Particle Comparisons

Stop guessing. See the differences side-by-side and understand exactly when to use which particle.

에 is for Static Location (Existence/Direction). 에서 is for Dynamic Action (Where something happens).

은/는 sets the topic ('as for X...'). 이/가 identifies the subject ('it is X that...').

부터 marks where something starts in time or sequence. 에서 marks where something starts in space.

만 takes a positive verb and sounds neutral. 밖에 takes a negative verb and implies 'that's not enough'.

안 is the short, spoken negation placed before the verb. 지 않다 is the longer, more formal ending attached to the stem.

(이)나 offers an option casually ('coffee or whatever'). (이)라도 offers it as a second-best ('at least coffee').

고 있다 = the action is happening right now. 아/어 있다 = the action finished and its result continues.

안 = you choose not to. 못 = you would, but you are unable to.

아/어서 = objective cause, never takes tense, never before commands. (으)니까 = your own judgement, takes tense, required before commands.

처럼 = resembles something you are not. 답게 = lives up to what you actually are.