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Questions & Answers about eumageul deureoyo.
Why is there no subject in 음악을 들어요?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. In this sentence the implied subject is I (나) or you (너) depending on who’s speaking. If you need to be explicit, you can say (저는) 음악을 들어요 for “I listen to music.”
What function does 을 serve in 음악을 들어요?
을 is the object particle. It marks 음악 (music) as the direct object of the verb 듣다 (to listen). Without 을, the sentence would be ungrammatical because the verb needs to know what it’s acting upon.
Where does 들어요 come from and why isn’t it 듣어요?
The dictionary form is 듣다. It’s a ㄷ-irregular verb, so when you attach a vowel-starting ending (like -어요), the stem’s ㄷ changes to ㄹ. Therefore:
듣 + 어요 → 들 + 어요 = 들어요
In casual writing you’ll usually see 들어요.
What politeness level does the ending -어요 indicate?
The -어요 ending is polite informal speech, also called 해요체. It’s appropriate for everyday conversations with acquaintances, coworkers, or strangers you’re not close with.
How would you express the past tense of 음악을 들어요?
Replace -어요 with -었어요:
듣다 → 들었어요
So 음악을 들었어요 means “(I) listened to music.”
How can you turn 음악을 들어요 into a question?
Simply use rising intonation: 음악을 들어요?
If you want a more polite/formal version, you can say 음악을 들으세요? (using the honorific verb ending -세요).
How do you say “I am listening to music” in Korean?
Use the present progressive form: 듣다 → 듣고 있다. Conjugate politely:
음악을 듣고 있어요
This emphasizes that the action is happening right now.