Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar # 8
Eat what? Drink what? Watch what?
을/를 marks the thing receiving the action.
The Rule
Consonant + 을
밥 → 밥을
책 → 책을
Vowel + 를
커피 → 커피를
친구 → 친구를
💡 Easy Trick: Consonant → 을 | Vowel → 를
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 밥 | rice / meal |
| 커피 | coffee |
| 음악 | music |
| 옷 | clothes |
| 한국어 | Korean |
| 숙제 | homework |
| 사다 | to buy |
| 배우다 | to learn |
Korean Grammar Examples
저는 밥을 먹어요.
I eat a meal.
커피를 마셔요.
I drink coffee.
책을 읽어요.
I read a book.
영화를 봐요.
I watch a movie.
한국어를 배워요.
I learn Korean.
숙제를 해요.
I do homework.
Quick Quiz 🎯
- 밥 → 밥______
- 커피 → 커피______
- 친구 → 친구______
- 한국어 → 한국어______
Answers: 밥을 / 커피를 / 친구를 / 한국어를
Ordering and studying
A: 뭘 마셔요? — What do you drink?
B: 물을 마셔요. — I drink water.
A: 뭘 배워요? — What do you learn?
B: 한국어를 배워요. — I learn Korean.
Choose the particle from the Korean noun
물을 uses 을 because 물 ends in ㄹ. 한국어를 uses 를 because 한국어 ends in a vowel. 뭘 is a common short form of 무엇을. The object is what the action is directed at; do not add 을/를 to every noun. For existence, say 책이 있어요, not 책을 있어요.
Practice in context
Fill in 을 or 를: ① 음악___ 들어요. ② 영화___ 봐요. ③ 빵___ 먹어요.
Answers and explanation
① 음악을 ② 영화를 ③ 빵을. Explain your choices using each noun’s final sound. Then ask a partner 뭘 먹어요? and answer with a food word you know.
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