Learn Hardcore Korean: achim siktageseo keopireul masigeona chaegeul ilgeoyo. - At the breakfast table, I either drink coffee or read a book.

In this sentence, 에서 is the location marker. It shows where the action happens (“at the breakfast table”). Remember, 에 often marks a destination or existence (“to/at”), while 에서 marks the place where an action takes place.

Why is 아침 식탁 used instead of just 식탁 or 아침 식사?

아침 식탁 literally means “breakfast table,” specifying the table used in the morning.
– 식탁 alone just means “dining table” without any time reference.
– 아침 식사 means “breakfast” as a meal, not the table.

Why is there no subject like “I” in the sentence?

Korean often omits the subject when it’s understood from context. Here the speaker (“I” or “we”) is implied. If you need to be explicit, you could start with 저는:
저는 아침 식탁에서 커피를 마시거나 책을 읽어요.

How does -거나 work in 마시거나?

-거나 is a connective ending that links two verbs to mean “A or B.” You attach -거나 to the verb stem of the first action (here 마시-) and then state the second verb in its normal form. So 마시거나 책을 읽어요 = “drink or read.”

Why is -거나 only attached to 마시다 and not repeated on 읽다?

When connecting exactly two verbs, you only need -거나 on the first verb. If you had three actions, you’d attach -거나 to the first two and end the final verb normally.

Why is the object marker 를 used in 커피를 and 책을?

-를/을 marks the direct object. After a vowel-ending noun like 커피, use 를; after a consonant-ending noun like 책, you use 을, but here 책 ends with the consonant ㄱ, so it also takes 을.

What is the word order in 아침 식탁에서 커피를 마시거나 책을 읽어요?

Korean generally follows (Subject) – Time/Place – Object – Verb. Here:
– Subject is omitted (implied “I”).
– 아침 식탁에서 = place.
– 커피를 and 책을 = objects.
– 마시거나 … 읽어요 = verbs at the end.

What’s the difference between connecting verbs with -거나 versus -고?

-거나 means “or” (choice/alternative).
-고 means “and” (you do both).
So 커피를 마시거나 책을 읽어요 = “I drink coffee or read a book,” while 커피를 마시고 책을 읽어요 = “I drink coffee and read a book.”

Why is the verb ending -어요 used here?

-어요/아요 is the polite informal present tense ending. You can adjust politeness:
– Casual: 읽어
– Polite: 읽어요
– Formal: 읽습니다