Learn Hardcore Korean: doseogwaneseo sajeoneul bwayo. - I look at the dictionary in the library.

에서 marks the location where an action takes place (here, “looking at a dictionary”).
에 can mark a static location (“to be at”) or a destination (“to go to”), but when you’re describing an action happening somewhere, you use 에서.

What role does 을/를 play with 사전 in 사전을 봐요?

을/를 is the object marker. It tells you that 사전 is the direct object of the verb 보다. In English this is like adding “the” or “a” to signal what you’re acting upon: “look at the dictionary.”

Why does the verb 보다 appear at the very end of the sentence?

Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. The verb always comes last in the clause. So you list location → object → verb.

What does 봐요 indicate about tense and politeness?

봐요 is the present tense, polite (informal) form of 보다. It’s more casual than the formal style 봅니다, but still polite enough for everyday conversation.

How do you get 봐요 from the dictionary form 보다?

Drop -다 from 보다, leaving the stem 보-.
Since the stem vowel is ㅗ, you attach -아요 (아/어요 rule).
보 + 아요 contracts to 봐요 (ㅗ + 아 → ㅘ).

I thought 보다 means “to see.” How can it be used as “to look up” or “to consult” a dictionary?

In Korean, 보다 literally means “to see,” but when you use it with books, maps, or dictionaries, it extends to “to look at,” “to browse,” or “to consult.” Saying 사전을 봐요 implies you’re using or referring to the dictionary to find information.

How would you say this sentence in the past and future tenses?

Past (polite): 도서관에서 사전을 봤어요.
Future (polite): 도서관에서 사전을 볼 거예요.

Can I omit 도서관에서 or 사전을 if context is clear?

Yes. If it’s obvious you’re at the library, you can say 사전을 봐요. If you’re already talking about the dictionary, you can say 도서관에서 봐요. However, in neutral speech you usually keep the particles to avoid ambiguity.

What’s the difference between 사전을 봐요 and 사전을 읽어요?

사전을 봐요: “to look at” or “to consult” the dictionary—often to find a word or skim entries.
사전을 읽어요: “to read” the dictionary—implies reading its content more thoroughly (which is less common in practice).