urineun yaksogeul jikiryeogo noryeokhae.

object particle

Breakdown of urineun yaksogeul jikiryeogo noryeokhae.

• ~는: topic particle
• 우리: we
• 약속: promise

Questions & Answers about urineun yaksogeul jikiryeogo noryeokhae.

What does the ending -려고 mean and how is it working here?

-(으)려고 attaches to a verb stem to express intention or purpose, roughly “in order to” or “with the aim of.”

• 지키- + -(으)려고 → 지키려고 = “in order to keep.”
  In this sentence, 지키려고 forms a purpose clause that explains why the subject 노력해 (“makes an effort/tries”).

Is 지키려고 노력해 redundant since 노력하다 already means “to try”?

Not redundant—this is a very natural collocation.

• 노력하다 = to make an effort (general).
• V-(으)려고 노력하다 = to make an effort with the specific aim of doing V (stronger/more deliberate than just V-(으)려고 하다 “intend/try to”).
  Compare:
• 약속을 지키려고 해 = “I’m trying/intend to keep (a promise).”
• 약속을 지키려고 노력해 = “I’m making a real effort to keep (a promise).”

Why is it 우리는 and not 우리가?

• 는/은 marks a topic (as for us), often used for general statements or contrast.
• 가/이 marks the grammatical subject and tends to focus/emphasize who does the action.
  So:
• 우리는 약속을… = “As for us, we…” (neutral/generic).
• 우리가 약속을… = “We (as opposed to others)…” (emphasis on “we”).