Corresponding to English in, at, on, as you learned in section 6.3, is the particle 에 (being) at, with or without some specific word of location in front of it. This is a particle of STATIC location: something is in (at, on) a place. For DYNAMIC location, when something happens in (at or on) a place, Koreans use the particle 서 (happening) at or the combination 에서. These particles have the same English translation as 에 but are used when the verb denotes an ACTION.
Directional 에 is used with verbs of motion like 가요, 와요.
Static location 에 is used with verbs of location like 있어요 and 없어요. This same 에 is used to locate things in time, too:
- 월요일에 쉬어요.
On Monday(s) I take it easy - 아침에 우유를 사요.
In the morning I buy milk.
However, note that, just as in English, certain time adverbs do not take 에 (or a preposition in English): *어제에, *오늘에, and *내일에 are all unacceptable for yesterday, today and tomorrow. Dynamic location 에서 is used with all other verbs to describe where an action is taking place. Here are some examples:
- A. 만호씨는 어디에 있어요?
Where is Manho?
B. 집에 있어요.
He is at home. - A. 점심은 어디에서 먹어요?
Where does he eat lumch?
B. 음식점에서 먹어요.
He eats at a restaurant. - 동호씨는 학교에 있어요.
Tongho is at school. - 내 친구는 학교에서 가르쳐요.
My friend teaches at school.
참고 (For Reference)
With some verbs either 에 or (에)서 is used: 서울에 살아요 or 서울(에)서 살아요 lives in Seoul. But with most verbs only one of the alternatives is possible: 있어요 is, stays and 앉아요 sits take only 에.