Verbs: Neutral Politeness — Korean Grammar

The "Plain Form" (often called the Neutral Form) is a speech level used to make objective statements. Its politeness level depends entirely on the medium in which it is used. In written Korean (books, newspapers, essays), it is strictly neutral and factual. In spoken Korean, however, it is considered "low" form. It is used when talking to oneself (monologue), exclaiming surprise, or speaking to close friends of the same age or younger.

Action Verbs: Present Tense

In the Plain Form (the neutral style of books and of self-talk), the present tense of verbs that express an action depends on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add (n·dan·dan·dan·ta) to the stem.

학교에 간다.
hak·gyo·e gan·da.hak·gyo·e gan·da.hak·gyo·e gan·da.hak·kyo·ey kan·ta.
I go to school.
지금 공부한다.
chi·gŭm gong·bu·han·da.ji·geum gong·bu·han·da.chi·gŭm gong·bu·han·da.ci·kum kong·pu·han·ta.
I am studying now.

If the verb stem ends in a consonant ( (pat·chʰimbat·chimpat·ch'impat·chim)), add (nŭn·daneun·danŭn·danun·ta) to the stem.

그는 밥을 먹는다.
kŭ·nŭn bab·ŭl mŏng·nŭn·da.geu·neun bab·eul meong·neun·da.kŭ·nŭn bab·ŭl mŏng·nŭn·da.ku·nun pab·ul meng·nun·ta.
He eats rice.
잘 읽는다.
chal ing·nŭn·da.jal ing·neun·da.chal ing·nŭn·da.cal ing·nun·ta.
She reads well.

Irregular Verbs

If an action verb stem ends in (l), the (l) is removed before adding (n·dan·dan·dan·ta).

서울에 산다.
sŏ·ur·e san·da.seo·ur·e san·da.sŏ·ur·e san·da.se·ur·ey san·ta.
I live in Seoul. (from 살다 (sal·dasal·dasal·dasal·ta))

Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): Present Tense

Descriptive verbs function differently from action verbs (which add (n·dan·dan·dan·ta) or (nŭn·daneun·danŭn·danun·ta)) in the Plain Form (the neutral style). You do not add any suffix. The Plain Form of an adjective is identical to its dictionary form.

이 꽃은 예쁘다.
i kkoch·ŭn ye·ppŭ·da.i ggoch·eun ye·bbeu·da.i kkoch·ŭn ye·ppŭ·da.i kkoch·un yey·ppu·ta.
This flower is pretty.
날씨가 좋다.
nal·ssi·ga jo·tʰa.nal·ssi·ga jo·ta.nal·ssi·ga jo·t'a.nal·ssi·ka co·tha.
The weather is good.
한국어는 어렵다.
han·gug·ŏ·nŭn ŏ·ryŏp·da.han·gug·eo·neun eo·ryeop·da.han·gug·ŏ·nŭn ŏ·ryŏp·da.han·kug·e·nun e·lyep·ta.
Korean is difficult.

Past Tense Construction

To create the past tense in the Plain Form (the neutral style), conjugate the verb into the past tense stem ( (at/ŏt/hætat/eot/haetat/ŏt/haetat/et/hayt)) and simply add (tadatata). This rule applies to both action verbs and adjectives equally.

어제 영화를 봤다.
ŏ·je yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwat·da.eo·je yeong·hwa·reul bwat·da.ŏ·je yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwat·da.e·cey yeng·hwa·lul pwat·ta.
I saw a movie yesterday.
그 여자는 정말 예뻤다.
kŭ yŏ·ja·nŭn jŏng·mal ye·ppŏt·da.geu yeo·ja·neun jeong·mal ye·bbeot·da.kŭ yŏ·ja·nŭn jŏng·mal ye·ppŏt·da.ku ye·ca·nun ceng·mal yey·ppet·ta.
That woman was really pretty.

Spoken Usage: Self-Talk and Exclamations

While learners should generally use polite endings ( (yo) or (sŭm·ni·daseum·ni·dasŭm·ni·dasum·ni·ta)) when speaking to others, the Plain Form (the endings in (tadatata), like the examples below) is the standard way to express immediate thoughts or reactions to oneself. This is not considered rude because you are not directing the speech at a listener.

비 온다!
pi on·da!bi on·da!pi on·da!pi on·ta!
It's raining! (Realization)
배고프다.
pæ·go·pʰŭ·da.bae·go·peu·da.pae·go·p'ŭ·da.pay·ko·phu·ta.
I am hungry. (Monologue)
이거 맛있다!
i·gŏ mas·it·da!i·geo mas·it·da!i·gŏ mas·it·da!i·ke mas·it·ta!
This is tasty! (Surprise)

The Copula (To Be)

In the Plain Form (the neutral style of books and of self-talk), the verb (i·dai·dai·dai·ta) - to be - changes based on the preceding noun.

After a consonant: (i·dai·dai·dai·ta)
After a vowel: (tadatata), or the full (i·dai·dai·dai·ta), which is equally correct and common in writing

이것은 책이다.
i·gŏs·ŭn chʰæg·i·da.i·geos·eun chaeg·i·da.i·gŏs·ŭn ch'aeg·i·da.i·kes·un chayg·i·ta.
This is a book.
나는 의사다.
na·nŭn ŭi·sa·da.na·neun ui·sa·da.na·nŭn ŭi·sa·da.na·nun uy·sa·ta.
I am a doctor.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

28 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 165. A few of them, with the words “Verbs: Neutral Politeness” is about in bold:

너 진짜 말 재밌게 한다. 진짜 웃긴 사람이야.
nŏ jin·jja mal jæ·mit·ge han·da. chin·jja ut·gin sa·ram i·ya.neo jin·jja mal jae·mit·ge han·da. jin·jja ut·gin sa·ram i·ya.nŏ jin·tcha mal jae·mit·ge han·da. chin·tcha ut·gin sa·ram i·ya.ne cin·cca mal cay·mit·key han·ta. cin·cca ut·kin sa·lam i·ya.
You are funny. (neut.) I think you are funny. (cas.)
Lesson 169
나는 자기 전에 목욕을 할 것이다.
na·nŭn ja·gi jŏn·e mog·yog·ŭl hal gŏs·i·da.na·neun ja·gi jeon·e mog·yog·eul hal geos·i·da.na·nŭn ja·gi jŏn·e mog·yog·ŭl hal gŏs·i·da.na·nun ca·ki cen·ey mog·yog·ul hal kes·i·ta.
I'll take a bath before going to bed. (neut.)
Lesson 481
열쇠는 내 책상 아래에 있다.
yŏl·swæ·nŭn næ chʰæk·sang a·ræ·e it·da.yeol·swae·neun nae chaek·sang a·rae·e it·da.yŏl·swae·nŭn nae ch'aek·sang a·rae·e it·da.yel·sway·nun nay chayk·sang a·lay·ey it·ta.
The key is below my desk. (neut.)
Lesson 483

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