Learn Hardcore Korean: keompyuteo hwamyeoni jogeum jagayo.

It marks 컴퓨터 화면 (“computer screen”) as the grammatical subject. In Korean, 이 follows nouns ending in a consonant to indicate “subject,” while 가 follows vowel-ending nouns.

Is 작아요 considered a verb or an adjective in Korean, and how is it formed?

Korean grammar treats descriptive words like 작다 (“to be small”) as “descriptive verbs.” 작아요 is the polite present tense form of 작다, created by attaching the polite ending -아요 to the stem 작-.

What is the role of 조금 in this sentence? Can it be replaced?

조금 is an adverb meaning “a little” or “slightly.” It modifies the descriptive verb, softening its intensity. You can replace 조금 with synonyms like 좀 (more casual) or 약간 (more formal).

Why is the adjective placed at the end of the sentence?

Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure. Predicates (verbs or descriptive verbs) always come at the end, after any subjects, objects, or adverbs.

What level of politeness is conveyed by the ending -아요?

The -아요 ending is the polite informal style (해요체). It’s used in everyday polite speech with strangers or people you’re not very close to, without sounding too stiff.

Could you use 컴퓨터 화면이 조금 작습니다 instead? What’s the difference?

Yes. 작습니다 uses the formal polite ending -습니다 (합쇼체). It’s appropriate in presentations, official contexts, or when addressing superiors, making the tone more formal than 작아요.

Why don’t we say 컴퓨터의 화면이 instead of 컴퓨터 화면이?

Many Korean noun-noun compounds drop 의 when the relationship is clear. 컴퓨터 화면 is a fixed compound (“computer screen”). Using 컴퓨터의 화면 is grammatically correct but sounds more formal or literary.

How would you make this sentence more casual, as if talking to a close friend?

In casual speech (반말), you drop 요 and often use 좀 for “a little.” So it becomes 컴퓨터 화면이 좀 작아. The structure stays SOV, but the ending is simpler.