jeoneun doni isseoyo.

subject particle

Breakdown of jeoneun doni isseoyo.

• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 있다: to have

Questions & Answers about jeoneun doni isseoyo.

Why are there two particles in 저는 돈이 있어요?

In Korean you often mark the topic of the sentence and the subject separately. 저는 uses the topic particle -는, so it means “as for me.” 돈이 uses the subject particle -이, meaning “money” is the subject of the verb 있어요 (“there is” / “have”). Literally it’s “As for me, money exists.”

Why do we use 이/가 on 돈 instead of the object markers 을/를?

The verb 있다 is intransitive—it expresses existence or possession by stating that something “exists.” The thing that exists takes the subject markers -이/가, not the object markers -을/를. If you used a transitive verb like 가지다 (“to hold/possess”), then 돈을 가지고 있어요 would use -을.

Why is 저 used instead of 나 for “I” in this sentence?

나 is the informal “I.” When you speak politely (using -요 endings), you should use the humble pronoun 저. So in polite conversation you say 저는, not 나는.

Can I drop 저는 or even 돈이 in casual speech?