Skip to main content
Try a free Korean lesson

Explanation

If the object is obvious, drop it: 먹었어요? can mean “Did you eat (it/meal)?”

Re-insert the object when clarifying or contrasting: 김치는 안 먹었어요.

Particles still matter when the object is present. Dropping is about context, not deleting grammar forever.

Listening practice: short answers often omit what English repeats.

Examples

이거 먹어도 돼요?. 네, 드세요.

May I eat this?. Yes, please do. (object clear)

사과는 샀어요. 바나나는 안 샀어요.

I bought apples. I didn’t buy bananas. (contrast keeps nouns)

Common mistakes

  • Repeating the full object every clause like English.
  • Dropping objects when the listener cannot recover them.

Keep learning

The romanization trapPoliteness lives on the verb저는 is not genderedSpacing before 요반말 timingVerb at the endNull subjectsBatchim linking

Ready to level up Null objects?

Repair the pattern with corrected examples, then reinforce the right form through short review and speaking practice.

Try a free Korean lesson

No account required for the demo. Cancel Pro anytime.