keompyuteo hwamyeone sukje munjega tteo isseoyo.

컴퓨터 화면에 숙제 문제가 떠 있어요.keompyuteo hwamyeone sukje munjega tteo isseoyo.
Homework problems are on the computer screen.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Korean now

Questions & Answers about keompyuteo hwamyeone sukje munjega tteo isseoyo.

Why is 떠 있어요 used here? How is it different from just saying 떠요 or using 나타나요?
  • 떠 있어요 = 뜨다
    • -어 있다. This construction emphasizes that the homework problem has appeared on the screen and remains there in that state.
  • If you say 떠요, you’re simply stating the action “it floats/rises,” without stressing that it’s still displayed.
  • 나타나요 means “it appears” or “it turns up,” focusing on the event of becoming visible rather than the ongoing state. So 떠 있어요 is best when you want to convey “it’s currently displayed (and still there).”
What role does the suffix -아/어 있다 play in this sentence?

The suffix -아/어 있다 attaches to a verb stem to express a continuing state resulting from a completed action. In our sentence:

  1. 뜨다 = “to float” or “to appear.”
  2. 뜨 + 어 있다 = “to be in the state of having appeared/floated.”
    Hence, 떠 있어요 literally means “is in the state of having appeared.”
Why do we use the particle 에 after 화면? Could we use 에서 instead?
  • 에 marks the location where something exists or appears: “on the screen.”
  • 에서 marks the location of an action: “doing” something there.
    Since 떠 있다 describes a state (the problem exists on the screen), 에 is correct. Using 에서 would sound like the screen itself is doing the floating.
What is 숙제 문제가? Isn’t 숙제 already “homework”?
  • 숙제 means “homework,” and 문제 means “problem/question.”
  • 숙제 문제 literally “homework problem” specifies that it’s one of the questions or problems within your homework.
    It’s common in Korean to combine a category word (숙제) with 문제 to clarify that you’re talking about a problem from that category.
How is 떠 있다 different from 보이다 or 나타나다 when talking about things on a screen?
  • 떠 있다 emphasizes that something is displayed or remains visible (often like a floating window or icon).
  • 보이다 means “to be seen” or “to appear to someone’s eyes,” focusing on the viewer’s perception (e.g., 화면에 글씨가 보여요 = “I can see text on the screen”).
  • 나타나다 means “to appear” or “to show up,” focusing on the moment of coming into view (e.g., 문제가 나타났어요 = “The problem showed up”).
Can I replace 컴퓨터 화면 with 모니터 화면 or something else?

Yes. 컴퓨터 화면 and 모니터 화면 are often interchangeable:

  • 컴퓨터 화면 = “computer screen (can include software UI).”
  • 모니터 화면 = “monitor screen” (the physical display).
    You could also say 노트북 화면에 숙제 문제가 떠 있어요 if you’re using a laptop.