Korean Verbs: Structure and Conjugation

• Korean verbs are the action words in the Korean language, describing what the subject of a sentence does or is.
• They are crucial for forming sentences and expressing actions, states, and conditions.
• A defining characteristic of Korean verbs is that they always come at the end of the sentence.
• This word order (Subject-Object-Verb) is different from English (Subject-Verb-Object).

Basic Structure of Korean Verbs

• The basic form of a Korean verb is called the dictionary form or the infinitive form.
• It always ends in 다 (-da).
• Examples: 가다 (gada) - to go, 먹다 (meokda) - to eat, 하다 (hada) - to do.
• To use a verb in a sentence, you must conjugate it.
• Conjugation changes the verb form to indicate tense, politeness level, and mood.
• The verb stem is obtained by removing 다 (-da) from the dictionary form.
• Examples: 가다 (gada) → stem: 가 (ga), 먹다 (meokda) → stem: 먹 (meok), 하다 (hada) → stem: 하 (ha).

Verb Conjugation

• Verb conjugation is essential for speaking politely and accurately in Korean.
• Korean has multiple levels of politeness, significantly affecting verb endings.
• The most common levels include:
  • Informal polite (해요체 - haeyoche): Used with acquaintances and in everyday conversation.
  • Formal polite (합쇼체 - hapshowche): Used in formal settings, presentations, and with elders or superiors.
  • Plain form (해라체 - haerache): Used in writing, diaries, or to close friends and family (can sound impolite if used incorrectly).

Informal Polite (해요체) Conjugation

• This form is widely used due to its versatility and politeness.
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -아/어/여요 (-a/eo/yeoyo).
  • Add -아요 (-ayo) if the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o).
  • Add -어요 (-eoyo) if the last vowel in the stem is any other vowel besides ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o).
  • Add -여요 (-yeoyo) for verbs with the 하다 (hada) stem (it changes to 해요 - haeyo).
• If the verb stem ends in a consonant (batchim), add -어요 (-eoyo).
• Examples:
  • 가다 (gada) → 가 + -아요 (ayo) → 가요 (gayo) - go
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹 + -어요 (eoyo) → 먹어요 (meogeoyo) - eat
  • 하다 (hada) → 하 + -여요 (yeoyo) → 해요 (haeyo) - do

Formal Polite (합쇼체) Conjugation

• The formal polite form is used in more formal situations and shows a higher level of respect.
• It is formed by adding -ㅂ니다 (-bnida) or -습니다 (-seumnida) to the verb stem.
• If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -ㅂ니다 (-bnida).
• If the verb stem ends in a consonant (batchim), add -습니다 (-seumnida).
• For verbs with the 하다 (hada) stem, add 합니다 (hamnida).
• Examples:
  • 가다 (gada) → 가 + -ㅂ니다 (bnida) → 갑니다 (gamnida) - go
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹 + -습니다 (seumnida) → 먹습니다 (meokseumnida) - eat
  • 하다 (hada) → 합니다 (hamnida) - do

Tense

• Verbs are conjugated to indicate tense: present, past, and future.

Present Tense

• Informal polite: Use the informal polite conjugation as described above (-아요, -어요, -여요).
• Formal polite: Use the formal polite conjugation as described above (-ㅂ니다, -습니다, 합니다).
• Examples:
  • 먹다 (meokda):
    • Informal polite: 먹어요 (meogeoyo) - eat
    • Formal polite: 먹습니다 (meokseumnida) - eat

Past Tense

• To form the past tense, add -았/었/였- (-at/eot/yeot-) before the -어요/아요/여요 or -ㅂ니다/습니다 ending.
  • Add -았- (-at-) if the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o).
  • Add -었- (-eot-) if the last vowel in the stem is any other vowel besides ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o).
  • Add -였- (-yeot-) for verbs with the 하다 (hada) stem (it changes to 했- -haet-).
• Examples in informal polite:
  • 가다 (gada) → 갔어요 (gasseoyo) - went
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹었어요 (meogeosseoyo) - ate
  • 하다 (hada) → 했어요 (haesseoyo) - did
• Examples in formal polite:
  • 가다 (gada) → 갔습니다 (gatseumnida) - went
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹었습니다 (meogeotseumnida) - ate
  • 하다 (hada) → 했습니다 (haetseumnida) - did

Future Tense

• To express the future tense, use the ending -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (-(eu)l geoyeyo) in informal polite or -(으)ㄹ 겁니다 (-(eu)l geomnida) in formal polite.
  • Add -을 거예요 (-eul geoyeyo) or -을 겁니다 (-eul geomnida) if the verb stem ends in a consonant (batchim).
  • Add -ㄹ 거예요 (-l geoyeyo) or -ㄹ 겁니다 (-l geomnida) if the verb stem ends in a vowel.
  • For verbs with the 하다 (hada) stem, it generally becomes 할 거예요 (hal geoyeyo) or 할 겁니다 (hal geomnida).
• Examples in informal polite:
  • 가다 (gada) → 갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) - will go
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹을 거예요 (meogeul geoyeyo) - will eat
  • 하다 (hada) → 할 거예요 (hal geoyeyo) - will do
• Examples in formal polite:
  • 가다 (gada) → 갈 겁니다 (gal geomnida) - will go
  • 먹다 (meokda) → 먹을 겁니다 (meogeul geomnida) - will eat
  • 하다 (hada) → 할 겁니다 (hal geomnida) - will do

Irregular Verbs

• Some Korean verbs are irregular, meaning they don't follow the standard conjugation rules.
• Common types of irregular verbs include:
  • ㅂ-irregular verbs: Verbs where ㅂ (b) in the stem changes or disappears when followed by a vowel.
  • ㄷ-irregular verbs: Verbs where ㄷ (d) in the stem changes to ㄹ (l) when followed by a vowel.
  • ㅅ-irregular verbs: Verbs where ㅅ (s) in the stem disappears when followed by a vowel.
  • ㄹ-irregular verbs: Verbs where ㄹ (l) in the stem disappears before certain endings.
  • ㅎ-irregular verbs: Verbs where ㅎ (h) in the stem changes when followed by a vowel.

Examples of Irregular Verbs

• ㅂ-irregular verbs:
  • 덥다 (deopda) - to be hot: 더워요 (deowoyo)
• ㄷ-irregular verbs:
  • 듣다 (deutda) - to listen: 들어요 (deureoyo)
• ㅅ-irregular verbs:
  • 짓다 (jitda) - to build: 지어요 (jieoyo)
• ㄹ-irregular verbs:
  • 살다 (salda) - to live: 살아요 (sarayo)
• ㅎ-irregular verbs:
  • 빨갛다 (ppalgata) - to be red: 빨개요 (ppalgaeyo)

Common Korean Verbs

• 가다 (gada): to go
• 오다 (oda): to come
• 먹다 (meokda): to eat
• 마시다 (masida): to drink
• 자다 (jada): to sleep
• 하다 (hada): to do
• 보다 (boda): to see, to watch
• 듣다 (deutda): to listen
• 읽다 (ilkda): to read
• 쓰다 (sseuda): to write
• 말하다 (malhada): to speak, to say
• 공부하다 (gongbuhada): to study
• 일하다 (ilhada): to work
• 사랑하다 (saranghada): to love
• 생각하다 (saenggakhada): to think