Learn Hardcore Korean: jeonyeoge naembie mureul kkeulhyeoseo paseutareul jorihal geoyeyo. - In the evening, I’m going to cook pasta by boiling water in a pot.

저녁에 means “in the evening.” The particle -에 attached to 저녁 marks a specific point in time when an action takes place. You can think of it like “at” or “in” in English. Omitting -에 (“저녁 물을 끓여서…”) might still be understood colloquially, but using -에 is more precise and grammatically standard for expressing “at that time.”

Why is 냄비에 using -에 rather than -에서 when talking about boiling water?

In 냄비에 물을 끓이다, the particle -에 marks the container or location in which you boil something (“in the pot”). -에서 usually emphasizes where an action originates or happens (“at”/“from” a place), but when talking about boiling or heating something inside a container, Korean uses -에 to show “inside” or “into.”

What is the function of -아서/어서 as seen in 끓여서, and how is it different from -고?

-아서/어서 is a connective ending that links actions in sequence or shows cause and effect. In 끓여서 파스타를 조리할 거예요, it means “after boiling (the water), I will cook the pasta.” Compared with -고, which simply lists actions (“boil and then cook”), -아서/어서 often implies a closer logical or temporal connection (“because/so” or “then”).

How does -ㄹ 거예요 turn 조리하다 into future tense?

To form the future tense in Korean with -ㄹ 거예요, you attach -ㄹ (or -을 after consonant stems) to the verb stem 조리하-, giving 조리할. Then add 거예요, which means “going to.” So 조리할 거예요 literally means “(I) am going to cook/prepare.”

Why is the verb 조리하다 used here instead of 요리하다?

Both 조리하다 and 요리하다 mean “to cook,” but 조리하다 is slightly more formal or technical—it’s often used in recipe instructions or professional contexts. 요리하다 is more general and conversational (“to make food”). In this sentence, 조리하다 emphasizes the act of preparing the pasta in a cooking process.

What’s the difference between 끓이다 and 삶다, since both can translate as “to boil”?

끓이다 means “to heat something so that it boils” (you boil water, soup, etc.). 삶다 means “to cook (food) in boiling water” (you boil eggs, vegetables, pasta directly). In this sentence they first 끓여서 (boil the water), then 조리할 (cook the pasta)—you could also say 파스타를 삶다 to mean “boil the pasta,” but the speaker chose to separate the two steps.

What speech level is -거예요 in 조리할 거예요, and when would you use it?

-거예요 is polite informal ( 존댓말 with the 요 ending). It’s suitable for everyday conversation with people you’re not extremely close to—friends you’re respectful of, acquaintances, or in casual service situations. It’s neither too formal nor too intimate.