Introduction Korean Grammar ‘-에게’ and ‘-한테’
Learning Korean grammar can be challenging, but breaking it down into manageable lessons can make it easier. Today, we will explore the grammar patterns ‘-에게’ and ‘-한테,’ which are used to indicate “to” or “from” someone in Korean. This lesson will help you understand and use these forms effectively.
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Grammar Explanation
‘-에게’: The grammar pattern ‘에게’ is used to indicate “to” or “from” someone, typically in more formal or written contexts.
Formation:
- Attach ‘에게’ directly to the noun.
| Speech Form | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (teacher) | 선생님에게 | 선생님에게 (To the teacher) |
| Noun (friend) | 친구에게 | 친구에게 (To the friend) |
| Noun (child) | 아이에게 | 아이에게 (To the child) |
| Noun (parents) | 부모님에게 | 부모님에게 (To the parents) |
‘-한테’: The grammar pattern ‘한테’ is used to indicate “to” or “from” someone, typically in more informal or spoken contexts.
Formation:
- Attach ‘한테’ directly to the noun.
| Speech Form | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (teacher) | 선생님한테 | 선생님한테 (To the teacher) |
| Noun (friend) | 친구한테 | 친구한테 (To the friend) |
| Noun (child) | 아이한테 | 아이한테 (To the child) |
| Noun (parents) | 부모님한테 | 부모님한테 (To the parents) |
Examples
Using ‘에게’ to Indicate “To” or “From” Someone (Formal):
- 선생님 (teacher)
- 선생님에게 = To the teacher
- 선생님에게 질문해요 = I ask the teacher a question.
- 친구 (friend)
- 친구에게 = To the friend
- 친구에게 선물을 줘요 = I give a gift to my friend.
- 아이 (child)
- 아이에게 = To the child
- 아이에게 책을 읽어줘요 = I read a book to the child.
- 부모님 (parents)
- 부모님에게 = To the parents
- 부모님에게 편지를 써요 = I write a letter to my parents.
Using ‘한테’ to Indicate “To” or “From” Someone (Informal):
- 선생님 (teacher)
- 선생님한테 = To the teacher
- 선생님한테 질문해요 = I ask the teacher a question.
- 친구 (friend)
- 친구한테 = To the friend
- 친구한테 선물을 줘요 = I give a gift to my friend.
- 아이 (child)
- 아이한테 = To the child
- 아이한테 책을 읽어줘요 = I read a book to the child.
- 부모님 (parents)
- 부모님한테 = To the parents
- 부모님한테 편지를 써요 = I write a letter to my parents.
Comparison of ‘에게’ and ‘한테’
‘에게’:
- Used in more formal or written contexts.
- Appropriate for professional, academic, or formal settings.
- Example: 선생님에게 질문해요 = I ask the teacher a question.
‘한테’:
- Used in more informal and spoken contexts.
- Commonly used in everyday conversation among friends or family.
- Example: 친구한테 선물을 줘요 = I give a gift to my friend.
While both patterns are used to indicate “to” or “from” someone, ‘-에게’ is typically more formal than ‘-한테.’
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes with ‘-에게’ and ‘-한테’:
- Incorrect: 친구에게한테 (mixing both particles)
- Correct: 친구에게 or 친구한테 = To the friend.
Mistake Explanation: Ensure that either ‘-에게’ or ‘-한테’ is used based on the formality of the context, but not both simultaneously.
Related Grammar Points
Explore these related grammar points to deepen your understanding:
- -께: An honorific form used to indicate “to” or “from” someone, typically used for elders or superiors.
- -에: To indicate location or direction.
- -와/과: To indicate “and” or “with.”
- -로부터: To indicate “from” someone or something.
Practice Exercises
Practice Makes Perfect!
- Exercise 1: Conjugate the following nouns using ‘-에게.’
- 선생님 (teacher)
- 친구 (friend)
- 아이 (child)
- 부모님 (parents)
Answer Key:
- 선생님에게
- 친구에게
- 아이에게
- 부모님에게
- Exercise 2: Conjugate the following nouns using ‘-한테.’
- 선생님 (teacher)
- 친구 (friend)
- 아이 (child)
- 부모님 (parents)
Answer Key:
- 선생님한테
- 친구한테
- 아이한테
- 부모님한테
- Exercise 3: Create sentences using ‘-에게’ for the following situations:
- To ask the teacher a question.
- To give a gift to my friend.
- To read a book to the child.
- To write a letter to my parents.
Answer Key:
- 선생님에게 질문해요.
- 친구에게 선물을 줘요.
- 아이에게 책을 읽어줘요.
- 부모님에게 편지를 써요.
- Exercise 4: Create sentences using ‘-한테’ for the following situations:
- To ask the teacher a question.
- To give a gift to my friend.
- To read a book to the child.
- To write a letter to my parents.
Answer Key:
- 선생님한테 질문해요.
- 친구한테 선물을 줘요.
- 아이한테 책을 읽어줘요.
- 부모님한테 편지를 써요.
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