'예'(ye), which means 'yes', is often pronounced `네'(neh). It is used as a regular response to a knock at the door, or hearing your name called, and being greeted. The opposite of `예' is '아니오'(aniyo). This means 'no' is used in negative replies to questions, in contradictions and denials, and as an informal reply to apologies, expressions of thanks, and compliments.
Now we'll go on identifying what Korean sentences are all about. In a typical English sentence, we easily identify the subject of the sentence though the order SVO(Subject-Verb-Object)
The subjective marker '-이/가'
A subject of a sentence is the agent (doer) of the action described by the sentence. Assuming that a state of being can also be treated as an action, a subject can take any kind of predicate, i.e., a verbal(action), an adjectival(description), or a nominal predicate(another noun: I am a student).
Example:
English: I read books.
Korean: 내가 책을 읽습니다 - Nae+ga(I+subject marker) chaek+eul(book+object marker) ilseummnida(read+verb
copula)
English: This is my father.
Korean: 이분이 아버지예요 - Ibun+i(This+subject marker) abeoji (father+ informal verb copula)
The topic marker '-은/는'
While the subjective marker `-이/가' indicates the subject of a sentence, the topic marker `은/는'(-eun/-neun) is used to indicate the comparison of topics. If there is no connotation of comparison with another subject, this marker cannot be used. '-는'(-neun) is used after words ending in a vowel, `-은'(-eun) is used after words ending in a consonant.
Now you might say, what is the difference between a subject and a topic? This is my greatest Korean confusion and nobody has given me a quite satisfying answer. Even my Korean friends can't explain, they said they just use it based on what sounds good. Which is unacceptable for me. Thank God for Sogang materials. First, `은/는'(-eun/-neun) is used instead of `-이/가' (-i/-ga) when your statement is comparing the subject to other things. Second, is when the subject is being talked about the whole time.
이것이 연필이에요. This is a pencil(yeolpil-ieyo).
이것은 연필이에요. This (in comparison with other things) is a pencil.
한국말이 재미있어요. Korean is interesting(jaemi-isseoyo).
한국말은 재미있어요. Korean(in comparison with other languages) is interesting.
'이다' is the form which links a subject with its predicate, indicating equality or identification.
(Read on Self Introduction Notes Page 3)
Now you might be hearing 'yo' over and over in series and songs, etc. This is part of the semi-formal or informal-polite substitute of 이다. It has two different forms '-예요' and '-이에요'. '-예요' is used when the Noun ends with a vowel, and '-이에요' is used when the Noun ends with a consonant.Example:
안나 + -예요 --> 안나예요. [Anna yeyo - (I) am Anna] - noun 'Anna' ends with a vowel
책상 + -이에요 --> 책상이에요. [Chaeksang iyeyo - (This) is a desk] - noun 'chaeksang(desk)' ends with
a consonant
NOT TO BE:This word is used for making negatives. You have already studied '이다` which indicates equality or identification. The '이다' is attached directly to a noun, and is pronounced as one word with the noun. When you make the negative construction of '이다', the subject marker '-이/가' (to be discussed soon ^^) is attached directly to the noun, and then followed by the negative verb '아니다' (anida). For use in formal, it becomes '아님니다'(animnida). For semi formal use, it becomes '아니예요'(aniyeyo).
Example:
From: This is a chair.
이것이 의자예요. <---> 이것이 의자가 아니예요. [Igeoshi wijaga aniyeyo - This is not a chair]
^_^
