Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about mokpyoga jungyohaeyo.
What does the particle -가 do in 목표가 중요해요?
- -가 is the subject marker attached to nouns ending in a vowel. Here it flags 목표 (“goal/target”) as the grammatical subject of the sentence.
- If a noun ends in a consonant, you would use -이 instead (e.g. 사람 + -이 → 사람이).
Why is the sentence ending -요 used in 중요해요?
- -요 is the polite informal sentence ending.
- It makes the statement polite enough for everyday conversation with strangers or acquaintances.
- You could switch to different levels of politeness:
• Casual: 목표가 중요해
• Formal polite: 목표가 중요합니다
How is 중요해요 formed from the dictionary form 중요하다?
- Take the verb/adjective stem by dropping -다: 중요하
- Since it’s a 하다-adjective, you remove 하 and add -어요 to the remaining stem vowel (ㅗ):
중요하 + 아요 → 중요해요 - The result behaves like a verb (Korean “descriptive verb”), so it conjugates to show tense and politeness.
What’s the difference between using 이/가 and 은/는 with 목표?
- -가/이 marks the subject and often introduces new information.
- -는/은 marks the topic and can imply contrast or general statements.
• 목표가 중요해요 – “(I’m telling you that) the goal is important.” (new focus)
• 목표는 중요해요 – “As for goals, they’re important (but…).” (general remark or contrast)
Does 목표가 중요해요 mean “The goal is important” or “Goals are important”?
- Korean doesn’t require explicit singular vs. plural marking.
- 목표가 중요해요 can mean either “The goal is important” or “Goals are important,” depending on context.
- To emphasize plurality, you could add a quantifier:
• 모든 목표가 중요해요 – “All goals are important.”
• 목표들이 중요해요 – (grammatically okay, but less natural)
How would you turn 목표가 중요해요 into a question?
- Keep the same words but raise your intonation:
목표가 중요해요? - Or add the question ending -습니까 for very formal speech:
목표가 중요합니까?
What’s the nuance difference between 목표 and 목적?
- 목표 literally means “target” or “aim.” It’s something you set as an endpoint you want to reach (often measurable).
- 목적 means “purpose” or “reason.” It describes the why behind actions, not necessarily a concrete target.
- Example:
• 프로젝트의 목적은 사용자 만족도 향상입니다. (The purpose of the project is to improve user satisfaction.)
• 이달의 목표는 매출 10% 증가입니다. (This month’s target is a 10% sales increase.)