sijangeseo sajineul jjigeoyo.

시장에서 사진을 찍어요.sijangeseo sajineul jjigeoyo.
I take pictures at the market.
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Questions & Answers about sijangeseo sajineul jjigeoyo.

Why is there no subject I in 시장에서 사진을 찍어요?

In Korean, it’s common to omit the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, “I” (or “we”) is implied rather than stated. If you need to emphasize or clarify the subject, you can add:

  • 저는 시장에서 사진을 찍어요. (“I take photos at the market.”)
  • 우리는 시장에서 사진을 찍어요. (“We take photos at the market.”)
What does the particle -에서 in 시장에서 mean?

-에서 is the locative particle that marks where an action takes place.

  • 시장에서 = “at the market,” the location of the action.
    Contrast with -에, which can mark a destination (“to the market”) or a static location (“at the market” when describing existence).
Why is 사진을 used instead of just 사진?

-을 is the object-marking particle. It shows that 사진 (“photo”) is the direct object of the verb 찍어요.

  • Use -을 after a noun ending in a consonant (사진).
  • Use -를 after a noun ending in a vowel (예: 영화를).
What does 찍어요 mean, and what is its dictionary form?

찍어요 is the polite present tense of the verb 찍다.

  • Dictionary form: 찍다 (“to take [a photo], to shoot”).
  • Polite informal style (also called “요-form”) for talking in everyday situations.
What level of politeness does the -요 ending indicate?

The -요 ending makes the sentence polite but not overly formal. It’s suitable for:

  • Strangers you meet for the first time
  • Casual conversations with acquaintances
  • Everyday situations in shops, markets, cafes

For more formal speech (e.g., in a speech or to a VIP), you could use 찍습니다.

How do I change 시장에서 사진을 찍어요 into the past tense?

Replace the present-tense ending -어요 with the past tense -었어요:

  • 시장에서 사진을 찍었어요. (“I took photos at the market.”)

In plain (dictionary) style, you’d say 시장에서 사진을 찍었다.

How can I suggest “Let’s take a picture at the market”?

There are a few ways to make suggestions in Korean:

  • Casual among friends: 시장에서 사진을 찍자.
  • Polite with rising intonation: 시장에서 사진을 찍어요? (This can sound like “Shall we…?”)
  • Polite “shall we try…?”: 시장에서 사진을 찍어 볼까요?
Could I say 사진을 시장에서 찍어요 instead? What about word order?

Korean word order is relatively flexible thanks to particles, but the default is:
Subject – (Time) – (Place) – Object – Verb.

  • 시장에서 사진을 찍어요 follows that order.
  • You could say 사진을 시장에서 찍어요, but it shifts emphasis onto 사진 and sounds slightly marked.
    In most contexts, placing the location phrase 시장에서 first feels the most natural.