ||
| + | Ex: 제가 사과 먹고 친주는 포도 먹어요. I'm eating apples and my friend is eating grapes. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | (3) Show a contrast between two or more topics <br /> | ||
| + | Ex: 저는 사과 좋아하지만 친구는 안 좋아해요. I like apples, [however] my friend does not. | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | === '''The subject marker (가/이) has diverse functions:''' === | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | 1. When the noun precedes the verbs 되다 and 아니다. <br /> | ||
| + | 그녀는 의사가 되었어요 ( = 됐어요).She became a doctor. <br /> | ||
| + | 그녀는 나쁜 사람이 아니에요.She is not a bad person. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- | ||
| + | 2. When the noun is a direct object of the verbs 있다, 없다, and 필요하다. <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 지금 여자친구가 있어요. I have a girlfriend now. <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 지금 돈이 없어요.I don’t have money now. <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 지금 차가 필요해요.I need a car now. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- | ||
| + | 3. When the noun is the object or complement of certain verbs that express psychological or emotional states. <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 제 여자친구가 좋아요. I like my girlfriend (lit: As for me, my girlfriend is good). <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 노래를 잘 부르는 사람이 부러워요.I envy someone who sings very well. <br /> | ||
| + | (전) 지진이 너무 무서워요.I am really scared of earthquakes. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- | ||
| + | 4. When the noun plays a focused possessive role. <br /> | ||
| + | 친구가 마음이 아파요. <br /> | ||
| + | My FRIEND’s heart hurts. (not just anybody’s heart) <br /> | ||
| + | -vs- <br /> | ||
| + | 친구 마음이 아파요. <br /> | ||
| + | My friend’s heart hurts. <br /> | ||
| + | ------------------- <br /> | ||
| + | 5. To emphasize negation (after verb ending ~ 지 / 하지) <br /> | ||
| + | 지금 먹고 싶지가 않아요. <br /> | ||
| + | I (really) don’t want to eat now. <br /> | ||
| + | -vs- <br /> | ||
| + | 지금 먹고 싶지 않아요. <br /> | ||
| + | I don’t want to eat now. <br /> | ||
| + | ______________________________ <br /> | ||
| + | Also, they can affect how a person's name is spoken. <br /> | ||
| + | For a Korean person's name, if there is a consonant at the end, then : 이름 + 이 + 가 <br /> | ||
| + | 지은 → 지은이가 <br /> | ||
| + | 철수 → 철수가 <br /> | ||
| + | 은선 → 은선이가 <br /> | ||
| + | 영희 → 영희가 <br /> | ||
| + | 한별 → 한별이가 <br /> | ||
| + | But for a foreigner's name, if there is a consonant at the end: 이름 + 이 <br /> | ||
| + | John → 존이 <br /> | ||
| + | Sam → 샘이 <br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
[[Category:Grammar comparison]] | [[Category:Grammar comparison]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:10, 1 November 2014
Although both sets of particles are equivalent to the subject in English, they function in Korean as markers for either the topic of the sentence (은/는) or the subject of the sentence (가/이).
The topic marker (은/는) has three main functions:
(1) Talk about general or habitual information concerning a noun.
Ex: 저는 민지이고 대학생입니다. I'm Minji and I'm a college student.
(2) Change the topic of conversation
Ex: 제가 사과 먹고 친주는 포도 먹어요. I'm eating apples and my friend is eating grapes.
(3) Show a contrast between two or more topics
Ex: 저는 사과 좋아하지만 친구는 안 좋아해요. I like apples, [however] my friend does not.
The subject marker (가/이) has diverse functions:
1. When the noun precedes the verbs 되다 and 아니다.
그녀는 의사가 되었어요 ( = 됐어요).She became a doctor.
그녀는 나쁜 사람이 아니에요.She is not a bad person.
2. When the noun is a direct object of the verbs 있다, 없다, and 필요하다.
(전) 지금 여자친구가 있어요. I have a girlfriend now.
(전) 지금 돈이 없어요.I don’t have money now.
(전) 지금 차가 필요해요.I need a car now.
3. When the noun is the object or complement of certain verbs that express psychological or emotional states.
(전) 제 여자친구가 좋아요. I like my girlfriend (lit: As for me, my girlfriend is good).
(전) 노래를 잘 부르는 사람이 부러워요.I envy someone who sings very well.
(전) 지진이 너무 무서워요.I am really scared of earthquakes.
4. When the noun plays a focused possessive role.
친구가 마음이 아파요.
My FRIEND’s heart hurts. (not just anybody’s heart)
-vs-
친구 마음이 아파요.
My friend’s heart hurts.
5. To emphasize negation (after verb ending ~ 지 / 하지)
지금 먹고 싶지가 않아요.
I (really) don’t want to eat now.
-vs-
지금 먹고 싶지 않아요.
I don’t want to eat now.
______________________________
Also, they can affect how a person's name is spoken.
For a Korean person's name, if there is a consonant at the end, then : 이름 + 이 + 가
지은 → 지은이가
철수 → 철수가
은선 → 은선이가
영희 → 영희가
한별 → 한별이가
But for a foreigner's name, if there is a consonant at the end: 이름 + 이
John → 존이
Sam → 샘이
