에 vs 에서

1. Title

Korean Grammar: The Difference between '에' and '에서'

2. Grammar Explanation

The Korean particles '에' and '에서' both relate to location, but they serve different functions.

• '에' is used to indicate a destination or a specific location where a non-action state occurs. It answers the question "where to?" or "where at?" in terms of existence or direction towards something.

• '에서' is used to denote the place where an action occurs. It answers the question "where from?" or "where at?" but in the context of an action taking place.

Understanding the distinction is crucial as it affects the meaning conveyed in a sentence. For example, '학교에 가다' means to go to school (direction towards), while '학교에서 공부하다' means to study at school (action taking place at).

3. Example Sentences

1. 저는 카페에 있어요. (I am at the cafe.)

2. 제 친구는 도서관에 있어요. (My friend is in the library.)

3. 학교에 도착했어요. (I arrived at school.)

4. 집에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go home.)

5. 공원에 산책하러 가요. (Let's go for a walk in the park.)

6. 카페에서 커피를 마셔요. (I drink coffee at the cafe.)

7. 도서관에서 책을 읽어요. (I read a book in the library.)

8. 학교에서 친구를 만나요. (I meet a friend at school.)

9. 집에서 휴식을 취해요. (I take a rest at home.)

10. 공원에서 운동해요. (I exercise in the park.)

4. Sample Dialogues

Dialogue 1

A: 우리 이번 주말에 뭐 할까요? (What shall we do this weekend?)

B: 공원에 가서 피크닉 하는 거 어때요? (How about going to the park for a picnic?)

A: 좋아요! (Sounds good!)

Dialogue 2

A: 오늘 밤에 뭐 하고 싶어? (What do you want to do tonight?)

B: 집에서 영화 보자. (Let's watch a movie at home.)

A: 알겠어. 집에 가서 편하게 영화 보자. (Alright. Let's go home and comfortably watch a movie.)

Dialogue 3

A: 내일 도서관에 갈 거예요. (I will go to the library tomorrow.)

B: 도서관에서 자려고? ㅋㅋㅋ (Are you going to sleep at the library? haha)

A: 아니. 공부할 거야!! (No. I will study!!)

5. Make Korean Sentences from English!

1. I buy a book at the bookstore.

2. Let's meet at the cafe.

3. My mom cooks in the kitchen.

4. I found a cat in the park.

5. We dance at the party.

6. My brother works at the company.

7. I study Korean at school.

8. Let's eat dinner at the restaurant.

9. My friend is waiting at the bus stop.

10. We play games at my friend's house.