jeoneun i daneo tteuseul mollayo.

object particle

Breakdown of jeoneun i daneo tteuseul mollayo.

• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 이: this

Questions & Answers about jeoneun i daneo tteuseul mollayo.

Why is 저는 used instead of 나 or 내가, and what does the particle -는 do?

• 저 is the humble/polite form of “I”; 나 is casual and typically used among close friends or when you’re younger.
• 내가 uses -가, the subject marker, which focuses on “I” as the doer. 저는 uses -는, the topic marker, giving the nuance “As for me …”.
• In a polite sentence you usually choose 저는 to introduce your topic respectfully.

What role does 이 play in 이 단어?

• 이 here is a demonstrative determiner meaning this, placed directly before the noun 단어 (word) to specify “this word.”
• It’s different from the subject particle -이, which would come after a noun (e.g. 단어
  • -이 = 단어가).

Why is there no 의 between 단어 and 뜻? Can I say 이 단어의 뜻을 몰라요?

• Yes, you can say 이 단어의 뜻을 몰라요. 의 is the possessive/genitive marker (“of”).
• In everyday conversation Koreans often drop 의 and simply stack nouns: 단어 뜻 instead of 단어의 뜻. Both mean the meaning of the word.