Verbs: Normal Politeness

01

Determining the Verb Stem

To conjugate a verb into the polite form, you must first look at the verb stem. The stem is what remains after removing 다 (dadadata) from the dictionary form of the verb.

• 가다 (ga·daga·daga·daka·ta) - to go → Stem: 가 (gagagaka)
• 먹다 (mŏk·dameok·damŏk·damek·ta) - to eat → Stem: 먹 (mŏkmeokmŏkmek)

Once you have the stem, you add one of two endings: 아요 (a·yo) or 어요 (ŏ·yoeo·yoŏ·yoe·yo). The choice depends on the last vowel in the stem.

02

Bright Vowels: Adding 아요

If the last vowel of the verb stem is ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o), these are considered "bright vowels." You must add 아요 (a·yo).

If the stem ends in a consonant, simply add the ending.

• 저는 매일 운동장이 작아요.

  jŏ·nŭn mæ·il un·dong·jang·i ja·ga·yo.jeo·neun mae·il un·dong·jang·i ja·ga·yo.jŏ·nŭn mae·il un·dong·jang·i ja·ga·yo.ce·nun may·il un·tong·cang·i ca·ka·yo.

  The playground is small.

• 그는 창문을 닫아요.

  gŭ·nŭn chang·mu·nŭl da·da·yo.geu·neun jang·mu·neul da·da·yo.gŭ·nŭn chang·mu·nŭl da·da·yo.ku·nun cang·mu·nul ta·ta·yo.

  He closes the window.

If the stem ends in a vowel, the sounds often merge (contract):

• 가다 (ga·daga·daga·daka·ta) - to go: 가 (gagagaka) + 아요 (a·yo) becomes 가요 (ga·yoga·yoga·yoka·yo).
• 오다 (o·dao·dao·dao·ta) - to come: 오 (o) + 아요 (a·yo) becomes 와요 (wa·yo).

• 지금 학교에 가요.

  ji·gŭm hag·gyo·e ga·yo.ji·geum hag·gyo·e ga·yo.ji·gŭm hag·gyo·e ga·yo.ci·kum hag·kyo·ey ka·yo.

  I am going to school now.

• 친구가 집에 와요.

  chin·gu·ga jib·e wa·yo.jin·gu·ga jib·e wa·yo.chin·gu·ga jib·e wa·yo.cin·ku·ka cib·ey wa·yo.

  A friend is coming home.

03

Dark and Neutral Vowels: Adding 어요

If the last vowel of the stem is anything other than ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o) (such as ㅓ (ŏeoŏe), ㅜ (u), ㅣ (i), etc.), you must add 어요 (ŏ·yoeo·yoŏ·yoe·yo).

If the stem ends in a consonant, simply add the ending.

• 점심을 먹어요.

  jŏm·si·mŭl mŏg·ŏ·yo.jeom·si·meul meog·eo·yo.jŏm·si·mŭl mŏg·ŏ·yo.cem·si·mul meg·e·yo.

  I eat lunch.

• 책을 읽어요.

  chæg·ŭl il·gŏ·yo.jaeg·eul il·geo·yo.chaeg·ŭl il·gŏ·yo.cayg·ul il·ke·yo.

  I read a book.

If the stem ends in a vowel, contractions occur here as well:

• 마시다 (ma·si·dama·si·dama·si·dama·si·ta) - to drink: 마시 (ma·si) + 어요 (ŏ·yoeo·yoŏ·yoe·yo) becomes 마셔요 (ma·syŏ·yoma·syeo·yoma·syŏ·yoma·sye·yo).
• 배우다 (bæ·u·dabae·u·dabae·u·dapay·u·ta) - to learn: 배우 (bæ·ubae·ubae·upay·u) + 어요 (ŏ·yoeo·yoŏ·yoe·yo) becomes 배워요 (bæ·wŏ·yobae·wŏ·yobae·wŏ·yopay·wŏ·yo).

• 물을 마셔요.

  mu·rŭl ma·syŏ·yo.mu·reul ma·syeo·yo.mu·rŭl ma·syŏ·yo.mu·lul ma·sye·yo.

  I drink water.

• 한국어를 배워요.

  han·gu·gŏ·rŭl bæ·wŏ·yo.han·gu·geo·reul bae·wŏ·yo.han·gu·gŏ·rŭl bae·wŏ·yo.han·ku·ke·lul pay·wŏ·yo.

  I learn Korean.

04

Verbs ending in 'Hada'

Many Korean verbs end in 하다 (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta), such as "to study," "to clean," or "to love." These verbs follow a unique rule. 하다 (ha·daha·daha·daha·ta) changes to 해요 (hæ·yohae·yohae·yohay·yo). Technically, 하 (ha) + 여요 (yŏ·yoyeo·yoyŏ·yoye·yo) becomes 하여요 (ha·yŏ·yoha·yeo·yoha·yŏ·yoha·ye·yo), which is shortened to 해요 (hæ·yohae·yohae·yohay·yo) in modern speech.

• 저는 공부해요.

  jŏ·nŭn gong·bu·hæ·yo.jeo·neun gong·bu·hae·yo.jŏ·nŭn gong·bu·hae·yo.ce·nun kong·pu·hay·yo.

  I study.

• 우리는 청소해요.

  u·ri·nŭn chŏng·so·hæ·yo.u·ri·neun jeong·so·hae·yo.u·ri·nŭn chŏng·so·hae·yo.u·li·nun ceng·so·hay·yo.

  We clean.

• 사랑해요.

  sa·rang·hæ·yo.sa·rang·hae·yo.sa·rang·hae·yo.sa·lang·hay·yo.

  I love you.

05

Polite vs. Casual Speech

The polite ending 요 (yo) is the primary marker of politeness in this speech level. If you are speaking with close friends or people significantly younger than you (and you have permission to speak casually), you simply drop the 요 (yo) at the end. This turns the sentence into 반말 (ban·malban·malban·malpan·mal) - casual speech.

• Polite: 먹어요 (mŏg·ŏ·yomeog·eo·yomŏg·ŏ·yomeg·e·yo)
• Casual: 먹어 (mŏg·ŏmeog·eomŏg·ŏmeg·e)

However, as a learner, you should always default to keeping the 요 (yo) attached until you are very close with the other person.