Learn Hardcore Korean: uija-e anjaseo sukjereul haeyo. - I sit on the chair and do my homework.

앉아서 comes from the verb 앉다 (to sit) plus the connective ending -아서 (or -어서 after other vowels). This ending links two actions and shows that the first action (“sitting”) happens before or as a setting for the second (“doing homework”). So 의자에 앉아서 숙제를 해요 literally means “I sit on a chair and (then) do my homework.”

Why is the particle 에 used after 의자 instead of 에서?

The particle -에 marks the location of a state or existence, which fits 앉다 (to take a seat, a state of being). In contrast, -에서 marks the location of an action. If you said 의자에서 숙제를 해요, you’d be emphasizing “the chair” as the place where the homework action happens. Here, because you’re first describing the state of sitting, you use 의자에.

What’s the difference in nuance between 의자에 앉아서 숙제를 해요 and 의자에서 숙제를 해요?

• 의자에 앉아서 숙제를 해요 – “I sit on the chair and do my homework.” (Emphasizes the act of sitting as the setup or condition.)
• 의자에서 숙제를 해요 – “I do my homework at the chair.” (Focuses on the chair as the location of the homework action, without highlighting the sitting process.)

What role does -을/를 play in 숙제를 해요?

-을/를 is the direct-object particle. It marks 숙제 (homework) as the thing that’s being done by the verb 하다 (to do). Hence 숙제를 해요 means “do homework.”

Why is there no subject like 저는 or 나는 in this sentence?

Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. In a situation where you’re the one speaking about your own actions, adding 저는 or 나는 is optional. The sentence is perfectly natural without it.

What level of politeness is 해요, and could I use 한다 instead?

해요 is the polite informal-high (해요체). You can use 한다 (the plain form) in written statements, journal entries, or among very close friends/younger people. 저는 의자에 앉아서 숙제를 한다 is grammatically fine but less polite.

Can I connect the actions with -고 instead, like 앉고 숙제를 해요?

Yes, 앉고 숙제를 해요 is grammatically possible and simply lists two actions (“sit and do homework”). But -아서 adds a nuance of sequence or cause (“having sat down, now I do homework”), which sounds more natural when you want to show the sitting as the precursor or condition.

How is 앉아서 pronounced? I hear something like 안자서.

In spoken Korean, the final consonant in 앉다 (spelled with ㅈ) is realized as a [t] sound, and when you add -아서, that [t] links to the next vowel, sounding like [안자서]. So although it’s spelled 앉아서, you’ll hear “안자서” in fast, natural speech.

What is the typical word order in this sentence?

Korean follows a loose SOV order with place/time usually before the verb. Here it’s:
1) 의자에 (place)
2) 앉아서 (connective verb clause)
3) 숙제를 (object)
4) 해요 (main verb)
This order keeps the location and background action clear before the main action.