으로 로 grammar lesson

으로/로 attaches after a noun. It is a particle that indicates a method, means, and tool of action. This is the second part of 으로 grammar. If you haven’t learned the first part click here.

Korean Conversation

한국어 공부를 어떻게 해요?” How do you study Korean?

저는 한국어책으로 공부해요.” I study with a Korean book.

저는 유튜브로 공부해요. I study on YouTube.

‘한국어책으로’ is the combination of the noun 한국어책 (Korean book)’ and ‘으로’ and ‘유튜브로’ is the combination of the noun ‘유튜브 (YouTube)’ and ‘로’.

It indicates that a Korean book and YouTube are used as a method to study Korean.

뭐 해요? What are you doing?

노트북으로 음악을 들어요.” I’m listening to music on my notebook/laptop.

The person is listening to music using her laptop. 으로 is attached with 노트북 and becomes 노트북으로.

How to use 으로/로?

When do we use ‘으로/로’? Let’s find out.

When the preceding noun has the final consonant, ‘으로’ is used. For example, when you look at ‘핸드폰’, there is the final consonant (ㄴ). That’s why ‘으로’ is used. So it becomes ‘핸드폰.’
Another example is ‘책 (book)’. There is the final consonant (ㄱ)
‘으로’is used. So it becomes ‘책으로.’

On the other hand, when the preceding noun does not have the final consonant, ‘로’ is used. For example, when you look at ‘컴퓨터’, there is no final consonant. Then ‘로’ is used after that. It becomes ‘컴퓨터로’.
Another example is 가위 (scissors). There is no final consonant. Then ‘로’ is used after that. So it becomes ‘가위로’.

When the final consonant ends with ‘ㄹ’, ‘로’ is used.
When you look at ‘연필 (pencil)’. The final consonant is ‘ㄹ’. Then ‘로’ is used after that. So it becomes ‘연필로’.
Let’s look at ‘지하철 (subway)’. The final consonant is ‘ㄹ’. Then ‘로’ is used after that. So it becomes ‘지하철로’.

으로/로 practice

Let’s make a sentence using 으로 로.

Let’s make a sentence using 으로/로.

‘저는 핸드폰 (으로/로) 음악을 들어요.’ I’m listening to music on my mobile phone.
How do I listen to music?
핸드폰. (mobile phone, cell phone) I listen to music on my mobile phone.
‘으로’ attaches after the noun ‘핸드폰.’ It indicates that the tool I listen to music is my mobile phone.

‘저는 컴퓨터 (으로/로) 영화를 봐요.’ I watch a movie on my computer.
How do I watch a movie?
컴퓨터(computer). I watch a movie using my computer.
‘로’ attaches after the noun ‘컴퓨터.’ It indicates that the tool I watch movies on is my computer.

‘저는 볼펜 (으로/로) 필기해요.’ I take notes with a ballpen.
How would you say it?

‘볼펜으로’ is the combination of the noun ‘볼펜 (ballpen)’ and ‘으로’. It indicates that the tool I take notes is the ballpen.

‘수업 시간에는 한국어 (으로/로) 이야기해요.’ We speak in Korean during the class.
How would you say it?
‘한국어로’ is the combination of the noun ‘한국어’ and ‘로’. It indicates that the language we’re using during the class is Korean.

‘언니는 색연필 (으로/로) 그림을 그려요.’ My older sister draws a picture with color pencils.
How would you say it?
‘색연필로’ is the combination of the noun ‘색연필 (color pencils)’ and ‘로’. It indicates that ‘color pencils’ are used as a drawing tool.

나를 사기꾼으로 만들지 마라. Don’t make me a liar.
사기꾼 has a final consonant (ㄴ) so 으로 is used.

이제 회사로 돌아갈 시간이야. It’s time to go back to the company.
회사 has no final consonant at last so 로 is used.

으로/로 Summary

In summary, when the preceding noun has the final consonant, ‘으로’ is used. So ‘핸드폰’ becomes ‘핸드폰으로’.
But, when the preceding noun does not have the final consonant, or when the final consonant is ‘ㄹ’, ‘로’ is used. So, ‘컴퓨터’ becomes ‘컴퓨터로’. ‘연필’ becomes ‘연필로’.

으로/로 grammar