Korean Job Discussion Forums

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

I was always taught that ��/�� is the "topic marker" which from reading sentences and seeing the use of it, I figured was the same as the subject marker. Now I am learning that �� is actually a subject marker, and �� as the topic marker is different.

Can you language experts explain the difference to me in some simple terms? How is the topic marker different from the subject marker?

Sage Monkey · Joined: 01 Nov 2004

mithridates · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:43 am Post subject:

I wrote a little bit about the two particles in one of my lessons on my home page last year. Nobody's given any feedback on this lesson (#3) but maybe it'll be of some help.

gi66y · Joined: 15 Aug 2003

It's complicated. Sad

After three years of studying Korean I still get tripped up a lot with proper usage, but it's not something to really worry about because even when you say ��/�� where you should have said ��/�� people will still understand you. Smile

Rather than trying to remember all the rules, I think it's easier to try to remember it more in terms of grammar structure in sentences as you learn. ie: in these kind of sentences with this grammar use ��/�� and in those use ��/��.

I agree with Mithridates explanations and examples, but to complicate things further ��/�� can also be used in place of the object marker ��/�� or after other particles(��,��,��,etc.) for emphasis especially when contrasting things. Some books call it the "contrast marker" for this reason.