Learn Hardcore Korean: abeojineun jadongchareul unjeonhaeyo.

는 is the topic marker. It tells the listener that “아버지” (father) is what we’re talking about. Unlike the subject marker 가, which just points out the subject, 는 often adds a nuance of “as for …” or highlights contrast with other possible subjects. Here it simply sets “아버지” as the topic of our statement.

Why is 자동차 followed by 를 instead of 가 or 은?

를 is the direct-object marker. It shows that “자동차” (car) is receiving the action of the verb (being driven). You wouldn’t use 가 (subject marker) or 은 (topic marker) on “자동차” because it’s not the doer or the topic here—it’s what’s being driven.

Why is the verb 운전해요 positioned at the end of the sentence?

Korean follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) word order. That means the verb (or adjective) always comes last. So you start with the topic or subject (아버지는), then the object (자동차를), and finish with the verb (운전해요).

What is the relationship between 운전해요 and the dictionary form 운전하다?

운전하다 is the dictionary (base) form meaning “to drive.” To make it polite present tense, you drop -다 and add -해요, giving 운전해요 (“drives / is driving” politely).