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 ends in a vowel, the two merge: ㅏ (a) + 아 (a) leaves a single ㅏ (a) (가 (kagakaka)), and ㅗ (o) + 아 (a) contracts into a wa sound (봐 (pwabwapwapwa)).

• 가다 → 가

  ka·da → kaga·da → gaka·da → kaka·ta → ka

  to go → go (가 + 아 merge into 가)

• 보다 → 봐

  po·da → pwabo·da → bwapo·da → pwapo·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 → mŏg·ŏmeok·da → meog·eomŏk·da → mŏg·ŏmek·ta → meg·e

  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

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

  to study → study

02

Connecting Multiple Verbs

The connective form (the verb stem plus 아 (a) or 어 (ŏeoŏe)) 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 (po·dabo·dapo·dapo·ta) - to see after the connective form creates the meaning "to try doing."

• 이것을 먹어 보세요.

  i·gŏs·ŭl mŏg·ŏ bo·se·yo.i·geos·eul meog·eo bo·se·yo.i·gŏs·ŭl mŏg·ŏ bo·se·yo.i·kes·ul meg·e po·sey·yo.

  Please try eating this.

• 친구는 한국에 가 봤어요.

  chʰin·gu·nŭn han·gug·e ga bwass·ŏ·yo.chin·gu·neun han·gug·e ga bwass·eo·yo.ch'in·gu·nŭn han·gug·e ga bwass·ŏ·yo.chin·ku·nun han·kug·ey ka pwass·e·yo.

  My friend has been to Korea (has tried going there).

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

• 문을 열어 주세요.

  mun·ŭl yŏr·ŏ ju·se·yo.mun·eul yeor·eo ju·se·yo.mun·ŭl yŏr·ŏ ju·se·yo.mun·ul yer·e cu·sey·yo.

  Please open the door (for me).

03

Expressing Necessity (-야)

To say that one "must" or "has to" do something, you attach the ending 야 (ya) directly to the connective form (the verb stem plus 아 (a) or 어 (ŏeoŏe)), followed by 하다 (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta) or 되다 (twæ·dadwae·datwae·datway·ta).

• 집에 가야 해요.

  chib·e ga·ya hæ·yo.jib·e ga·ya hae·yo.chib·e ga·ya hae·yo.cib·ey ka·ya hay·yo.

  I must go home.

• 매일 연습해야 합니다.

  mæ·il yŏn·sŭ·pʰæ·ya ham·ni·da.mae·il yeon·seu·pae·ya ham·ni·da.mae·il yŏn·sŭ·p'ae·ya ham·ni·da.may·il yen·su·phay·ya ham·ni·ta.

  You have to practice every day.

04

Expressing Permission and Concession (-도)

Attaching 도 (todototo) to the connective form (the verb stem plus 아 (a) or 어 (ŏeoŏe)) 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 anj·a·do dwæ·yo?yeo·gi anj·a·do dwae·yo?yŏ·gi anj·a·do dwae·yo?ye·ki anj·a·to tway·yo?

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

• 물을 마셔도 됩니다.

  mur·ŭl ma·syŏ·do dwæm·ni·da.mur·eul ma·syeo·do dwaem·ni·da.mur·ŭl ma·syŏ·do dwaem·ni·da.mur·ul ma·sye·to twaym·ni·ta.

  You may drink water.

• 공부해도 이해가 안 돼요.

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

  Even if I study, I don't understand.