In the previous classes, I have learned the case particles but the only special particle introduced so far is the topic particle 은 and 는. What distinguishes case particles from special particles lies in their functions. While the primary function of the case particle is to indicate the syntactic role of the noun it attaches to (e.g., whether the noun is the subject, object, indirect object, and so on), that of the special particle is to add a special meaning such as “also,” “even,” and “only,” or to indicate whether the word it attaches to is the topic of the sentence. Case particles also differ from special particles in the place they appear in the sentence. A case particle can appear only after a noun (e.g., subject, object, indirect objects etc.). However, a special particle can appear in one of three places. First, it can appear in place of a case particle. They can also appear in the place where you would expect the object case particle 을/를. Second, a special particle can appear after an existing case particle, such as 에, 에서, and 으로, in order to add the special meaning. Third, a special particle can appear not only after a noun but also after an adverb, such as 빨리 “fast” and 싸캐“cheaply; at a low price.” Consequently, one cannot simply memorize where a certain particle (including both case and special particles) always appears in a certain context. This is because, as seen above, a particle can appear in the place where you would expect the other particle to be. The one-form special particle 만 adds the meaning of “only” or “just” to the noun it attaches to. The special particle 만 can appear in place of the case particles 이/가 or 을/를. The particle 만 can also be attached to an existing case particle, such as 에 and 에서. The particle 만 “only” can also appear after an adverb, such as 맛있캐 “deliciously” and 빨리 “fast.” The one-form special particle 도 adds the meaning of “also,” “too,” or “even” to the noun it attaches to. Just like the particle 만, the special particle 도 can appear in place of the case particles 이/가 or 을/를.
The particle 도 can also be attached to an existing case particle, such as 에 and 에서. The particle 도 can appear after an adverb as well. Koreans use the particle 도 when they list additional items. Notice that the speaker lists “wine” as an additional item, by using the particle 도. The particle 도 also serves to add the additional activity 수영 “swimming” to the first activity 요가 “yoga.”Meanwhile, the particle 도 can also generate the emphatic meaning “even” to the noun it attaches to. In negative sentences, the particle 도 is translated as “either.”
After learning these important concepts, I did a few exercises in the textbook in order to remember when to use the right particles. Now I believe that I can use these particles properly.
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