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Special Uses of -이/가 and -을/를

Beyond Just Subject and Object Markers

✅ Basic Review

• 이/가: Marks the subject of the sentence (who/what does or experiences the action)
• 을/를: Marks the object of the sentence (who/what receives the action)

But in real conversations, these particles are used in special ways to convey emphasis, emotion, or contrast.

1. Emphasis with -이/가

이/가 can be used to highlight or emphasize the subject — often when clarifying who or what exactly did something, or to correct a misunderstanding.

💬 Examples:

• 누가 갔어요?
  → 제가 갔어요. (I went — not someone else.)
• 이 책이 좋아요.
  (This book is good — emphasizing this one, not another.)

🟢 Use 이/가 when:

• Answering “who” or “what” questions
• Correcting someone
• Highlighting a subject out of many possibilities

2. Emotion and Personal Experience with -이/가

이/가 is often used when describing personal feelings, physical states, or involuntary experiences, even though the sentence could grammatically work with -은/는.

💬 Examples:

• 배가 아파요.
  (My stomach hurts.)
• 눈물이 나요.
  (Tears are coming out.)

🔹 You use 이/가 here because the subject (e.g., your stomach) is experiencing a state, not doing an action on purpose.

3. Emotional Emphasis with -을/를

을/를 can also appear in places where it adds emotional weight or subjectivity, especially in sentences that describe what the speaker feels strongly about.

💬 Examples:

• 저 사람을 모르겠어요.
  (I don’t know that person. → with subtle emotional distance or emphasis)
• 그 영화를 정말 보고 싶어요.
  (I really want to watch that movie.)
  → The object 영화 is marked with 를, even though “보다” is in a desire form.

🟢 Use 을/를 when:

• You feel strongly about the object
• Expressing desire, dislike, or emotional reaction toward something

4. Contrast Between -은/는 and -이/가

Sometimes learners ask: “Why use 이/가 here instead of 은/는?”

Here’s a simple contrast:

• 은/는: General information, contrast, or topic-setting
• 이/가: Specific identification, emphasis, or reaction

Compare:

• 고양이는 귀여워요.
  (Cats are cute in general.)
• 고양이가 귀여워요.
  (The cat is cute. — maybe a specific cat you’re reacting to right now)

✅ Summary Table

Final Tip

Mastering these subtle uses of 이/가 and 을/를 helps you sound more natural and expressive in Korean. Pay close attention when native speakers use them — they often reflect feelings and subtle contrast!