-에/에서 Location Markers

Keyword #
위치
 
3 Sentence Summary of This Lesson:
  • 에 marks location, destination, or time (where something is or where you're going)
  • 에서 marks where an action occurs (doing something at a location)
  • 에 focuses on the place itself; 에서 focuses on the action happening there
 
에 and 에서 mean “to” and “in/at.”
 
The usage of the two are often confused, since they look similar and it might take you a bit or time and practice to be able to calculate which one to use fast.
 

에

에 is used to mark a location or direction. This means you are headed that way or something is in some location. It is focused on the place itself.
To use it, place 에 right behind the noun, which would be to location. The same goes for 에서.
This also includes the usage of the verb 있다, which means “To exist/ to have.”
It can also be used to indicate time.
저는 한국에 갈 거예요. (I will go to Korea.)
  • You are headed to a destination, which is Korea.
저는 지금 한국에 있어요. (I am in Korea right now.)
  • Your current location is Korea and we often use the verb 있다 to say that you are somewhere, more so than the verb “to be.” You can still say “저는 지금 한국이에요.” This also means “I am in Korea now.”
1 시에 집에 가요. (I will go home at 1.)
  • Mark time with ‘에’ as well.

에서

에서 is used to indicate that someone is doing something somewhere. The focus is on the action that is happening in a certain location.
저는 한국에서 살아요. (I live in Korea.)
  • You are doing the action of “living” in a location called “Korea.”
 
 
 
Try the following exercise.
Complete the following sentences with 에 and 에서.
 
  1. 집___ 잠을 자요.
      2. I sleep at home.
Answer
에서
 
  1. 한국___ 쇼핑을 많이 했어요.
      2. I shopped a lot in Korea.
Answer
에서
 
  1. 집___ 가서 책을 읽을 거예요.
      2. I will go home and read.
Answer
에
 
  1. 학교___ 가면 자요. 집___ 안 자요.
      2. When I go to school, I sleep. I don’t sleep at home.
Answer
에, 에서
 
  1. 식당___ 점심을 먹었어요. 식당___ 집 근처___ 있어요.
      2. I had lunch at a restaurant. The restaurant is nearby my house.
Answer
에서, 에, 에
 
  1. 서울___는 찜질방___ 자주 가요.
      2. In Seoul, I go to the sauna often.
Answer
에서, 에
 
  1. 카페___ 매일 가요.
      2. I go to a cafe everyday.
Answer
에
 
 
  1. 영화관___ 만나요.
      2. Let’s meet at the movies.
Answer
에서
 
  1. 미국___ 샀어요.
      2. I bought it in the States.
Answer
에서
 
  1. 인터넷___ 올렸어요.
      2. I posted it online.
Answer
에
 
 
 
 
 
* For more practice exercises, visit the ‘Practice Hub’.
 
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