Lesson 30: (으)로
In this lesson, you will learn a very useful particle that has multiple different functions. (으)로 can be used to mark a noun as the direction someone/something is going, the means of transport by which someone/something is going by, the device/method used to do something, or as the material/ingredients that something is made of.
Lesson 30: (으)로
As was mentioned above, (으)로 has many different functions. Before we look at each of these functions one by one, let’s first quickly go over the conjugation rules for using this particle. See the table below.
| Conjugation Rule | Examples |
|---|---|
| Noun Ending In Consonant + 으로 | 산으로 (toward the mountain) 펜으로 (with a pen) 계란으로 (made of eggs) |
| Noun Ending In Vowel or ㄹ + 로 | 버스로 (by bus) 지하철로 (by subway) 한국어로 (in Korean) |
Usage 1: Direction
The particle (으)로 can be used to mark a noun as the direction in which someone/something moves. When using (으)로 in this way, (으)로 is always used with verbs like 가다 (to go), 오다 (to come), 떠나다 (to leave), etc. Let’s look at some examples:
이 기차는 어디로 가요? = Where is this train heading to?
서울로 가요. = It’s heading to Seoul.
은행이 어디에 있어요? = Where is the bank?
여기에서 오른쪽으로 가세요. = From here, go right.
Usage 2: Means Of Transport
The particle (으)로 can be used to mark a noun as the means of transport by which someone/something travels. For example:
학교에 어떻게 가요? = How do you go to school?
버스로 가요. = I go by bus.
오늘 지하철로 왔어요? = Did you come here by subway?
아니요, 택시로 왔어요. = No, I came by taxi.
Usage 3: Device/Method
(으)로 can be used to mark a noun as the device or method by which something is done. See the examples below:
영어로 말할까요? = Shall we speak in English?
아, 저는 영어를 몰라요. 한국어로 해요. = Oh, I don’t know English. Let’s speak in Korean.
제 이름을 연필로 쓸까요? = Shall I write my name with a pencil?
아니요, 펜으로 쓰세요. = No, please write with a pen.
Usage 4: Material/Ingredients
The particle (으)로 can also be used to mark a noun as the materials/ingredients that something is made of. Let’s look at some examples:
이 빵이 맛있어요. 뭐로 만들었어요? = This bread is delicious. What is it made of?
밀가루하고 계란으로 만들었어요. = It’s made of flour and eggs.
이거는 나무로 만들었어요? = Is this made of wood?
아니요, 종이로 만들었어요. = No, it’s made of paper.