Practical Korean. Samuel E. Martin

details that seem obvious from the context or the situation. It’s a rare English sentence that has no subject, but we use such sentences in postcards (Having a fine time. Wish you were here.) and in commands (Keep off the grass. Send more money.). In Korean it is quite common to omit the subject, and often many other parts of the equivalent English sentence, too. You’ll often wonder why the Korean words for some, any, it and other common little English expressions seldom appear in the Korean versions of examples.

      A Korean sentence is quite complete with nothing but a verb:

      Haeyo.

      해요.

      (Someone) does (something).

      The subject and object may simply be implied. If the Korean wants to supply further details about the situation, he puts them in before the verb. For example, if he wants to tell just what kind of an action the “does” refers to:

      Gongbu haeyo.

      공부해요.

      (Someone) does STUDYING = studies (something).

      If it seems important to add the object of the action:

      Hangukmal-eul gongbu haeyo.

      한국말을 공부해요.

      (Someone) studies KOREAN.

      And the place:

      Hakgyo-eseo Hangukmal-eul gongbu haeyo.

      학교에서 한국말을 공부해요.

      (Someone) studies Korean IN SCHOOL.

      And the time:

      Jigeum hakgyo-eseo Hangukmal-eul gongbu haeyo.

      지금 학교에서 한국말을 공부해요.

      (Someone) studies Korean in school NOW.

      And the subject of the action (the actor):

      Haksaeng-i jigeum hakgyo-eseo Hangukmal-eul gongbu haeyo.

      학생이 지금 학교에서 한국말을 공부해요.

      THE STUDENT studies Korean in school now.

      The order in which you put the additional information like object, place, time, and subject depends largely on the importance of the information. The indispensable news in every sentence is the verb— this goes at the end.

      In other words, if you wanted to say the same thing a little more briefly, you’d likely chop off the earlier parts of the sentence first. Since sometimes the SUBJECT is so well known you don’t have to mention it, but at other times it’s the OBJECT—or the place, or the time, or something else—there isn’t any fixed order. If all other things are equal—that is, if you’re equally in the dark about subject and object— it’s usually better to keep the object near the verb.

      LESSON 6

      Some Useful Expressions

      Unless otherwise specified, all expressions in this chapter are in the familiar polite style, which is by far the style you’ll need most frequently. It’s appropriate for adults, whether they are strangers or whether you know them a little. You’ll need a different style to talk to close friends or children, and that's covered on page 42.

      Aseyo?

      아세요?

      Do you understand?

      or

      Ihaehaseyo?

      이해하세요?

      Do you understand?

      Ne.

      네.

      Yes. (Often pronounced ye in the South.)

      Ani.

      아니.

      No. (Informal)

      Aniyo.

      아니요.

      No. (More polite)

      Alayo.

      알아요.

      I understand.

      Mollayo.

      몰라요.

      I don’t understand.

      Dasi mal hae juseyo.

      다시 말해 주세요.

      Please say it again.

      Cheoncheon(h)i mal hae juseyo.

      천천히 말해 주세요.

      Please say it slowly.

      Chaek-eul boseyo.

      책을 보세요.

      Please look at your book.

      Chaek-eul boji maseyo.

      책을 보지 마세요.

      Please don’t look at your book.

      Hangungmal-lo haseyo.

      한국말로 하세요.

      Please talk in Korean.

      Yeongeo-ro mal haji maseyo.

      영어로 말하지 마세요.

      Please don’t talk in English.

      Gachi halkkayo?

      같이 할까요?

      Let’s do it (say it) together.

      Da gachi.

      다 같이.

      All together.

      Deutgi-man haseyo.

      듣기만 하세요.

      Just listen please.

      Geureoseyo?

      그러세요?

      Is that so? Oh? Really?

      (Or, the more casual expression:)

      Geurae(yo)?

      그래(요)?

      Is it? Is that so? Oh, really?

      Geureyo.

      그래요.

      That’s so. Yes. That’s it. (Same as above, but with different intonation).

      Geureochiman....

      그렇지만....

      But…. However….

      Geurigo....

      그리고....

      And (in addition)....

      Geuraeseo....

      그래서....

      And so…. So….

      ….gatta jusipsio.

      갖다 주십시오.

      Please bring me….

      LESSON 7

      More Useful Expressions

      Ppalli gaseyo.

      빨리 가세요.

      Please go fast.

      Cheoncheon(h)i gaseyo.

      천천히 가세요.

      Please go slow.