Korean verbs (동사 - dongsa) are the core of every sentence, always appearing at the end. Understanding verb structure and basic conjugation is essential for constructing Korean sentences.
Verb Structure
Korean verbs consist of two parts:
Verb = Stem + Ending
Dictionary Form
All Korean verbs in dictionary form end in -다 (-da).
Examples:
- 먹다 (meokda) - to eat
- 가다 (gada) - to go
- 자다 (jada) - to sleep
- 공부하다 (gongbuhada) - to study
Stem
The stem is what remains after removing -다. This is the base for all conjugations.
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹 (meok)
- 가다 → 가 (ga)
- 자다 → 자 (ja)
- 공부하다 → 공부하 (gongbuha)
Endings
Endings attach to the stem to indicate:
- Tense (present, past, future)
- Politeness level (formal, informal, casual)
- Mood (statement, question, command)
- Other grammatical functions
Basic Conjugation Pattern
Present Tense Polite (-아요/어요)
The most common conjugation for beginners:
Rule: Stem + 아요/어요
Vowel harmony rule:
- If stem ends in ㅏ or ㅗ → use 아요
- All other vowels → use 어요
Examples:
ㅏ/ㅗ vowels (use 아요):
- 가다 (gada) → 가 + 아요 = 가요 (gayo) - go
- 보다 (boda) → 보 + 아요 = 봐요 (bwayo) - see
Other vowels (use 어요):
- 먹다 (meokda) → 먹 + 어요 = 먹어요 (meogeoyo) - eat
- 자다 (jada) → 자 + 어요 = 자요 (jayo) - sleep
하다 verbs (special):
- 공부하다 → 공부해요 (gongbuhaeyo) - study
- 일하다 → 일해요 (ilhaeyo) - work
Contractions
When stem ends in certain vowels, contractions occur:
가 + 아요 → 가요 (not 가아요) 오 + 아요 → 와요 (not 오아요) 보 + 아요 → 봐요 (not 보아요)
Three Basic Tenses
Present Tense
Form: Stem + 아요/어요
Usage:
- Habitual actions
- General truths
- Current states
Examples:
- 먹어요 (meogeoyo) - eat / am eating
- 가요 (gayo) - go / am going
- 공부해요 (gongbuhaeyo) - study / am studying
Past Tense
Form: Stem + 았어요/었어요
Same vowel harmony:
- ㅏ/ㅗ vowels → 았어요
- Other vowels → 었어요
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹었어요 (meogeosseoyo) - ate
- 가다 → 갔어요 (gasseoyo) - went
- 보다 → 봤어요 (bwasseoyo) - saw
- 자다 → 잤어요 (jasseoyo) - slept
Future Tense
Form 1: Stem + (으)ㄹ 거예요
Rule:
- Vowel stem or ㄹ ending → ㄹ 거예요
- Consonant stem → 을 거예요
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (meogeul geoyeyo) - will eat
- 가다 → 갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) - will go
- 자다 → 잘 거예요 (jal geoyeyo) - will sleep
Form 2: Stem + 겠어요 (intention/assumption)
Examples:
- 먹다 → 먹겠어요 (meokgesseoyo) - will eat
- 가다 → 가겠어요 (gagesseoyo) - will go
Verb Types
Action Verbs
Express physical or mental actions:
Examples:
- 먹다 (meokda) - to eat
- 가다 (gada) - to go
- 읽다 (ikda) - to read
- 보다 (boda) - to see
- 듣다 (deutda) - to listen
- 말하다 (malhada) - to speak
State Verbs
Express mental states or cognitive actions:
Examples:
- 알다 (alda) - to know
- 생각하다 (saenggakada) - to think
- 좋아하다 (joahada) - to like
- 사랑하다 (saranghada) - to love
Existential Verbs
Express existence or possession:
있다 (itda) - to exist, to have
- 책이 있어요. (Have a book. / A book exists.)
없다 (eopda) - to not exist, to not have
- 시간이 없어요. (Don't have time.)
Transitive vs Intransitive
Transitive Verbs
Take a direct object (marked with 을/를):
Examples:
- 먹다 (to eat) - 밥을 먹어요 (eat rice)
- 읽다 (to read) - 책을 읽어요 (read book)
- 보다 (to see) - 영화를 봐요 (watch movie)
Intransitive Verbs
Don't take direct objects:
Examples:
- 가다 (to go) - 학교에 가요 (go to school)
- 자다 (to sleep) - 자요 (sleep)
- 오다 (to come) - 와요 (come)
Politeness Levels
Korean verbs conjugate for three main politeness levels:
Formal Polite (합니다체)
Form: Stem + ㅂ니다/습니다
Examples:
- 먹습니다 (meokseumnida) - eat (formal)
- 갑니다 (gamnida) - go (formal)
Usage: Formal situations, presentations, news
Informal Polite (해요체)
Form: Stem + 아요/어요
Examples:
- 먹어요 (meogeoyo) - eat (polite)
- 가요 (gayo) - go (polite)
Usage: Everyday polite conversation (most common for learners)
Casual (반말)
Form: Stem + 아/어
Examples:
- 먹어 (meogeo) - eat (casual)
- 가 (ga) - go (casual)
Usage: Close friends, family, younger people
Negation
Korean has two negation patterns for verbs:
Short Form: 안
Pattern: 안 + Verb
Examples:
- 안 먹어요 (an meogeoyo) - don't eat
- 안 가요 (an gayo) - don't go
- 안 자요 (an jayo) - don't sleep
Long Form: -지 않다
Pattern: Stem + 지 않아요
Examples:
- 먹지 않아요 (meokji anayo) - don't eat
- 가지 않아요 (gaji anayo) - don't go
- 자지 않아요 (jaji anayo) - don't sleep
Both mean the same, but 안 form is more common in speech.
Common Verb Patterns
Progressive: -고 있다
Pattern: Stem + 고 있어요
Expresses ongoing action ("be doing"):
Examples:
- 먹고 있어요 (meokgo isseoyo) - am eating
- 공부하고 있어요 (gongbuhago isseoyo) - am studying
Desire: -고 싶다
Pattern: Stem + 고 싶어요
Expresses "want to":
Examples:
- 먹고 싶어요 (meokgo sipeoyo) - want to eat
- 가고 싶어요 (gago sipeoyo) - want to go
Ability: -(으)ㄹ 수 있다
Pattern: Stem + (으)ㄹ 수 있어요
Expresses "can":
Examples:
- 먹을 수 있어요 (meogeul su isseoyo) - can eat
- 갈 수 있어요 (gal su isseoyo) - can go
Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Regular Verbs
Follow standard conjugation rules:
Examples:
- 먹다 (meokda) - eat
- 보다 (boda) - see
- 읽다 (ikda) - read
Irregular Verbs
Have special conjugation patterns based on stem-final consonant:
ㄹ irregular:
- 살다 (salda) → 살아요 (not 사라요)
ㅂ irregular:
- 돕다 (dopda) → 도와요 (not 도바요)
ㄷ irregular:
- 듣다 (deutda) → 들어요 (not 듣어요)
(More details in dedicated irregular verb sections)
Position in Sentences
Verbs always appear at the end of clauses:
Simple sentence:
- 저는 밥을 먹어요. (I eat rice.)
Complex sentence:
- 저는 학교에 가고 친구를 만나요.
- (I go to school and meet friends.)
- Both 가고 and 만나요 are at clause ends
Connecting Verbs
-고 (and)
Sequential or simultaneous actions:
- 밥을 먹고 자요. (Eat and sleep.)
-아서/어서 (because/so)
Cause and effect:
- 비가 와서 집에 있어요. (It's raining, so I'm at home.)
-지만 (but)
Contrast:
- 비가 오지만 가요. (It's raining, but I'm going.)
Essential Verbs to Learn First
Movement:
- 가다 (gada) - to go
- 오다 (oda) - to come
Daily actions:
- 먹다 (meokda) - to eat
- 마시다 (masida) - to drink
- 자다 (jada) - to sleep
- 보다 (boda) - to see/watch
Communication:
- 말하다 (malhada) - to speak
- 듣다 (deutda) - to listen
Study/work:
- 공부하다 (gongbuhada) - to study
- 일하다 (ilhada) - to work
States:
- 있다 (itda) - to exist/have
- 없다 (eopda) - to not exist/not have
- 알다 (alda) - to know
Practice Strategy
1. Master present tense first: Get comfortable with -아요/어요 pattern 2. Learn common verbs: Focus on high-frequency verbs 3. Practice conjugation: Conjugate the same verb in all tenses 4. Build sentences: Use verbs in complete sentences, not isolation 5. Listen actively: Notice verb endings in Korean content
Understanding verb basics gives you the foundation for constructing any Korean sentence. As you progress, you'll learn more conjugation patterns and verb forms.