Learn Hardcore Korean: yeogeseo jihacheoreul tayo. - I take the subway at the station.

에: location of existence/destination (e.g., 역에 가요 “I go to the station,” 역에 있어요 “I’m at the station”).
에서: location of an action (e.g., 역에서 기다려요, 역에서 지하철을 타요).

Why is 을 used after 지하철?

을/를 marks the direct object of the verb.

After a final consonant: 을 (e.g., 지하철 → 지하철을).
After a vowel: 를 (e.g., 택시 → 택시를, 버스 → 버스를).

Does 타요 mean “ride,” “take,” or “get on”?

All can be correct depending on context. 타다 covers boarding and riding.

N을/를 타다: take/ride N (general).
N에 타다: get on/board N (focus on the act of boarding).
N을/를 타고 가다/오다: go/come by N (method of movement).
N을/를 타고 있다: be riding/aboard N now.

What politeness level is 타요? How does it compare to other forms?

타요 is the informal polite present (해요체). Others:

탑니다: formal polite (more official).
탄다: plain style (written, narration, monologue).
타: casual/bare form in banmal; with friends (often imperative-like unless context clarifies).
Imperative/request: 타세요 (please get on), formal 타십시오.

Why is there no subject like “I” in the sentence?

Korean frequently omits subjects when they’re understood from context. You can add one for clarity:

저는/우리는 역에서 지하철을 타요.
Topic or subject markers (은/는, 이/가) are optional when the meaning is clear.

Can I drop the object particle 를/을 here?

Yes, in casual speech objects are often unmarked if there’s no ambiguity:

역에서 지하철 타요 (natural in conversation). In careful writing or when clarity matters, keep 을/를.

Can I say 역에 지하철을 타요?

That’s unnatural. 에 marks a static location or destination, but 타다 is an action done at a place, so use 에서. If you want to use 에, restructure: 역에 가서 지하철을 타요 (I go to the station and take the subway).

How flexible is the word order?

Korean allows some flexibility, but the default is Place + Object + Verb:

Default: 역에서 지하철을 타요.
Emphasis on location: 지하철을 역에서 타요. Avoid splitting the object away from the verb in awkward ways unless for afterthoughts in speech.

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

Linking (연음) applies:

역에서 → [여게서] (the final ㄱ links to the following vowel, sounding like g).
지하철을 → [지하처를] (the final ㄹ links to 을).
Full: [여게서 지하처를 타요].

Is 역 enough, or should I say 지하철역?

역 by itself often implies a train/subway station from context. To be explicit:

지하철역: subway station
기차역: (intercity) train station Using 지하철역에서 adds clarity if there’s any chance of confusion.

How do I add a specific station name?

Put the station name before 역:

강남역에서 지하철을 타요. Pattern: [Station name] + 역 + 에서 …

How do I say this in past, future, or negative?

Past: 역에서 지하철을 탔어요.
Future/intention: 역에서 지하철을 탈 거예요.
Habitual (present): 역에서 지하철을 타요.
Negative: 역에서 지하철을 안 타요 / 타지 않아요.
Cannot: 역에서 지하철을 못 타요.

What’s the difference between N을/를 타다 and N에 타다?

N을/를 타다: take/ride N in general (most common with public transport: 지하철을 타요, 버스를 타요).
N에 타다: get on/board N (focus on the boarding action: 지하철에 타요, 차에 타요). Both are correct; choose based on whether you’re emphasizing riding vs. the act of getting on.

How do I say I transfer to the subway at the station?

역에서 지하철로 갈아타요.
Formal/sino-Korean: 역에서 지하철로 환승해요. Use -로 to mark what you switch to.

Can the present tense 타요 refer to the near future?

Yes. Korean present often covers scheduled or near-future actions when time is clear:

내일 역에서 지하철을 타요 = I’ll take the subway at the station tomorrow. Context words like 오늘/내일/곧 clarify the time.

Is 에서 ever shortened in speech?

Colloquially, 에서 can reduce to 서 after many nouns in fast speech (e.g., 역서). It’s common in conversation but nonstandard in careful writing.