1 · Particles
The object particle 을/를
the object marker
을/를 marks the thing an action is done to — what you eat, read, buy or watch.
The object particle is 을 after a consonant and 를 after a vowel: 밥을, 책을, 커피를, 영화를. The object stands before the verb, so "I drink coffee" comes out as "I coffee drink": 저는 커피를 마셔요.
Because the particle carries the role, the object does not need a fixed place. 매일 아침 커피를 마셔요 and 커피를 매일 아침 마셔요 both mean "I drink coffee every morning". What does not move is the verb at the end.
Not every English object is a Korean object, and the other way round. "I like music" is 저는 음악을 좋아해요, with an object — but the same idea with 좋다, "to be good", has a subject: 음악이 좋아요. The pairs 좋아하다/좋다 and 싫어하다/싫다 are the classic trap. Some verbs take 을/를 where English uses a preposition: 버스를 타요, "I get on the bus", and 여행을 가요, "I go on a trip".
A verb in 하다 can be split, with the noun as its object: 공부해요 and 공부를 해요 mean the same. In casual speech the object particle is often left out (밥 먹었어요?), and after a vowel it can shrink to a final consonant: 뭘 for 뭐를, 이걸 for 이거를. In writing it stays.
The form
| after a consonant | 밥을, 책을, 물을 |
| after a vowel | 커피를, 영화를, 친구를 |
| a whole sentence | 저는 매일 신문을 읽어요. |
| a verb in hada, split | 공부를 해요. |
| shortened in speech | 뭘 먹어요? |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
을 follows a consonant and 를 a vowel.
저는 매일 물을 많이 마셔요.I drink a lot of water every day.
The object stands before the verb, and the verb always comes last.
주말에 영화를 봐요.I watch a film at the weekend.
A verb in 하다 can be split, with the noun as its object.
오늘은 집에서 숙제를 해요.Today I am doing my homework at home.
좋아하다 and 싫어하다 take an object; 좋다 and 싫다 take a subject.
저는 고양이를 좋아해요.I like cats.
Some verbs take 을/를 where English uses a preposition, such as 타다, to get on.
학교에 버스를 타고 가요.I go to school by bus.
A closer look
When the object particle disappears
In relaxed speech the object particle drops out whenever the object is obvious: 밥 먹었어요?, "have you eaten?", 커피 마실래요?, "would you like a coffee?". Nothing is lost, because the order object–verb still shows the role.
Kept where it could be dropped, the particle adds a little weight to the object, as if underlining it. You will also hear 을/를 on a destination in casual speech, as in 학교를 가요; as a learner, stay with 학교에 가요, which is never wrong.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the verb is 되다 (become) or 아니다 (not be)
the noun takes 이/가, not 을/를.
형은 의사가 됐어요.My older brother became a doctor.
Neither verb takes an object in Korean. What English treats as "become a doctor" is a complement, and complements take the subject particle.
How to spot it
- 을
- 를
- 뭘
- 좋아해요
- 싫어해요
Example sentences
저는 아침에 빵을 먹어요.I eat bread in the morning.
동생이 음악을 들어요.My younger sibling is listening to music.
어제 친구를 만났어요.I met a friend yesterday.
무엇을 도와 드릴까요?How can I help you?
저는 한국 드라마를 좋아해요.I like Korean dramas.
주말에 방 청소를 했어요.I cleaned my room at the weekend.
8 more example sentences
저는 매일 일기를 써요.I write in my diary every day.
누나가 사진을 찍어요.My older sister is taking photos.
시장에서 사과를 샀어요.I bought apples at the market.
창문을 좀 열어 주세요.Please open the window.
저는 수학을 싫어해요.I dislike maths.
아버지는 신문을 읽으세요.My father is reading the newspaper.
우리는 공원에서 축구를 했어요.We played football in the park.
이번 여름에 제주도로 여행을 가요.I am going on a trip to Jeju Island this summer.
Worth knowing (1)
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Shortened in speech
After a vowel, 를 often shrinks to a final consonant on the word before it: 뭐를 becomes 뭘, 저를 becomes 절, 이거를 becomes 이걸. You will hear these all the time and see them in messages; in careful writing, use the full form.
오늘 저녁에 뭘 먹을까요?What shall we eat this evening?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
좋아하다 is "to like" and takes an object, so the food takes 을/를. The mix-up comes from 좋다, "to be good", which takes a subject: 한국 음식이 좋아요 is also correct — but with the other verb.
Eul after a consonant, reul after a vowel, and the verb waits at the end.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.