I started answering exercises of lesson 5…it’s getting difficult but challenging at the same time. In this type of self study repetition surely will reinforce learning. So i am probably going to read this lesson over and over. This lesson is understanding nouns and the subject and topic marker in a Korean sentence. Also the copula -이에요 (i-e-yo) or just -에요(e-yo) is introduced, a special noun ending which is similar to saying that is. The negative copula is also discussed which is 아니에요.
One has to expand his vocabulary indeed and has to be mindful on how to address second person or third person. The book suggest minimal use of the word you as Korean do not use this word often. 너 and 당신 corresponds to you the first one is for intimate conversation (someone you know well and within your age) while the other one is used between couples. To refer someone as ‘you’, it is always best to use the full name or surnmae + 씨 (sshi). So in the case of my friends name 백진명 (Baek JinMyung), it will be 백진명씨 or 진명씨. Better yet to use the person’s title + 님(nim) an honorrific marker. For example 선생 (son-saeng) is title used for teachers it is polite already to address them this way but it would be honorrific to add 님 as such it will be 선생님 (son-saeng-nim). 선생님 is also used to address Mr.
I on the other hand has many forms in 한글. These are ways to say I (also could mean my or mine depending on the sentence):
- 나,내, 나는 – this is the less formal one but still polite, 내 is the form when I is subject and is mentioned for the first time, 나는 is the form when I is topic or if subject but is presented as an old information.
- 저 – is the humble form for I. 제가 is the form when it placed before special particle 이 or 가.
- 제, 제가 – actually means my or mine depending on the sentence.
There will be cases when sentence calls for the use of pronoun ‘we’ or ‘our’, in 한글 its 우리 (oo-ri).