Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun unjeoneul bae-ugo isseoyo.

저 means “I” (the humble form of “me”). The particle -는 is the topic marker, so 저는 literally means “As for me…” It sets 저 up as the topic of the sentence. If you used -가 (the subject marker), 제가 운전을 배우고 있어요 would emphasize that I (and not someone else) am the one who is learning. Both are grammatically correct, but 저는 is more neutral/general in statements.

Why is 운전을 followed by -을?

운전 (“driving”) here is the object of the verb 배우다 (“to learn”). In Korean, objects take -을 (after a consonant) or -를 (after a vowel). So 운전 + -을 = 운전을, marking “driving” as what you’re learning. Without the object particle, the sentence would feel incomplete or ambiguous.

Why is the main verb at the very end of the sentence?

Korean word order is typically Subject–Object–Verb (SOV). You first introduce your topic/subject (저는), then the object (운전을), and finally the verb phrase (배우고 있어요). Placing the verb at the end is a fundamental aspect of Korean syntax.

What does -고 있다 mean in 배우고 있어요?

The structure verb stem + -고 있다 expresses the progressive aspect, i.e. an action currently in progress. Here:
• 배우- (stem of 배우다, “to learn”)
• -고 있다 → “is/are …ing”
So 배우고 있어요 means “(I) am learning.”

Could I just say 배워요 instead of 배우고 있어요? What’s the difference?

배워요 can mean either “I learn” (habitual/general) or “I will learn” (future-like). It doesn’t clearly show that you’re in the middle of learning right now. 배우고 있어요 unambiguously means “I am in the process of learning at this moment.”

What politeness level is conveyed by the ending -요?

The ending -요 marks the sentence as polite (해요체). It’s appropriate for most everyday situations with strangers, colleagues, or people older than you—you’re being respectful but not overly formal.

Can I omit 저는 and just say 운전을 배우고 있어요?

Yes. Korean often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. If you’re already talking about yourself or it’s obvious who’s learning, 운전을 배우고 있어요 (“(I’m) learning to drive”) is perfectly fine.

What if I say 운전하고 있어요 instead—does that mean the same thing?

No. 운전하고 있어요 comes from the verb 운전하다 (“to drive”). That sentence means “I am driving (right now).” To mean “learning to drive,” you need 배우다 as the main verb: 운전을 배우고 있어요.