Korean Letters: Hangul 한글

SEVEN: Grammar [2]

PARTICLES
Its role is to show the function of the preceding noun in the sentence. Other particles acts as prepositions designating where someone is going to, to whom someone is giving something, where something is coming from, etc.

Subject Particle
-이 (after consonant)
-가 (after vowel)

Attached to the noun that functions as the subject of the sentence.

Subject: Mountain/s (산)
Sentence: The mountains are beautiful.
산이 아름다워요.
lit: Mountain-이 be-beautiful

Subject: I
Sentence: I will do it.
제가 하겠어요
lit: I-가 do-will.

Topic Particle
-은 (after consonant)
-는 (after vowel)

Used to show the subject of the sentence when you want to emphasize another part of the sentence other than the subject. A topic particle can also be used to mention what the sentence is about. Topic particles tend to replace subject particles, and although there's a subtle difference between the two, there may seem to be no difference to an English speaker.

Busan
Emphasis: 'not being cold'
Sentence: Busan isn't cold.
부산은 춥지 아나요.
lit: Busan-은 cold-not.

I
Emphasis: 'being a student'
Sentence: I'm a student.
저는 학생이에요.
lit: I-는 student-am.

Direct Object Particle
-을 (after consonant)
-를 (after vowel)

Used to indicate the noun or pronoun that's affected by the verb.

Direct Object: Book (책)
Sentence: My friend wants to buy a book.
제 친구가 책을 사고 싶어요.
lit: My friend-가 book-을 buy want.

Direct Object: Bus
Sentence: I'm riding the bus.
버스를 타요.
lit: Bus-를 ride.

Indirect Object Particle
-한테
-에게

Used to show to whom something is given. In English, this will be translated simply as 'to'.

That woman (그여자분)
Sentence: I gave that woman my ticket. / I gave my ticket 'to' that woman.
그여자분한테 표를 주었어요.
lit: That-woman-한테 ticket-를 gave.

Child (어리니) '''
Sentence: I gave the child a cookie. / I gave a cookie 'to' the child.
어리니에게 과자를 주었어요.
lit: Child-한테 cookie-를 gave.

The pdf says that there's no real difference between these two particles, so choice is one of personal preference.

However, according to another source... -한테 is the informal form while -에게 is the formal form. Also, there's an honorific form of this particle, that is -께.