Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun doseogwaneseo soseoreul ilgeoyo.

저는 uses the topic marker -는, meaning “as for me.” It sets the topic/background.
제가 uses the subject marker -가, emphasizing “I” as the doer of the verb (often answers a “who?” question).
Example nuance:
- 누가 읽어요? → 제가 읽어요. (It’s me who reads.)
- (대화 주제로) 저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요. (As for me, I read novels at the library.)

Can I drop 저는?

Yes. Korean often omits known topics/subjects. 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요. is perfectly natural if “I” is clear from context.

What does -에서 mean here? How is it different from -에?

-에서 marks the place where an action happens: 도서관에서 = “at the library (doing something).”
-에 marks location of existence or destination:
- Location/state: 도서관에 있어요 (I’m at the library).
- Destination: 도서관에 가요 (I go to the library).
So with an action verb like 읽어요, use -에서.

Would 도서관에 소설을 읽어요 be acceptable?

Not in standard usage. With action verbs (read, study, eat, etc.), use -에서: 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요.

What does -을 in 소설을 do? When do I use -을 vs -를?

It’s the object marker.

After a consonant: -을 (소설→소설을)
After a vowel: -를 (영화→영화를) It marks what is being read.

Can I omit the object particle -을/를?

Often yes in casual speech when meaning is clear: 소설 읽어요. However, keeping it (소설을) is safer and always correct, especially in writing or formal contexts.

Does 소설 mean one specific novel or novels in general?

Korean nouns are number-neutral. 소설을 읽어요 can mean “read a novel” or “read novels.”

Specify one: 소설 한 권(을) 읽어요.
Specify a particular one: 그 소설(을) 읽어요.

Is the word order fixed?

Korean prefers S–(place)–(object)–V, but elements before the verb are flexible:

저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요. (most neutral)
도서관에서 저는 소설을 읽어요. (emphasizes place)
저는 소설을 도서관에서 읽어요. (emphasizes place after object) The verb almost always comes last.

What does the ending -어요 indicate?

It’s the polite (informal polite) non-past ending. It covers present habitual and simple present (“I read,” “I’m reading” depending on context). For more formal speech, use -습니다 (읽습니다).

How do you conjugate 읽다 to 읽어요?

Dictionary form: 읽다 → stem 읽-.
Choose -어 because the stem vowel isn’t ㅏ/ㅗ: 읽어.
Add polite 요: 읽어요. This verb is regular (no irregular changes).

How do you pronounce 읽어요?

Pronunciation: roughly “일거요” [il-geo-yo].
Why: 받침 ㄺ splits before a vowel—ㄹ stays as coda of the previous syllable, ㄱ moves to the next: 읽어 → [일거].
Related note: 읽다 is pronounced [익따].

Does 읽어요 mean “am reading” or “read”?

Both, depending on context. To be explicitly progressive, use -고 있어요:

도서관에서 소설을 읽고 있어요. = I am reading a novel(s) at the library (right now).

How do I say it in the past or future?

Past: 저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽었어요.
Future/intention: 저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽을 거예요. (Colloquial promise/decision: 읽을게요 in the right context.)

How do I make it negative?

Short negation: 저는 도서관에서 소설을 안 읽어요.
Formal/neutral negation: 저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽지 않아요.

How do I turn this into a question?

Keep the same order and rising intonation (or add a question word):

Yes/No: 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요?
Where: 어디에서(=어디서) 소설을 읽어요?
Who: 누가 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요?
What: 무엇을(=뭘) 도서관에서 읽어요?

If the subject is someone I should honor, what changes?

Use honorific subject marker and honorific verb:

할머니께서 도서관에서 소설을 읽으세요. Add -시- to the verb (읽으세요) and optionally 께서 for the subject.

Are there colloquial contractions I should know?

저는 → 전, 나는 → 난 (casual writing/speech).
어디에서 → 어디서 (both standard; 어디서 is more common).
You may hear 도서관서 for 도서관에서 in casual speech, but write 도서관에서.

Can -에서 also mean “from”?

Yes. With movement or range it means “from”:

도서관에서 집까지 걸어요. (I walk from the library to home.) In your sentence it means “at (the place of action).”

Any spacing or spelling tips for this sentence?

Particles attach to the noun: 도서관에서, 소설을, 저는 (no spaces between noun and particle).
Full correct spacing: 저는 도서관에서 소설을 읽어요.