Korean Verb Conjugation Guide

Aug 6, 2024

Lecture on Conjugating Korean Verbs

Introduction

  • Purpose: Learn how to conjugate verbs in Korean from their dictionary form.
  • Dictionary form: Always ends with λ‹€ (e.g., κ°€λ‹€, λ¨Ήλ‹€, μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λ‹€, etc.).
  • Examples of Conjugation:
    • κ°€λ‹€ (to go) β†’ κ°€μš”
    • λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat) β†’ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”
    • μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λ‹€ (to like) β†’ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”
    • 보닀 (to see) β†’ λ³΄μ•„μš”
    • 이닀 (to be) β†’ μ΄μ—μš”/μ˜ˆμš”

What is Conjugation?

  • Each verb can have multiple conjugations based on tense and formality.
  • Examples with λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat):
    • Present Formal: λ¨ΉμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€
    • Past Formal: λ¨Ήμ—ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€
    • Future Formal: λ¨Ήκ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€
    • Present Informal: λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”
    • Past Informal: λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄μš”
    • Future Informal: 먹을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”
    • Present Casual: λ¨Ήμ–΄
    • Past Casual: λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄
    • Future Casual: 먹을 κ±°μ•Ό
  • Note: Only need to learn each form once; can be applied to all verbs.

κ³  μ‹Άλ‹€ Form

  • Conjugating with κ³  μ‹Άλ‹€ to express desire.
  • Examples:
    • κ°€κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš” (I want to go)
    • λ¨Ήκ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš” (I want to eat)

Present Tense Informal μš” Form

  • Used in informal, non-rude situations.
  • Examples:
    • κ°€λ‹€ β†’ κ°€μš”
    • λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”
    • μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”
    • 보닀 β†’ λ³΄μ•„μš”
    • 이닀 β†’ μ΄μ—μš”/μ˜ˆμš”
  • Usage: Informal, not suitable for formal settings.
    • Example Sentence: μ €λŠ” ν”Όμžλ₯Ό μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš” (I like pizza).

Steps to Make the μš” Form

  1. Get the verb stem: Remove λ‹€ from dictionary form.
  2. Attach μ•„ or μ–΄:
  • If the stem's final vowel is μ•„ or 였, attach μ•„.
  • For other vowels, attach μ–΄.
  1. Attach μš”.

Examples

  • μ•ˆλ‹€ (to sit):
    • Stem: μ•ˆ
    • Attach μ•„: 앉아
    • Attach μš”: μ•‰μ•„μš”
    • Sentence: μ €λŠ” μ•‰μ•„μš” (I sit down).
  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ (to eat):
    • Stem: λ¨Ή
    • Attach μ–΄: λ¨Ήμ–΄
    • Attach μš”: λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”
    • Sentence: μ €λŠ” ν”Όμžλ₯Ό λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” (I eat pizza).
  • λ§Œλ“€λ‹€ (to make):
    • Stem: λ§Œλ“€
    • Attach μ–΄: λ§Œλ“€μ–΄
    • Attach μš”: λ§Œλ“€μ–΄μš”
    • Sentence: μ €λŠ” 케이크λ₯Ό λ§Œλ“€μ–΄μš” (I make cake).

Exceptions to Rules

  1. Verb stem ending with vowel: Combine attached μ•„/μ–΄ with final vowel.
  • κ°€λ‹€ (to go): κ°€ + μ•„ β†’ κ°€μš” (not κ°€μ•„μš”)
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” κ°€μš” (I go).
  • λΆ€λ‹€ (to see): λΆ€ + μ•„ β†’ λ΄μš”
  1. Verb stem with 에: Simply add μš”.
  • 보내닀 (to send): 보내 + μš” β†’ λ³΄λ‚΄μš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” 이메일을 λ³΄λ‚΄μš” (I send an email).
  1. Verb stem ending with γ…‘: Remove γ…‘, check second-to-last vowel.
  • μ“°λ‹€ (to write/use): μ“° β†’ μ¨μš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” νŽœμ„ μ¨μš” (I use a pen).
  • λ°”μ˜λ‹€ (to be busy): λ°”μ˜ β†’ λ°”λΉ μš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” λ°”λΉ μš” (I am busy).
  1. Verb stem ending with λ₯΄: Remove γ…‘, add duplicate consonant and appropriate vowel.
  • λΆ€λ₯΄λ‹€ (to sing): λΆ€λ₯΄ β†’ λΆˆλŸ¬μš”
  • Sentence: λΉŒλ¦¬λŠ” λ…Έλž˜λ₯Ό λΆˆλŸ¬μš” (Billy sings a song).
  1. Verb stem ending with: Replace with 에 and attach μš”.
  • κ·Έλ ‡λ‹€: κ·Έλ ‡ β†’ κ·Έλž˜μš”
  • Sentence: 그것은 κ·Έλž˜μš” (That thing is so).
  1. Verbs ending with ν•˜λ‹€: ν•˜λ‹€ conjugates to ν•΄μš”.
  • μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λ‹€: μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” μš”λ¦¬λ₯Ό μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš” (I like cooking).
  1. Verb stem ending with γ…‚: Remove γ…‚, attach 우 + μ–΄, then μš”.
  • 맡닀 (to be spicy): 맡 β†’ λ§€μ›Œμš”
  • Sentence: κΉ€μΉ˜λŠ” λ§€μ›Œμš” (Kimchi is spicy).
  • λΆ€λŸ½λ‹€ (to be jealous): λΆ€λŸ½ β†’ λΆ€λŸ¬μ›Œμš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” λΆ€λŸ¬μ›Œμš” (I am jealous).
  • μΆ₯λ‹€ (to be cold): μΆ₯ β†’ μΆ”μ›Œμš”
  • Sentence: μ €λŠ” μΆ”μ›Œμš” (I am cold).

Notes

  • Don't stress over conjugations; practice will help.
  • Many exceptions make words easier to pronounce.
  • Some verbs don't follow any rules (e.g., 이닀 β†’ μ΄μ—μš”/μ˜ˆμš”).
  • Some verb stems with λ₯΄ change to a different form about half of the time.
  • Irregular verbs and descriptive verbs will be covered later.

Conclusion

  • You can now conjugate most verbs in present tense informal form.
  • Practice and apply these rules to new verbs.
  • Next lesson will cover more topics.

Kram! λ‹€μŒμ— 또 봐!

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