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Korean Verb Conjugation Basics
Korean verbs change their endings depending on tense, politeness, and other factors — and that's what makes conjugation feel daunting at first. The good news: the everyday present-tense polite form follows a simple, consistent rule, and once you have it you can say a huge amount. This guide starts there, then introduces the common irregular patterns gently. It won't make conjugation effortless, but it makes it far less mysterious. Progress varies by learner.
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Methods & tips that actually help
Start from the dictionary form
Realistic effect: Every Korean verb is listed ending in -다, like 가다 (to go) or 먹다 (to eat). To conjugate, you remove -다 to find the stem, then add an ending.
Best for: Absolute beginners on day one of verbs.
Learn the core -아요/-어요 rule
Realistic effect: For the everyday polite present tense, look at the last vowel of the stem: if it's ㅏ or ㅗ, add -아요; for any other vowel, add -어요. So 먹다 becomes 먹어요.
Best for: Beginners building their first sentences.
Treat 하다 verbs as 해요
Realistic effect: Verbs ending in 하다 — and there are many, like 공부하다 (to study) — become 해요 in the polite present tense. 공부하다 becomes 공부해요.
Best for: Learners using the very common 하다 verbs.
Watch for vowel contractions
Realistic effect: When a stem ends in a vowel, it often merges with the ending: 가다 becomes 가요, not 가아요. These contractions are regular once you've seen a few.
Best for: Learners confused why some endings look short.
Use 해요체 as your default level
Realistic effect: The -아요/-어요/해요 form is the 해요체 polite style, appropriate in most everyday situations. Master it before adding the more formal -습니다 or casual forms.
Best for: Beginners wanting one safe level first.
Meet the irregular verbs gradually
Realistic effect: Some verbs change their stem before endings — ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅡ, and 르 irregulars are the common types. You don't need them all at once; learn them as you meet them.
Best for: Learners ready to go beyond regular verbs.
Know the ㅡ and ㅂ patterns early
Realistic effect: Two frequent irregulars: a stem-final ㅡ drops before -아/-어 endings, and a stem-final ㅂ often changes to 우. Recognizing these explains many "weird" conjugations.
Best for: Learners puzzled by common irregular verbs.
Drill verbs out loud, not just on paper
Realistic effect: Saying conjugated verbs aloud in short sentences cements the patterns far better than silently filling in tables. Repetition is what makes conjugation automatic.
Best for: Learners who know the rules but freeze when speaking.
Conjugation sticks faster when you actually produce verbs in conversation and get corrected — a tutor can drill the patterns and catch your irregulars. You can find Korean tutors on italki.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate Korean verbs in the present tense?
Remove -다 from the dictionary form to get the stem, then add -아요 if the stem's last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, or -어요 for any other vowel. Verbs ending in 하다 become 해요.
What's the difference between -아요 and -어요?
It depends on the last vowel of the verb stem: use -아요 when that vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, and -어요 for every other vowel. The choice is about sound, not meaning.
Why does 하다 become 해요?
하다 verbs are a special, very common case in Korean. In the polite present tense, 하다 conjugates irregularly to 해요, so 공부하다 (to study) becomes 공부해요.
What are Korean irregular verbs?
Irregular verbs change their stem before certain endings. Common types include the ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅡ, and 르 irregulars. They follow predictable patterns, so they're learnable with practice.
Which conjugation should beginners learn first?
Most guides recommend the 해요체 polite present tense (-아요/-어요/해요), because it's appropriate in the majority of everyday situations and rarely sounds rude. Progress varies by learner.