In this article we will look at the usage of particle ~에서 to mark a place and time.
We have looked at the usage of particle 에 in denoting place and time. Now we will look at how ~에서 differs from 에 in marking the place and time.
How it works:
1) As a place particle
(a) “from” a place
For example: Minji comes from Korea.
Firstly like usual, we think of the ending : 와요. to come
The place where Minji comes from is Korea (한국).
Thus we attach the particle 에서 to Korea to mark the location.
[한국에서 와요. comes from Korea]
Putting Minji as the topic of our conversation,
[민지는 한국에서 와요. Minji comes from Korea ]
(b) Denote the place where an activity (verb) takes place
For example: Minji studies at the library.
In this situation, we have an activity/verb (studying) that is taking place
at a location (library).
Contrast this to the usage of 에 where its use for static location
or a destination.
Whenever the place mention is the place where activity takes place,
use 에서 and not 에.
Thus in this example, let’s start building the sentence from the ending.
[공부해요. to study]
Putting the location where the activity takes place and marking it,
[도서관에서 공부해요. studies at the library]
Who are we talking about?
[민지는 도서관에서 공부해요. Minji studies at the library]
2) As time particle
(a) “from” a time
Its similar to the usage of 에서 as “from a place”.
For example: Minji studies from 2 o’clock at the library.
The ending for this sentence would be “to study”
[......공부해요. to study]
Where did Minji study? Note, the library is place where activity takes place
Therefore we must use 에서 to mark this place instead of 에.
[ ....... 도서관에서 공부해요. Studies at the library]
Now for the time: Minji studies from 2′oclock.
2o’clock = 두 시
So adding the particle 에서 to denote the time from which Minji studies,
[...두 시에서 도서관에서 공부해요. Studies from 2 o'clock at the library]
Finally completing the topic of the sentence.
[민지는 두 시에서 도서관에서 공부해요.]
^ Minji studies from 2 o’clock at the library.
Try it yourself:
1) Translate the following to korean:
- JinWook eats breakfast at the school cafetaria.
- I watched television since 5 o’clock. [use past tense form of "to watch" 보다+았어요 = 봤어요]
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