You've learned Hangul and collected your essential vocabulary. Now it's time to make those words work! Unlike English, every verb and descriptive adjective in Korean must be conjugated—or changed—to reflect politeness, tense, and mood.
This is the most crucial step in turning dictionary words into sentences you can actually use. We will focus on the most common and versatile form: the Standard Polite style, which uses the -아요/어요 endings. Let's dive into how to conjugate Korean verbs step-by-step!
1. Finding the Verb Stem (동사 어간)
Every Korean verb is listed in its dictionary form, which always ends in **다** (da). To begin conjugating, you must first find the verb stem.
The verb stem is simply what remains after you drop the final **다**.
- Dictionary Form: 가다 (to go) | Stem: 가-
- Dictionary Form: 먹다 (to eat) | Stem: 먹-
- Dictionary Form: 보다 (to see) | Stem: 보-
This stem is the foundation onto which you attach various endings, depending on what you want to say.
2. Understanding Politeness Levels
Before conjugating, you must choose a politeness level. For beginners, two levels are essential:
| Style | Ending Used | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Formal (Highly Polite) | -습니다 / -ㅂ니다 | Used in news broadcasts, military settings, formal presentations, and service industries. |
| Standard Polite | -아요 / -어요 / -여요 (해요) | Used most often in daily conversation with strangers, elders, or people you don't know well. This is key for basic communication. |
| Casual (Intimate) | -아 / -어 / -여 | Used with close friends, children, or when speaking to yourself. Avoid using this with strangers! |
Since the Standard Polite style is used to construct most basic Korean phrases, we will focus on the **-아요/어요** rule.
3. The Core Rule: -아요 vs. -어요
The choice between **-아요** and **-어요** depends entirely on the last vowel of the verb stem.
| Rule | Ending | Last Vowel of Stem |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 1 (Bright Vowels) | -아요 | The stem ends in the bright vowels ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o). |
| Rule 2 (Dark Vowels) | -어요 | The stem ends in any other vowel (e.g., ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ, ㅔ). |
| Rule 3 (Special Case) | -여요 (해요) | The stem ends in **하-** (ha-) (e.g., 하다 becomes 해요). |
Often, when the stem already ends in the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ, the stem and the ending merge, simplifying the pronunciation (e.g., 가 + 아요 becomes 가요).
4. Step-by-Step Conjugation Practice
Here’s how the core rule is applied in practice:
- **Stem:** 보- (bo, vowel ㅗ) + **Rule 1** (-아요) = 봐요 (bwayo, *merged*)
Meaning: I see/I watch. - **Stem:** 먹- (meok, vowel ㅓ) + **Rule 2** (-어요) = 먹어요 (meogeoyo)
Meaning: I eat. - **Stem:** 하- (ha, special case) + **Rule 3** (-여요) = 해요 (haeyo)
Meaning: I do.
Once you have the conjugated form (which always comes at the end of the sentence), you can apply the rules you learned about Korean sentence structure to speak.
5. Tips for Mastering Conjugation Quickly
- Practice in Batches: Group verbs by their final vowel (e.g., all ㅏ-vowel verbs together).
- Listen and Repeat: Listen to native speakers to internalize the sound changes (like 보아요 becoming 봐요).
- Write by Hand: Write out the stem and the ending for simple verbs multiple times.
- Master the Irregulars: Once you are comfortable with the basic rule, start learning the most common irregular verbs (like ㄷ and ㅂ irregulars).
Conclusion
Korean verb conjugation is fundamentally a straightforward process: find the stem and apply the politeness ending based on the stem's final vowel.
Focus on mastering the **-아요/어요** rule first, as it covers the vast majority of everyday Korean conversation. With consistent practice, you will soon be able to express actions and descriptions fluently!