Unit 2: Object Particles -을/를

In Easy Korean, we use object particles to explicitly mark the object of an action. The object is the noun that the verb is acting upon.

The object particles are -을 and -를.

Rules

• Nouns ending in a consonant: Add -을
• 책 (book) + 을 -> 책을
• 수박 (watermelon) + 을 -> 수박을
• Nouns ending in a vowel: Add -를
• 사과 (apple) + 를 -> 사과를
• 커피 (coffee) + 를 -> 커피를

Why use object particles?

In Korean, the word order is flexible as long as the verb is at the end. Particles clarify the role of the noun in the sentence. - 저는 사과를 먹어요. (I eat an apple.) - 사과를 저는 먹어요. (As for the apple, I eat it.)

Note: In casual spoken Korean, object particles are often dropped if the context is clear!

Examples

• 물을 마셔요. (I drink water.)
• 영화를 봐요. (I watch a movie.)