gyogwaseoreul jasehi ilgeoyo.

I read the textbook in detail.

Breakdown of gyogwaseoreul jasehi ilgeoyo.

• 읽다: to read
• ~을: object particle
• 자세히: in detail
• 교과서: textbook

Questions & Answers about gyogwaseoreul jasehi ilgeoyo.

What is the grammatical function of 교과서를 in this sentence?

교과서를 is the direct object of 읽어요. It combines the noun 교과서 (“textbook”) with the object particle -를, indicating what is being read.

What does 자세히 mean, and what role does it play here?

자세히 is an adverb meaning “in detail,” “thoroughly,” or “carefully.” It modifies the verb 읽어요 by describing how the action is performed.

Why is 자세히 placed before the verb 읽어요 rather than after it?

In Korean, adverbs generally precede the verb they modify. Placing 자세히 before 읽어요 follows the normal adverb–verb order:
• [Adverb] + [Verb]
• 자세히 + 읽어요

How do you get 읽어요 from the dictionary form 읽다?

To form the present polite form:

1. Remove -다 from 읽다, leaving the stem 읽-.
2. Since the stem’s final vowel is ㅣ, attach -어요 (not -아요).
3. You get 읽어요 (“read[s]” in polite speech).

What level of formality and tense does 읽어요 convey?

읽어요 is present tense, polite (요-ending) speech, also called 해요체. It’s appropriate for:
• Conversations with strangers or acquaintances
• Informal but polite settings

Why is there no subject explicitly stated in this sentence?

Korean often omits subjects when they are clear from context. Here, the implied subject is likely “I” or “we.” If you need to specify, you could say:
• 저는 교과서를 자세히 읽어요. (“I read the textbook carefully.”)
• 우리는 교과서를 자세히 읽어요. (“We read the textbook carefully.”)

What is the basic word order of this sentence, and how does it differ from English?

The word order is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV), though the subject is omitted here:
• (Subject) + 교과서를 (Object) + 읽어요 (Verb)
English uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), so “I read the textbook carefully.”

Can I replace 자세히 with another adverb like 꼼꼼히 or 천천히? How would that change the nuance?

Yes, you can swap adverbs before 읽어요:
• 꼼꼼히 읽어요 – “read it meticulously,” with emphasis on carefulness and attention to every detail.
• 천천히 읽어요 – “read it slowly,” focusing on pace rather than level of detail.

What’s the difference between 읽어요 and the more formal 읽습니다?

Both are present-tense forms of 읽다, but differ in formality:
• 읽어요 – polite/informal (해요체), for everyday polite speech.
• 읽습니다 – polite/formal (합쇼체), for formal writing, speeches, or to show extra respect.