Object Marker (을/를)¶
Quick Reference
을/를 (Object Marker) - Marks what receives the action
- 을: Use after consonant (책을, 밥을, 물을)
- 를: Use after vowel (나를, 커피를, 차를)
- Marks the direct object of transitive verbs
- Can be omitted in casual speech
What is the Object Marker?¶
The object particle 을/를 marks the direct object - the thing that receives the action of the verb.
In "I eat rice", rice is the object (what is being eaten). In Korean: 저는 밥을 먹어요
When to Use 을/를¶
With Transitive Verbs¶
Transitive verbs are actions done TO something:
- 먹다 (to eat) → 밥을 먹다 (eat rice)
- 마시다 (to drink) → 물을 마시다 (drink water)
- 읽다 (to read) → 책을 읽다 (read a book)
- 보다 (to see/watch) → 영화를 보다 (watch a movie)
- 듣다 (to listen) → 음악을 듣다 (listen to music)
- 만들다 (to make) → 음식을 만들다 (make food)
- 사다 (to buy) → 옷을 사다 (buy clothes)
- 쓰다 (to write) → 편지를 쓰다 (write a letter)
Examples in Full Sentences:¶
- 저는 한국어를 공부해요 (I study Korean)
- 친구가 책을 읽어요 (My friend reads a book)
- 우리는 영화를 봐요 (We watch a movie)
- 학생들이 숙제를 해요 (Students do homework)
- 엄마가 저녁을 만들어요 (Mom makes dinner)
Choosing Between 을 and 를¶
The rule is simple: look at the last letter of the noun.
Use 을 after a consonant:¶
| Noun | Ends with | Particle | Full form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 책 (book) | ㄱ (consonant) | 을 | 책을 |
| 밥 (rice) | ㅂ (consonant) | 을 | 밥을 |
| 물 (water) | ㄹ (consonant) | 을 | 물을 |
| 한국 (Korea) | ㄱ (consonant) | 을 | 한국을 |
Use 를 after a vowel:¶
| Noun | Ends with | Particle | Full form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나 (I/me) | 나 (vowel) | 를 | 나를 |
| 커피 (coffee) | 피 (vowel) | 를 | 커피를 |
| 차 (tea) | 차 (vowel) | 를 | 차를 |
| 라면 (ramen) | 면 (vowel ㄴ+vowel) | 을 | 라면을 |
Note: 라면 ends with ㄴ (consonant), so it takes 을!
Intransitive Verbs (No Object)¶
Some verbs don't take objects - you CAN'T use 을/를 with these:
- 가다 (to go) - can't "go something"
- 오다 (to come) - can't "come something"
- 자다 (to sleep) - can't "sleep something"
- 울다 (to cry) - can't "cry something"
- 웃다 (to laugh) - can't "laugh something"
These use different particles (에, 에서, etc.) for destinations or locations:
- 학교에 가요 (go TO school - not 을/를)
- 집에 와요 (come TO home - not 을/를)
Object vs Topic in the Same Sentence¶
You can use both particles in one sentence:
Pattern: [Topic]은/는 + [Object]을/를 + [Verb]¶
- 저는 커피를 마셔요
- (As for me, I drink coffee)
-
Topic: 저 (I), Object: 커피 (coffee)
-
친구는 한국어를 공부해요
- (As for my friend, they study Korean)
-
Topic: 친구 (friend), Object: 한국어 (Korean)
-
학생들은 책을 읽어요
- (As for students, they read books)
- Topic: 학생들 (students), Object: 책 (books)
Omitting 을/를 in Casual Speech¶
In casual conversation, Koreans often drop 을/를 when it's obvious from context:
Casual (particle omitted):¶
- 밥 먹었어요? (Did you eat rice?)
- 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?)
- 영화 봤어요 (I watched a movie)
Formal (particle included):¶
- 밥을 먹었어요?
- 뭐를 해요?
- 영화를 봤어요
For learners: Always use 을/를 when writing or in formal situations. It's better to include it until you're more advanced.
Common Verbs That Take 을/를¶
Consumption:¶
- 먹다 (eat): 음식을 먹다
- 마시다 (drink): 물을 마시다
Mental Activities:¶
- 공부하다 (study): 수학을 공부하다
- 배우다 (learn): 한국어를 배우다
- 생각하다 (think): 너를 생각하다
- 알다 (know): 진실을 알다
Physical Activities:¶
- 만들다 (make): 케이크를 만들다
- 청소하다 (clean): 방을 청소하다
- 운전하다 (drive): 차를 운전하다
Entertainment:¶
- 보다 (watch/see): 텔레비전을 보다
- 듣다 (listen): 노래를 듣다
- 하다 (do/play): 게임을 하다
Communication:¶
- 말하다 (speak): 한국어를 말하다
- 쓰다 (write): 이메일을 쓰다
- 읽다 (read): 신문을 읽다
Common Mistakes¶
Mistake 1: Using wrong form (을 vs 를)¶
- Wrong: 커피을, 책를
- Right: 커피를, 책을
Mistake 2: Using 을/를 with intransitive verbs¶
- Wrong: 학교를 가요
- Right: 학교에 가요 (use 에 for destination)
Mistake 3: Forgetting 을/를 in formal writing¶
- Casual OK: 뭐 해요?
- Formal better: 뭐를 해요?
Mistake 4: Using 을/를 with 있다/없다¶
- Wrong: 책을 있어요
- Right: 책이 있어요 (use 이/가 with existence verbs)
Practice¶
- Fill in: 저는 한국어___ 공부해요 (I study Korean)
- Fill in: 친구가 영화___ 봐요 (My friend watches a movie)
- Fill in: 물___ 마셔요 (I drink water)
- Fill in: 매일 운동___ 해요 (I exercise every day)
- Choose correct particle: 학교(을/를/에) 가요
- Choose correct particle: 책(을/를) 읽어요
- Choose correct particle: 커피(을/를) 좋아해요
- Fill in: 저는 아침___ 먹었어요 (I ate breakfast)
- Correct the mistake: 저는 집을 가요
- Translate: "I'm listening to music" (힌트: 음악, 듣다, 듣고 있어요)