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Questions & Answers about bakmulgwani jaemiisseoyo.
Why is there 이 after 박물관? What function does it serve?
The particle 이 marks 박물관 as the subject of the sentence. Korean uses 이/가 to indicate who or what is performing the action or possessing the described property—in this case, “the museum” is the thing that “is fun/interesting.”
What’s the difference between using 이/가 and 은/는 in this sentence?
이/가 highlights new or specific information (subject marker), while 은/는 sets up a topic or contrast.
- 박물관이 재미있어요: “The museum (in particular) is fun/interesting.”
- 박물관은 재미있어요: “As for the museum, it’s fun/interesting (perhaps in contrast to something else).”
What does 재미있어요 literally mean? Is it “fun” or “interesting”?
재미있어요 comes from the descriptive verb 재미있다, literally “to have fun” or “to have interest.” It’s commonly translated as both “to be fun” and “to be interesting.” Context decides which English word feels more natural.
Where is the English “is” in this sentence? I don’t see a copula.
Korean descriptive verbs (like 재미있다) include what English treats as “to be.” The verb 있다 here carries the meaning “to be fun/interesting,” and the ending -어요 turns it into the polite present tense: 재미있어요 = “is fun/interesting.”
How do I make the sentence negative: “The museum is not fun”?
Use the antonym 재미없다 (not fun/interesting). In polite present tense it becomes:
박물관이 재미없어요.
Literally, “The museum has no fun/interest.”
How do I say “The museum was fun” in past tense?
Change the ending -어요 to the past tense -었어요:
박물관이 재미있었어요 = “The museum was fun/interesting.”
How do I turn it into a question: “Is the museum fun?”
Simply use a rising intonation at the end:
박물관이 재미있어요?
For a more formal question ending, you can say:
박물관이 재미있습니까?
What does the -요 in 재미있어요 do?
The -요 ending makes the sentence polite (informal polite speech level). It’s used when you want to be courteous without being overly formal.
Can I drop the particle and just say 박물관 재미있어요?
Yes—especially in casual spoken Korean, particles are often omitted but the meaning stays clear. In formal writing or to avoid ambiguity, it’s better to include 이/가.