jeoneun dongmureul johahaeyo.

I like animals.

Breakdown of jeoneun dongmureul johahaeyo.

• ~을: object particle
• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 좋아하다: to like
• 동물: animal

Questions & Answers about jeoneun dongmureul johahaeyo.

What does 저는 mean and why is -는 attached?

저 means “I” (in humble or polite contexts). -는 is the topic particle, so 저는 literally means “as for me.” It introduces “me” as the topic of the sentence rather than just the grammatical subject.

Why is 동물 followed by -을 and what does 동물을 mean?

동물 means “animal.” Korean uses two object markers: -을 after a consonant, -를 after a vowel. Since 동물 ends in the consonant ㄹ, you attach -을. Thus 동물을 means “(the) animal(s)” as the direct object.

What’s the difference between 저는 and 제가?

• 저는 (저 + 는) marks “I” as the topic of the sentence, implying “as for me….”
• 제가 (저 + 가) marks “I” as the subject, often used to introduce new information or to emphasize who is doing something.
  In sentences about preferences, 저는 is more neutral and common.

How does 좋아해요 relate to the dictionary form 좋아하다?

좋아하다 is the dictionary (infinitive) form meaning “to like.” To make it polite present tense:

1. Drop -다 → 좋아하-
2. Add the polite ending -아요/어요, which here becomes -해요
   So 좋아해요 = “(I) like (it/them).”

Why is the verb 좋아해요 at the end of the sentence?

Korean follows Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order. You first state the topic (저는), then the object (동물을), and finally the verb (좋아해요), literally “I–animals–like.”

How can I change the politeness or formality of 좋아해요?

You can switch endings to adjust tone: • 좋아해 – informal/friendly (no final -요)
• 좋아해요 – polite informal (everyday speech)
• 좋아합니다 – polite formal (announcements, speeches)
• 좋아한다 – plain/neutral (writing, diary entries)

Can I drop 저는 or 동물을 in this sentence?

Yes. Korean often omits topics/objects when context is clear: • 동물을 좋아해요 – “I like animals” (topic understood)
• 저는 좋아해요 – “I like (it/them)” (object understood)
• 좋아해요 – “(I) like (it/them)” (both understood)

How do I say “I don’t like animals” in Korean?

Negate the verb in two common ways: • 저는 동물을 안 좋아해요. (spoken, casual negation)
• 저는 동물을 좋아하지 않아요. (more formal/explicit)