jeoneun undongbogeul ipgo undonghaeyo.

I wear workout clothes and exercise.

Breakdown of jeoneun undongbogeul ipgo undonghaeyo.

• ~을: object particle
• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 운동하다: to exercise
• 운동복: workout clothes
• 입다: to wear

Questions & Answers about jeoneun undongbogeul ipgo undonghaeyo.

What is the role of 저는 in this sentence? Can I use 내가 or 제가 instead?

저는 consists of 저 (I, humble form) plus the topic particle -는. It marks “I” as the topic of the sentence—what the sentence is about.

• 내가 or 제가 use the subject particle -가, which emphasizes the subject in contexts like giving new information or contrasting.
• In most neutral statements about yourself, 저는 is preferred. You could use 제가 if you’re emphasizing that it’s you (e.g., 제가 운동해요 = “It’s me who exercises”).

What does 운동복을 mean and why is the particle -을 attached?

운동복 means exercise clothes or sportswear. The particle -을 is the accusative (object) marker. It tells us that 운동복 is the direct object of the verb 입다 (to wear).

• Use 을 after a noun ending in a consonant (운동복 ends in ㄱ).
• If the noun ended in a vowel, you’d use -를 instead.

Why is 입고 used here instead of 입어요?

입고 is the connective form of the verb 입다 (“to wear”). The ending -고 links two verbs or clauses, roughly meaning “and then” or “and.”

• 입고 운동해요 = “I wear (exercise clothes) and (then) exercise.”
• If you used 입어요, you’d need a separate sentence: 운동복을 입어요. 운동해요.

Can you explain how the connective ending -고 works in 입고 운동해요?

The connective -고 attaches to a verb stem to link it to the next action. It can express:
• Sequential actions (do A, and then do B)
• Simultaneous or related actions (doing A while doing B)
In this sentence, it indicates sequence: put on exercise clothes, then exercise.

Could I instead say 입은 다음에 운동해요? What’s the nuance compared to -고?

Yes, 입은 다음에 운동해요 literally means “After wearing …, I exercise.”

• -고 is more concise and commonly used in everyday speech.
• -은 다음에 explicitly marks the order (“after doing A”), so it’s clearer or slightly more formal.

Why do we say 운동해요 and not just 운동?

운동 by itself is a noun meaning “exercise.” To turn it into a verb, Korean attaches 하다 (“to do”). In the polite present tense:
운동 + 하다 → 운동해요
So 운동해요 means “I exercise.”

What does the -요 ending in 운동해요 indicate?

The ending -요 marks the polite speech level in present tense. It makes your statement polite and suitable for everyday interactions with strangers, coworkers, or acquaintances.

• Without -요, you’d have 운동해, which is informal (used with close friends or younger people).

Can the subject 저는 be dropped in casual speech?

Yes. Korean often omits the topic/subject if it’s clear from context. In a casual setting, you could say:
운동복을 입고 운동해요.
Or even more informal:
운동복 입고 운동해.
Just be mindful of formality and ensure your listener knows who is doing the action.