This lesson offers more examples of the topic particle in its capacity for reducing or subduing the emphasis of what goes before it. We can put these usages of the topic particle into three general categories:
STAGE SETTING is when the topic particle sets the stage for what the sentence is going to be about: it comes after a noun expression and sets it aside as what we are going to talk about:
- 가방 속에는 무엇이 있어요?
Talking about the inside of the bag — what have we got (what is there) there?
In the case of CONTRAST, two noun expressions or other phrases, about which you want to make contrasting statements or offer differing information, are set aside at the beginning of their respective clauses and each is followed by the particle 은/는 ? to subdue their emphasis so that the way is cleared for the important contrasting statements:
- 왼편에는… 오른편에는…
On the left [guess what?! ? ] [and] on the right [guess what?! ? ]
One function of 이/가 is to introduce new business. The first time a subject is mentioned in context, its newness calls for emphasis in the shape of the subject particle 이/가 after it: But then, if this subject reappears in the conversation, it comes under the heading of OLD BUSINESS ? it appears with the particle 은/는, which relegates it to the realm of subdued emphasis. In fact, it often happens that the subject disappears altogether.