Connective Forms of Verbs & Adjectives

01

Constructing the Form

The shape of the connective form depends on the last vowel of the verb stem.

• Bright Vowels (ㅏ (a), ㅗ (o)): If the stem ends in ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o), add 아 (a). If the stem already ends in ㅏ (a), the sounds merge.

• 가다 → 가

  ga·da → gaga·da → gaga·da → gaka·ta → ka

  to go → go (가 + 아 merge into 가)

• 보다 → 봐

  bo·da → bwabo·da → bwabo·da → bwapo·ta → pwa

  to see → see (보 + 아 merge into 봐)

• Dark/Neutral Vowels (others): For all other vowels (such as ㅓ (ŏeoŏe), ㅜ (u), ㅣ (i)), add 어 (ŏeoŏe).

• 먹다 → 먹어

  mŏk·da → mŏ·gŏmeok·da → meo·geomŏk·da → mŏ·gŏmek·ta → me·ke

  to eat → eat

• 마시다 → 마셔

  ma·si·da → ma·syŏma·si·da → ma·syeoma·si·da → ma·syŏma·si·ta → ma·sye

  to drink → drink (시 + 어 merge into 셔)

• Hada Verbs: The verb 하다 (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta) is unique. It changes to 해 (hæhaehaehay).

• 공부하다 → 공부해

  gong·bu·ha·da → gong·bu·hægong·bu·ha·da → gong·bu·haegong·bu·ha·da → gong·bu·haekong·pu·ha·ta → kong·pu·hay

  to study → study

02

Connecting Multiple Verbs

This form is used to attach an auxiliary verb to a main verb. This creates compound meanings, such as "trying to do something" or "doing something for someone."

For example, adding 보다 (bo·dabo·dabo·dapo·ta) - to see after the connective form creates the meaning "to try doing."

• 이것을 먹어 보세요.

  i·gŏ·sŭl mŏ·gŏ bo·se·yo.i·geo·seul meo·geo bo·se·yo.i·gŏ·sŭl mŏ·gŏ bo·se·yo.i·ke·sul me·ke po·sey·yo.

  Please try eating this.

• 그는 학교에 가 봤어요.

  gŭ·nŭn hak·gyo·e ga bwa·ssŏ·yo.geu·neun hak·gyo·e ga bwa·sseo·yo.gŭ·nŭn hak·gyo·e ga bwa·ssŏ·yo.ku·nun hak·kyo·ey ka pwa·sse·yo.

  He has tried going to school (He has been to school).

Adding 주다 (ju·daju·daju·dacu·ta) - to give after this form creates the meaning "to do something for someone."

• 저를 도와 주세요.

  jŏ·rŭl do·wa ju·se·yo.jeo·reul do·wa ju·se·yo.jŏ·rŭl do·wa ju·se·yo.ce·lul to·wa cu·sey·yo.

  Please help me (give me help).

03

Expressing Necessity (-야)

To say that one "must" or "has to" do something, you attach the particle 야 (ya) directly to this connective form, followed by 하다 (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta) or 되다 (dœ·dadoe·dadoe·datway·ta).

• 집에 가야 해요.

  ji·be ga·ya hæ·yo.ji·be ga·ya hae·yo.ji·be ga·ya hae·yo.ci·pey ka·ya hay·yo.

  I must go home.

• 매일 연습해야 합니다.

  mæ·il yŏn·sŭp·hæ·ya ham·ni·da.mae·il yeon·seup·hae·ya ham·ni·da.mae·il yŏn·sŭp·hae·ya ham·ni·da.may·il yen·sup·hay·ya ham·ni·ta.

  You have to practice every day.

04

Expressing Permission and Concession (-도)

Attaching 도 (dododoto) to the connective form creates the meaning "even if." This is commonly used to ask for permission ("Is it okay even if I do X?") or to grant it.

• 여기 앉아도 돼요?

  yŏ·gi an·ja·do dœ·yo?yeo·gi an·ja·do doe·yo?yŏ·gi an·ja·do doe·yo?ye·ki an·ca·to tway·yo?

  May I sit here? (Is it okay even if I sit here?)

• 물을 마셔도 됩니다.

  mu·rŭl ma·syŏ·do dœm·ni·da.mu·reul ma·syeo·do doem·ni·da.mu·rŭl ma·syŏ·do doem·ni·da.mu·lul ma·sye·to twaym·ni·ta.

  You may drink water.

• 공부해도 이해가 안 돼요.

  gong·bu·hæ·do i·hæ·ga an dœ·yo.gong·bu·hae·do i·hae·ga an doe·yo.gong·bu·hae·do i·hae·ga an doe·yo.kong·pu·hay·to i·hay·ka an tway·yo.

  Even if I study, I don't understand.