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Breakdown of eoje gichapyoreul yeyakhaesseoyo.
~를~reul
object particle
어제eoje
yesterday
예약하다yeyakhada
to reserve
기차표gichapyo
train ticket
Questions & Answers about eoje gichapyoreul yeyakhaesseoyo.
Why is there no subject in this sentence?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, the speaker (“I” or “we”) is understood, so you don’t need to say 저는 or 제가. The verb ending 했어요 and the situation imply who did the action.
Why is 어제 (yesterday) placed at the beginning?
Korean has a fairly flexible word order but typically follows time–subject–object–verb or topic–comment order. Placing a time expression like 어제 at the front sets the time frame first, which is very common.
What role does -를 play in 기차표를 예약했어요?
The particle -를 marks the direct object of the verb 예약하다 (to reserve). It shows that 기차표 (train ticket) is the thing being reserved.
What does 예약했어요 break down into, and why this form?
예약했어요 = 예약하 (reserve) + -았/었- (past tense marker) + -어요 (polite informal ending).
- -었- attaches because 예약하 is a 하-verb.
- -어요 makes the sentence polite yet conversational.
Could I use 예매했어요 instead of 예약했어요?
Yes. 예매하다 also means “to book” or “to purchase a ticket in advance,” and it’s often used for trains, movies, concerts, etc. Saying 기차표를 예매했어요 is perfectly natural.
Why not say 기차를 예약했어요 (“I reserved the train”)?
Technically you could, but it sounds odd because you’re not reserving the train itself, but the ticket for the train. 기차표를 예약했어요 precisely indicates you reserved tickets.
Can I move 어제 elsewhere, like 기차표를 어제 예약했어요?
Yes. Korean word order is flexible. 기차표를 어제 예약했어요 is also correct; it simply shifts emphasis slightly onto 어제.
What’s the difference between 예약하다 and 예약되다?
- 예약하다 is an active verb meaning “to reserve” (you do the action).
- 예약되다 is the passive form meaning “to be reserved.”
Use 예약했어요 when you actively made the reservation.
More from this lesson
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“How do speech levels work in Korean?”
Korean has multiple speech levels that indicate formality and politeness. The most common are the formal polite (‑습니다/‑ㅂ니다), informal polite (‑아요/‑어요), and casual (‑아/‑어) forms. Which level you use depends on who you're speaking to and the social context.
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