Questions & Answers about seorabi 2gae isseoyo.
What does 서랍이 mean here, and why is it marked with 이?
서랍 means “drawer.” The particle 이 is the subject marker used after a noun ending in a consonant. It tells us that drawers are the subject of the verb 있다 (“to exist”/“to have”).
Why is 2개 used instead of just 2?
In Korean you can’t simply say a number plus a noun—you need a counter. 개 is the general counter for objects. The numeral (here Sino-Korean “2”) precedes the counter, so 2개 literally means “two items.”
Can we use a native Korean number instead of the Sino-Korean “2”?
Yes! With 개, native numbers are common for small quantities. You can say 두 개 있어요 instead of 2개 있어요. Both mean “there are two drawers.”
What’s the nuance of 있어요 here?
있어요 is the polite informal form of 있다. It expresses existence (“there are”) or possession (“I have”). In this sentence it simply states that two drawers exist or are available.
Could I say 서랍이 두 개 있습니다 instead?
Absolutely. 있습니다 is the formal (honorific) declarative ending, suitable for written language or polite situations.