Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun maeil gongwoneseo sanchaekhaeyo.

저는 uses the topic marker -는, marking “I” as the topic or general subject of the sentence. 제가 uses the subject marker -가, which often emphasizes the subject or introduces new information. In a simple statement like “I take a walk every day,” the topic marker 저는 is more natural because you’re talking about your routine or general fact.

Can I drop 저는 and just say 매일 공원에서 산책해요?

Yes. Korean often omits pronouns when context is clear. If you’re already talking about yourself, 매일 공원에서 산책해요 is perfectly fine and common in casual speech.

Why does 매일 (every day) come before 공원에서 (in the park)?

Korean word order is flexible, but the usual order for adverbs is: Time – Place – Verb. Here, 매일 (time) naturally precedes 공원에서 (place), and the verb 산책해요 comes last. You could say 공원에서 매일 산책해요, but it sounds less typical.

What’s the difference between the particles 에 and 에서, and why is 에서 used here?

에 marks a location of existence or direction (“to/at”), whereas 에서 marks the location where an action takes place. Since 산책해요 (take a walk) is an action occurring in the park, you use 공원에서.

How do you get 산책해요 from 산책하다?

산책하다 is a 하다-verb. To make the polite present tense, you drop 다 from 하다 and add 해요:

산책하다 → 산책하 + 아요 → 산책해요
It’s a regular conjugation pattern for many 하다-verbs.

What does the -요 ending in 산책해요 indicate?

The -요 ending makes the sentence polite, suitable for strangers or social equals. It’s the standard polite style in spoken Korean. In very formal contexts you’d use -습니다 (산책합니다), and in casual speech with close friends you might drop it altogether or use banmal.

How would I say this in past tense?

To make it past tense, change 해요 to 했어요:
저는 매일 공원에서 산책했어요
That means “I took a walk in the park every day.”

What’s the difference between 산책하다 and simply saying 걷다 (“to walk”)?

걷다 is a general verb for walking. 산책하다 literally means “to take a stroll” or “go for a walk,” implying a leisurely, recreational walk rather than just moving on foot.

How would I say this sentence in casual (banmal) form?

In banmal, you drop 저는 if context is obvious, and change -해요 to -해:
매일 공원에서 산책해.
Or with the subject: 나는 매일 공원에서 산책해.

Why isn’t there an object in this sentence?

Because 산책하다 is intransitive—you don’t “walk something,” you “go for a walk” (no direct object). If you wanted an object, you’d need a transitive verb (e.g., 책을 읽다 “read a book”).