haru Korean › Grammar › Level 1A › N을/를
N을/를 — the object particle 을/를 — what you read, study or meet
The object particle 을/를 — what you read, study or meet. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1A, lesson 5: 한국어를 공부해요 (I study Korean — your first verbs).
What it means
을/를 marks the object — the thing you read, write or study, or the person you meet. It goes right after the noun: 을 after a consonant (책을, 이름을) and 를 after a vowel (한국어를, 친구를) — the same 받침 rule as 은/는 and 이/가. The verb always comes last, so the order is person · thing · verb: 저는 한국어를 배워요, 'I learn Korean'. To ask what kind of thing, put 무슨 before the noun: 무슨 책을 읽어요? To ask about a person, use 누구를: 누구를 만나요?
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N을 | 받침 O | 책 + 을 → 책을 |
| N를 | 받침 X | 한국어 + 를 → 한국어를 |
Key points
- N을/를 V — 을 after a consonant, 를 after a vowel: 책을 읽어요 · 한국어를 배워요
- The verb comes last: person · thing · verb — 저는 한국어를 배워요.
Examples
- 책 + 을 → 책을. 한국어 + 를 → 한국어를.
- 책을 읽어요. 이름을 써요. 친구를 만나요.
- 뭐 해요? — 한국어를 공부해요.
- 무슨 책을 읽어요? — 한국어 책을 읽어요.
- 누구를 만나요? — 친구를 만나요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1A, lesson 3; Yonsei University Korean 1-1, lesson 4; Sogang University Korean 1A, lesson 3; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-1, lesson 3; Hongik University Korean 1A, lesson 3; Hanyang University Korean 1-1, lesson 2.