Learn Hardcore Korean: nae jip geuncheo-e doseogwani isseoyo.

내 is a contraction of 나의, meaning my. It’s the casual/neutral way to say “my.” 제 comes from 저의 and is more formally polite (“my” when speaking to someone to whom you want to show respect). Both mean “my,” but 내 is used in everyday speech, while 제 is slightly more honorific.

Why is there no particle between 내 and 집?

내 already functions as a possessive determiner modifying 집 (“house”), so you don’t need an extra particle there. Together, 내 집 simply means my house.

What does 근처에 mean, and why do we attach 에 to 근처?

근처 is a noun meaning vicinity or nearby area. The particle 에 marks a location where something exists or happens. So 근처에 = in/at the vicinity (i.e. “nearby”).

What role does 이 play in 도서관이?

이 is the subject particle attached to a noun ending in a consonant. It marks 도서관 (library) as the subject of the sentence, indicating “the library” is what exists near your house.

Why is 있어요 used here? Is that the dictionary form?

있어요 is the polite present tense form of the verb 있다, which means to exist or to have. The dictionary (base) form is 있다. We use 있어요 to keep the sentence polite but conversational.

Could we use 은/는 instead of 이/가 after 도서관? What changes?

Yes. If you say 도서관은 있어요, you’re making the library the topic: “As for the library, it’s near my house.” Using 은/는 adds a slight contrast or emphasis, whereas 이/가 simply states existence without that topical nuance.

What’s the general word order pattern for this kind of existence sentence?

The typical pattern is:
[Location + 에] → [Subject + 이/가] → [있다/없다].
So here: 내 집 근처에 (location) + 도서관이 (subject) + 있어요 (verb).

If I want to ask “Where is the library?” in Korean, how would I say it?

You’d ask: 도서관이 어디에 있어요?
Literally: “Library + where + at.exist?” You can answer: 내 집 근처에 있어요. (“It’s near my house.”)