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chingureul ttarayo.

친구를 따라요.chingureul ttarayo.
I follow a friend.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Korean
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Questions & Answers about chingureul ttarayo.

What is the function of -를 in 친구를 따라요?
-를 is the direct-object marking particle. In Korean, you attach -를 (after a vowel) or -을 (after a consonant) to show that the noun is the object of the verb. Here 친구 (friend) ends in a vowel, so we use 친구를 to mean “(I) follow a friend.”
What is the dictionary form of 따라요, and what does that verb mean?
The dictionary (infinitive) form is 따르다. It means to follow (someone or something), to accompany, or to abide by (a rule or instruction) depending on context.
Why does 따르다 become 따라요 instead of 따르아요 when conjugated?

따르다 is a 르-irregular verb. When you add the -아/어요 ending to a stem ending in 르, you:
1) Drop the 르
2) Double the ㄹ onto the previous syllable
3) Attach the appropriate vowel ending

So:
따르다 → stem 따르- → drop 르, double ㄹ → 따랄- → add -아요 → 따라요.

Where is the subject in 친구를 따라요, and why isn’t it written?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. In 친구를 따라요, the subject (e.g., 저 “I”) is implied. If needed, you could make it explicit: (제가) 친구를 따라요.
What speech level does the ending -아요 (in 따라요) represent?
The -아요/어요 ending is the informal polite level of speech (존댓말). It’s commonly used in everyday conversation with people you’re not extremely close to or with those younger than you, and is softer than the very formal -습니다 ending.
How would you say “My friend follows me” in Korean?

Switch the roles of subject and object:
친구가 저를 따라요
Here 친구가 marks “my friend” as the subject, 저를 marks “me” as the object, and 따라요 is “(he/she) follows.”

How do you express the past and future tenses of 따르다?

Past (informal polite):
따랐어요 (“I followed”)
– 르-irregular pattern: 따르다 → 따랐다 → 따랐어요

Future (informal polite):
따를 거예요 (“I will follow”)
– Attach -ㄹ 거예요 to the stem: 따르다 → 따를 거예요

Can 따르다 be used for following non-human things like instructions or rules?

Yes. You can follow rules, guidelines, advice, etc., with the same verb:
규칙을 따르다 (to follow rules)
지침을 따라요 (I follow the guidelines)
It conveys compliance or adherence.

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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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