을/를
eul / reul
object marker (marks what receives the action)
이/가
i / ga
subject marker (marks who performs the action)
을/를 vs 이/가: Object Marker vs Subject Marker in Korean
을/를 (eul/reul) marks the object of a verb — the thing that receives the action — while 이/가 (i/ga) marks the subject — the person or thing performing or being described by the verb.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 을/를 (eul / reul) | 이/가 (i / ga) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical Role | Object — receives the action of a transitive verb | Subject — performs or is described by the verb |
| Attachment Rule | 을 after consonant-ending nouns; 를 after vowel-ending nouns | 이 after consonant-ending nouns; 가 after vowel-ending nouns |
| Compared to 은/는 | 을/를 = pure object marker (no topicalization) | 이/가 = identifier/subject marker; 은/는 = topic marker (different nuance) |
| Dropped In Casual Speech? | Often dropped in casual speech: 밥 먹었어 (I ate rice) | Often dropped in casual speech: 나 갔어 (I went) |
| With New vs Known Info | Does not carry topic/focus nuance | 이/가 often introduces new information or identifies who specifically |
Examples in Context
Saying what you eat for breakfast — using 을/를
저는 매일 아침을 먹어요.
I eat breakfast every day.
Saying you love Korean language — using 을/를
저는 한국어를 좋아해요.
I like Korean.
Pointing out who arrived — using 이/가
민수가 왔어요.
Minsu arrived.
Answering "who is it?" — using 이/가
제가 했어요.
It was me who did it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 이/가 on the object of a sentence — 밥이 먹어요 sounds like "rice eats something"; you need 밥을 먹어요
- ✗Using 을/를 on the subject — it makes the subject sound like an object and creates confusion
- ✗Confusing 이/가 (subject identifier) with 은/는 (topic marker) — 저가 갔어요 (I, specifically, went) has a different nuance than 저는 갔어요 (as for me, I went)
- ✗Always keeping particles in casual speech when native speakers freely drop them — omitting particles in informal contexts is natural and normal
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 이/가 instead of 은/는?
Use 이/가 to identify a specific subject or introduce new information. Use 은/는 to set a topic or contrast. 고양이가 예뻐요 (the cat is pretty, pointing it out) vs 고양이는 예뻐요 (as for cats, they are pretty — general statement).
Do I always need 을/를 after the object?
No. In casual speech, the object particle is frequently dropped: 밥 먹었어 (ate rice) is perfectly natural. The particle becomes important for clarity in longer or more complex sentences.
What happens with intransitive verbs?
Intransitive verbs (가다, 오다, 자다) do not take an object, so 을/를 is not used with them. Only transitive verbs (먹다, 보다, 마시다) pair with an object marked by 을/를.
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