honja yeonghwagwane gayo.

I go to the movie theater alone.

Breakdown of honja yeonghwagwane gayo.

• 가다: to go
• ~에: destination particle
• 영화관: movie theater
• 혼자: alone

Questions & Answers about honja yeonghwagwane gayo.

What does 혼자 mean, and why is it used without a particle here?

혼자 literally means “alone” or “by oneself.” Here it functions as an adverb, modifying the verb 가요 (“go”). Because it’s an adverb, it doesn’t need a case marker like 을/를 or 은/는. If you wanted to emphasize “alone” as a manner or state, you could also say 혼자서, but 혼자 is more common in everyday speech.

Why is 영화관에 marked with 에 instead of 에서?

The particle 에 indicates direction or destination—“to the movie theater.” In contrast, 에서 marks the location where an action takes place—“at the movie theater.” Since this sentence is about going somewhere (movement toward), you use 에.

What is the nuance difference between 영화관에 가요 (“go to the movie theater”) and 영화관에 있어요 (“am at the movie theater”)?

• 영화관에 가요: Indicates movement toward the movie theater (you’re on your way or you plan to go).
• 영화관에 있어요: Describes your current location (you are already at the movie theater).

What tense and speech level is 가요?

가요 is the present-tense form of 가다 (“to go”) in the polite, non-formal style (called the 하십시오체’s less formal cousin). It’s appropriate for most everyday conversations with strangers, acquaintances, or anyone you’re not extremely close with.

Can I use 갔어요 instead of 가요 if I want to say “I went to the movie theater alone”?

Yes. 혼자 영화관에 갔어요 changes the tense to past and remains polite. 갔어요 is the polite past form of 가다.

Why isn’t there a subject in this sentence? Shouldn’t I say 제가 or 나는?

In Korean, subjects are often omitted when they’re clear from context. If you’re talking about your own action, you don’t have to state 저는 or 내가. However, you could say 저 혼자 영화관에 가요 if you want to emphasize “I alone am going to the movie theater.”

Is there any difference between 혼자 영화관에 가요 and 영화관에 혼자 가요?

Both sentences are grammatically correct and mean the same thing. The difference is subtle emphasis:

• 혼자 영화관에 가요: Puts a little more focus on 혼자 (“alone”).
• 영화관에 혼자 가요: Emphasizes the destination first, then that you’re going alone.

Could I say 혼자서 영화관에 가요? If so, how does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can. 혼자서 also means “alone,” but it explicitly highlights that you do the action entirely by yourself. It’s slightly more formal than 혼자, but in everyday speech they’re often interchangeable here.