Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vox]

Nattering little question, apologies I don't have a Hangeul computer...

Exactly WHAT is the difference between using 'ne-ga' as first person subject and 'na-neun' first person subject?

More to the point, when is it wrong to use one and not the other, when used as a subject?

Thanks in advance...

[laogaiguk]

NO idea, but one thing I have wondered and haven't gotten an answer to is what does it mean to end a sentence (I mean conjugate a verb) with 죠?

Though I am also interested in a good explanation of 은/는 and 이/가. I usually get them right, but I don't know why exactly.

[gang ah jee]

[billybrobby]

http://forums.galbijim.com/index.php?showtopic=1370

go to the last page of this thread and look at mithridates post about the Japanese Wa and Ga.

[Hater Depot]

-죠 is short for -지요, no? It's kind of like saying "that's true isn't it?" Like

오늘날씨가 춥죠 The weather's cold today, isn't it?

It doesn't mean I'm wondering if it's cold. It's more like "Man, it's cold today, isn't it?"

[laogaiguk]

[Cheonmunka]

나는 has usually stood in my mind as meaning ('as for me ...')
Whereas 제가 / 내가 would stand for I being the subject of a sentence that doesn't have 'me' as being singled out particularly or emphasized as something attributed to one personally .

제가 (내가) 할게요. This is one that doesn't back up the explanation above. In English we could easily emphasize I as in 'I'll do it.' But 나는/저는 is not acceptable.
So sometimes this explanation above (about emphasis of the subject)doesn't really fit. But I think in most cases it will. 는 is regarded in textbooks as emphasizing the subject.

저는(나는) 오늘 .... 했어요. 'I did ... today' brings in a more personal relating thing to the subject 'me.'
One uses 제가 (내가) .... 했다 equally as well but using 는 in the case brings emphasis to 'I'

[Hanson]

Isn't 은/는 often used as a contrastive marker, as in, "As for me..."?

[visviva]

Just a picky little note: one does need to distinguish between nae-ga (내가, I) and ne-ga (네가, you) -- particularly since the second is used only in informal or rude speech ... or among children (but I repeat myself).

[PRagic]

Have to tell ya, with a degree in Korean and over 10 years in-country, this bugged me for a long time.

I've had this talk with a number of Koreans, and the best analogy has already been pointed out; it's like native English speakers being taught the use of articles. What sounds right? Good job! We learn by doing.

While there are subtle differences and nuances in specific sentences/situations, by-and-large, Koreans use these interchangably, with the preference going to the expression that is easiest/smoother to pronounce given the sentence. That's about it. Just pay attention to your blunt -vs- formal patterns, and you should be OK. When you start using them because, well, 'they sound right,' then you know you're on to something.

[Gwangjuboy]

은/는 can be used both as a subject and object marker. For example, the following sentences would all be correct,

쓰레기를 버리지마세요. (don't litter)
쓰레기는 버리지마세요.*
실내화는 벗고 들어오세요.* (take of your indoor shoes and enter)
실내화를 벗고 들어오세요.

* these are more likely to be seen on signs. A common one is,

물은 셀프입니다. (water is self service)

You can distinguish when to use 는/은 가이 in the following way,

교감선생님 (talking to three employees) - 오늘 누가 커피를 타줄까?(who will make coffee today?
선생님 - 제가 타드릴께요. (I will make it)

or without being asked,

저는 커피 타드릴께요.

They can also be used interchangabley.