Questions & Answers about jeo jibeun jagayo.
What does 저 mean in 저 집은 작아요?
저 is a demonstrative pronoun meaning that (over there). It indicates something far from both the speaker and the listener. In this sentence, 저 집 literally means that house.
How do I choose between 이, 그, and 저 when pointing out nouns?
Korean has three main demonstratives:
- 이: near the speaker (this)
- 그: near the listener or already mentioned in context (that)
- 저: far from both speaker and listener (that over there)
So you’d say 이 집 for a house next to you, 그 집 for one next to your listener or previously mentioned, and 저 집 for one at a distance.
What is the role of 은 in 집은?
은 is the topic marker. It attaches to the noun 집 (house) and signals that “the house” is the topic of the sentence. It often carries a nuance like as for. Thus, 저 집은 can be understood as as for that house.
Why is the particle 은 used instead of 는?