Example Sentences#

1. 옛날에 한 노인이 있었습니다.¹
   Once upon a time, there was an old man.
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
2. 그러나 노인은 단지 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.¹
   However, the old man just answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
3. 하지만 노인은 다시 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.¹
   But the old man again answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
4. 그러나 노인은 여전히 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.¹
   However, the old man still answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
5. 노인의 아들은 다리가 부러져 군대로 가지 않았습니다.¹
   The old man’s son did not go to the army because he broke his leg.
   • 노인 means ‘old man’.
   • 의 is a possessive marker.