chaeksanggwa uija saie keompyuteoga isseoyo.

There is a computer between the desk and the chair.

Breakdown of chaeksanggwa uija saie keompyuteoga isseoyo.

• ~에: destination particle
• ~가: subject particle
• 있다: to be
• 과: and
• 컴퓨터: computer
• 책상: desk
• 의자: chair
• 사이: space

Questions & Answers about chaeksanggwa uija saie keompyuteoga isseoyo.

Why is 과 used after 책상 instead of 와?

In Korean, both 과 and 와 mean “and” when connecting nouns. The rule is:

• Use 과 after a noun ending in a consonant.
• Use 와 after a noun ending in a vowel.
  Since 책상 ends with the consonant “ㅇ,” we attach 과 to get 책상과. If it were 의자, which ends in the vowel “ㅏ,” you’d use 와 (e.g. 의자와).

What does 사이에 mean, and how is it formed?

사이 means “space,” “gap,” or “interval.” When you want to say “between X and Y,” you:

1. Attach the coordinating particle (과/와) to each noun: 책상과 의자
2. Add 사이 after the two nouns: 책상과 의자 사이 (“the space between the desk and the chair”)
3. Mark that space as a location with 에: 책상과 의자 사이에 (“at/in between the desk and the chair”)

Why is there an 에 after 사이?

Korean uses 에 to mark a static location (“at,” “in,” “on”). Here, 사이 (“space between”) is a noun denoting where something exists. By adding 에, you turn it into a locative phrase:
책상과 의자 사이에 = “at/in the space between the desk and the chair.”

Why does the sentence end with 있어요?

있어요 is the polite present form of the verb 있다, meaning “to exist” or “to have.” In a locative sentence like this, 있다 tells us that a computer exists in that location.

Why is 컴퓨터 followed by the subject marker 가? Could I use 는 instead?

• 가 marks 컴퓨터 as the subject whose existence is being stated: 컴퓨터가 있어요 = “There is a computer.”
• You could use 는 (the topic marker) instead—컴퓨터는 있어요—but that often implies contrast or prior mention (“As for the computer, it exists [though something else does not]”). Using 가 is the most neutral way to say “There is a computer.”

How would I make this sentence negative?

Replace 있어요 with its negative counterpart 없어요:
책상과 의자 사이에 컴퓨터가 없어요.
= “There is no computer between the desk and the chair.”

How do I turn it into a question?

You can simply raise your intonation at the end, since 있어요 is already polite.
책상과 의자 사이에 컴퓨터가 있어요?
= “Is there a computer between the desk and the chair?”
For a slightly more formal written question, you could use 있습니까? or 있나요?.

Can I use 사이에서 instead of 사이에?

• 사이에 marks a static position “between X and Y.”
• 사이에서 often emphasizes an action “happening among” or “in the midst of” multiple things.
  For a plain locative sentence about existence, 사이에 is more natural.

Could I replace 과/와 with 하고 to say “and”?

Yes. 하고 is an informal coordinating particle that works regardless of the final sound of the preceding noun. So you could say:
책상하고 의자 사이에 컴퓨터가 있어요.
This is perfectly acceptable in conversation, though 과/와 is slightly more formal or written.