Lesson 16 - The Particles That Make It All Clear - The Instrumental Particle

Hello everyone! 

Did you miss us? We sure did miss you all! Today we’re back with another grammar post about Korean Particles (if you missed the other ones, don’t worry and check here).  

As you might already know, the Korean language has got several particles which help the sentence get clearer. Today, we’re going to introduce to you one of the most complicated ones. Yes, it’s not encouraging to say so, but it did make several people confused (me included) when they started learning it.  

So, buckle up! It's going to be a long post. 

The particle of today is -(으)로 and it’s known as the instrumental particle. Why did I say that it makes people confused? Well, it’s because it’s got different meanings and functions depending on how and when it is used. Again, as it is usual for the Korean language, context is key.  

Let’s start with the first function, which could be seen as the ‘easiest’ one among the others. It's by means of, by or with. In this kind of sentence, particle is usually attached to a noun referring to an object like a phone or a car. Let's look at some examples: 

버스로 통학했어요 

I commuted to school by bus 

택시로 약 20분 걸려요 

It takes around 20 minutes by taxi 

몇 시 비행기로 와요? 

When does your airplane arrive? 

김비서는 자전거로 출근해요 

Secretary Kim rides her bike to work 

The second function this pattern has is similar to another particle (the location particle -에; if you don’t remember about it, check here). In fact, its function is to indicate a direction.  

학교로 다시 돌아가요? 

Are you going back towards school?  

학생들이 백화점으로 들어갔어요 

The students went into the department store 

마술사는 무대쪽으로 갔어요 

The magician went towards the stage 

미술 박물관 왼쪽으로 가세요 

Go to the left of the art museum 

Note that there’s a difference between the two particles. The instrumental particle involves a general direction, whereas the static location particle indicates a specific place and direction. 

학교에 가고 있어요 

I’m going to school  

학교로 가고 있어요 

I am going towards school (means that you won’t necessarily go inside but stay in the surroundings of the building) 

The third function is expressing how something is said in another language. This is another relatively easy function this grammar pattern has. It can be translated into ‘in.... something’ and, as mentioned, it expresses how a sentence is expressed (in which language it has been spoken, or said). It can also refer to how a sentence has been said; no need to be related to languages. 

한국말로 말씀해 주세요 

Speak in Korean please 

그 문장을 스페인어로 말할 수 있어요? 

Could you say that sentence in Spanish? 

그가 큰 목소리로 말했어요 

He spoke in a loud voice 

그 기사를 큰 소리로 우리에게 읽어 줘요 

Read that article to us in a loud voice 

Another function of this particle is to express a choice made among other options. In this case, the particle will be attached to the noun which expresses the option chosen. Let’s look at some examples to make it all clear: 

무슨 커피로 드릴까요?  

Which coffee would you like? 

이것으로 좋겠어요 

I’d like this one 

12월 1일부터 시작하는 수업으로 등록을 해주시겠습니까? 

Could you register me for the class that starts on the 1st of December? 

The fifth function of this particle is to express something changing into something else. In sentences expressing this function, the particle will be attached to the noun expressing the result. Let's check out some examples, shall we? 

바람이 폭풍으로 됐어요 

The wind turned into storm 

이 문제는 진짜 나쁜 위기로 변했네요 

This problem turned into a very nasty crisis 

그 어린 소녀는 재능있고 아름다운 여자로 변했다 

The little girl turned into a talented and beautiful woman 

그 가수는 세계적으로 매우 유명해졌어요 

That singer became very famous all over the world 

The particle is also used to express the order in which something happens in a context. In this kind of sentence, the instrumental particle is usually attached to an ordinal (a number expression). 

첫 번째로 저희 아버지를 소개하겠습니다 

Let me introduce my father first 

내가 첫 번째로 도착한 손님이에요 

I'm the first client to arrive 

부산은 한국에서 두 번째로 큰 도시지요 

Busan is the second largest city in Korea 

Last but not least, the final function of this particle is the one that turns nouns into adverbs. What kind of adverbs? The ones ending with –ly, mostly. Let's check some out: 

정말로? 

Really? 

새들은 본능적으로 나는 방법을 배워요 

The birds learn how to fly instinctively 

전적으로 동감해 

I totally agree with you 

VOCABS SET ON QUIZLET: 1 

KPOPOLOGY WEBSITE: Home, KPOPOLOGY Explains 

DROPBOX FILES: Main folder, Lesson 16 Practice 

I will see you next time with another grammar post!

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