Thank you for the comment : )

안 공부하고 싶어요 also means the same, but it sounds less natural. Although it’s not easy to make the sentence structure with -지 않아요, I would like to recommend you use the structure since it sounds more formal and educated : )

The particle 기 is for making verbs as nouns. For example, 공부하다 (verb) can be changed to nouns by adding the particle 기 to the verb-stem 공부하- / -> 공부하기. 싫어요 needs nouns to make the meaning of ‘I don’t like something’. That’s why you used the particle 기 for the sentence; 공부하기 싫어요.

The particle 지 usually comes along with 않아요 which is negative verb but the particle itself doesn’t have any meaning. 않아요 literally means ‘don’t’ so you cannot use the verb 않아요 with nouns. That’s why you cannot add the particle 기 in front of the verb 않아요. Instead of the particle 기, you can use the particle 지 and combine it to the verb-stem 공부하-. -> 공부하지. In this way, you can change the verb to the adverb for the verb 않아요.

To know more about the particle meaning ‘Let’s do something’ like ㅂ 시다, 자 / let me show you more sample sentences : )

- 공부합시다 (공부하+ㅂ시다)
- 공부하자 (공부하+자)

The first sentence is 존대말 (formal Korean) and the second one is 반말 (informal Korean). Although they look different, the meaning is the same although they are in the different politeness levels.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you.

- Jaehwi / Koreanclass101.com

Thanks for your help!

I understand your explanations now but just want to clarify when “기” and “지” are used. These are the two particles that I am having a hard time wrapping my head around. Is it possible to reverse them and as “곱부하지 싫어요?” and “공부하기않아요?” I’m getting a feeling that it’s a no. Would you be able to provide some examples of more sentences using both of these?

I think I understand the second one! How does -ㅂ시다 relate to -자? Is it the same thing but just another formality level? Could you provide other examples as well and in what formality setting they would be used in?

Thank you!

Colin

1. 공부하기 싫어요 means ‘Do you dislike studying’ while 공부하지 않아요 means ‘Don’t you study?’ 싫어요 is the verb asking preference, so you can answer the question 공부하기 싫어요 as 좋아요(to like) or 싫어요(to dislike)
공부하지 않아요 is the question just asking the action, so you can ask this question when you see someone not studying something while he/she has to do study for a test.

2. 갑시다: ㅂ시다 is the particle meaning ‘Let’s.’ You can add them with verb-stems. For example, 가다 (to go) has the verb stem as 가-, and you can combine ㅂ시다 with 가- as 갑시다 meaning ‘Let’s go’.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

- Jaehwi / Koreanclass101.com

I don’t understand the grammar for 갑시다