Learn Hardcore Korean: jageun raempeureul chaeksang wie dueosseoyo.

In Korean, you can’t place the plain adjective 작다 directly before a noun. To modify a noun, you need the adjective’s attributive form. For 작다, the attributive form is 작은. So 작은 램프 literally means “small lamp.”

What does the particle 를 after 램프 indicate?

를 (or 을 after a consonant) is the direct‐object marker. It tells you that 램프 is what’s being acted upon by the verb 두었어요 (“put”).

What is the function of 위에 in 책상 위에?

위 means “top” or “above,” and -에 is the locative particle indicating “at” or “on.” Together 위에 means “on top of.” So 책상 위에 means “on the desk.”

Could I use 위로 instead of 위에 here?

위로 also involves “upward” direction (“toward the top of”), so it suggests movement to the top. Since 두다 is placing something and leaving it there (a static location), you use 위에 (“at/on top of”), not 위로.

Why is the past tense 두었어요 and not 둔다?

두다 is the dictionary form (“to put”). To say “put” in polite past tense, you add -었어요 to the stem 두-, giving 두었어요. In casual speech you’ll often hear the contraction 뒀어요 (우 + 었 = 워).

What’s the nuance of 두다 versus 놓다 for “to put”?

Both can mean “to put” or “to place,” but:

둔다/두다 often implies “put and leave for a purpose later” (e.g., “I placed it there so I can use it”).
놓는다/놓다 is more neutral simply describing the action of putting.

Why is there no subject like “I” in 작은 램프를 책상 위에 두었어요?

Korean often omits subjects when they’re clear from context. Here the speaker (“I” or “we”) is understood, so you don’t need to say 제가 or 나는 unless you want to emphasize who did the action.

Can I reorder the sentence? For example, 책상 위에 작은 램프를 두었어요?

Yes. Korean is relatively flexible, but the verb goes last. You could say 책상 위에 작은 램프를 두었어요 to emphasize 책상 위에 (“on the desk”) or 작은 램프를 to emphasize the “small lamp.” Both are correct.