Breakdown of jigeum keompyuteoreul sseoya haeyo.
~를~reul
object particle
지금jigeum
now
써야 하다sseoya hada
to have to use
컴퓨터keompyuteo
the computer
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Questions & Answers about jigeum keompyuteoreul sseoya haeyo.
What does 써야 해요 mean and how is it formed grammatically?
써야 해요 comes from the verb 쓰다 (“to use”) plus the necessity pattern -(으)아/어야 하다, which expresses “must” or “have to.” You take the verb stem 쓰-, add -어야, then attach the polite ending -해요, resulting in 써야 해요 (“have to use”).
Why is 를 used after 컴퓨터?
를 is the object marker in Korean. Since 컴퓨터 is the direct object of the transitive verb 쓰다, it takes 를 (or 을 after consonants) to indicate “the thing being used.”
Who is the subject of this sentence?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here the subject is implied and could be I (if you’re talking about yourself) or you (if you’re instructing someone else). The context tells you which one it is.
What’s the difference between -아/어야 해요 and -아/어야 돼요?
Both patterns express necessity (“must,” “have to”) and are largely interchangeable in conversational Korean. -아/어야 해요 uses 하다, while -아/어야 돼요 uses 되다. Some speakers find 돼요 a bit more casual, but in practice they mean the same thing.
Can I use 사용하다 instead of 쓰다 here?
Yes. 사용하다 is a more formal or technical term for “to use.” Saying 컴퓨터를 사용해야 해요 is perfectly correct and sounds more formal than 컴퓨터를 써야 해요.
Why is 지금 placed at the beginning, and can its position change?
지금 means “now” and is usually placed before the verb or at the start for emphasis. You could say 컴퓨터를 지금 써야 해요, but 지금 컴퓨터를 써야 해요 is more natural. Putting 지금 at the end (컴퓨터를 써야 해요 지금) would sound awkward.
Can I omit 지금 if the timing is obvious?
Yes. If it’s clear you’re talking about the present moment, simply saying 컴퓨터를 써야 해요 still means “(I/you) have to use the computer.”
How can I change the formality level of this sentence?
Adjust the ending according to the speech level:
• Casual: 지금 컴퓨터를 써야 돼.
• Polite: 지금 컴퓨터를 써야 해요.
• Formal written: 지금 컴퓨터를 써야 합니다.
• Formal spoken: 지금 컴퓨터를 써야 됩니다.