~에 대해

§ Using ~에 대해 with Verbs That Already Imply 'About'

One common mistake learners make is using ~에 대해 with verbs that already inherently carry the meaning of 'about' or 'concerning'. For example, verbs like 이야기하다 (to talk), 생각하다 (to think), or 궁금하다 (to be curious) often don't need ~에 대해 when the topic is clear from context or if a different particle is more natural.

DEFINITION

It's redundant to use ~에 대해 when the verb already expresses the idea of 'about'.

Instead of saying '나는 그 영화에 대해 이야기했어요' (I talked about that movie), which is grammatically okay but can sound a bit clunky, it's often more natural to say '나는 그 영화를 이야기했어요' or '나는 그 영화에 대해서 이야기했어요' if you want to emphasize the 'about' part. However, with verbs like '궁금하다', you'd typically use '에' or '이/가' for the thing you're curious about.

§ Confusing ~에 대해 with other Particles

Korean has many particles, and sometimes learners might incorrectly substitute ~에 대해 for other particles that convey a similar but distinct meaning. For instance, using ~에 대해 when '에' (at, in, to) or '으로/로' (to, towards, by means of) would be more appropriate.

DEFINITION

~에 대해 specifically refers to the topic or subject, not necessarily location or direction.

For example, if you want to say 'I went to the library,' you wouldn't say '도서관에 대해 갔어요'. You would say '도서관에 갔어요'. The particle '에' here indicates direction. While 'about the library' is a valid phrase, it wouldn't be used with a verb of movement in this way. Similarly, '으로/로' can indicate the means or method, or direction, which is different from 'about'.

• Don't use ~에 대해 for simple location or direction.
• Understand the nuances of '에', '으로/로', and '에 대해'.

§ Overusing ~에 대해 in simple sentences

While ~에 대해 is a very useful phrase, sometimes learners tend to overuse it, even in simple sentences where a more concise expression would suffice or be more natural. This can make your speech or writing sound less fluid.

DEFINITION

Only use ~에 대해 when it adds necessary clarity or emphasis to the 'about' aspect of the noun.

For example, if you are simply stating a fact about something, you might not always need ~에 대해. If the context already makes it clear you are talking 'about' a certain subject, sometimes you can omit it or use a different structure.

• Consider if ~에 대해 is truly necessary for meaning.
• Aim for natural-sounding Korean, not just grammatically correct.