Korean Conjugation Rules
Korean Conjugation Rules
Rule 1) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CVC(C) form and contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ, ㅗ, or ㅛ, we add 아요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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같다 to be the same |
같 |
같아요 |
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놀다 to hang out |
놀 |
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닦다 to brush |
닦 |
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맞다 to be right |
맞 |
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살다 to live |
살 |
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앉다 to sit |
앉 |
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좋다 to be good |
좋 |
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낮다 to be low |
낮 |
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팔다 to sell |
팔 |
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짧다 to be short |
짧 |
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많다 to be a lot |
많 |
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높다 to be high |
높 |
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Rule 2) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CVC(C) form and contains one of the vowels ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, or l, we add 어요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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맛있다 to be delicious |
맛있 |
맛있어요 |
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만들다to make |
만들 |
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먹다to eat |
먹 |
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걸다to hang |
걸 |
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없다to not exist |
없 |
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읽다to read |
읽 |
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열다 to open |
열 |
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있다to exist |
있 |
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잘생겼다to be handsome |
잘생겼 |
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젊다to be young |
젊 |
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길다 to be long |
길 |
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울다 to cry |
울 |
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Rule 3) If a word contains the verb 하다, 하다 changes to 해요.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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건강하다 to be healthy |
건강해요 |
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공부하다 to study |
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말하다 to speak |
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목욕하다 to take a bath |
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불편하다 to be uncomfortable |
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사랑하다 to love |
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샤워하다 to take a shower |
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생각하다 to think |
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싫어하다 to hate |
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일하다 to work |
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좋아하다 to like |
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착하다 to be nice |
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편하다 to be comfortable |
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따뜻하다 to be warm |
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노래하다 to sing |
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전화하다 to make a phone call |
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이상하다 to be strange |
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깨끗하다 to be clean |
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조용하다 to be quiet |
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꾸준하다 to be diligent |
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솔직하다 to be honest |
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청소하다 to clean |
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구경하다 to look around |
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딱딱하다 to be hard |
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사용하다 to use |
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Rule 4) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form (except in the case where the last syllable of the stem contains the vowels ㅗ, ㅜ, l, ㅟ, ㅚ, or ㅡ), then the honorific ending marker요is added after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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가다 to go |
가 |
가요 |
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만나다 to meet |
만나 |
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보내다 to send, to spend time |
보내 |
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사다 to buy |
사 |
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서다 to stand |
서 |
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일어나다 to get up, to stand up |
일어나 |
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자다 to sleep |
자 |
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싸다 to be cheap |
싸 |
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비싸다 to be expensive |
비싸 |
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타다 to take transportation |
타 |
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켜다 to turn on lamps or lights |
켜 |
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떠나다 to leave |
떠나 |
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Rule 5) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅗ, ㅗ changes to ㅘ and the honorific ending marker 요 follows.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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보다 to watch/to see |
보 |
봐요 |
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오다 to come |
오 |
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물어보다 to ask |
물어보 |
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나오다 to appear |
나오 |
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Rule 6) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅜ, ㅜ changes to ㅝ and the honorific ending marker요 follows.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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주다 to give |
주 |
줘요 |
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춤추다 to dance |
춤추 |
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싸우다 to fight |
싸우 |
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바꾸다 to change something |
바꾸 |
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키우다 to grow |
키우 |
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Rule 7) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅟ, 어요 is added after the stem
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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사귀다 to make friends (or) to date someone |
사귀 |
사귀어요 |
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바뀌다 to change itself |
바뀌 |
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쉬다 to take a rest |
쉬 |
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Rule 8) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅚ, ㅚ changes to ㅙ, and the stem gets followed by the honorific ending marker 요.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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되다 to become |
되 |
돼요 |
Rule 9) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅣ,ㅣchanges to ㅕ and the honorific ending marker요 follows.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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가지다 to have |
가지 |
가져요 |
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걸리다 to take time |
걸리 |
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다치다 to hurt |
다치 |
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느리다 to be slow |
느리 |
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그리다 to draw |
그리 |
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틀리다 to be wrong |
틀리 |
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달리다 to run |
달리 |
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마시다 to drink |
마시 |
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만지다 to touch |
만지 |
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가르치다 to teach |
가르치 |
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Rule 10) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅡ , ㅡ changes to ㅓ and the stem gets followed by the honorific ending marker 요.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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끄다 to turn off (lights) |
끄 |
꺼요 |
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크다 to be big |
크 |
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쓰다 to write, to use, to be bitter |
쓰 |
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Rule 11) If the last syllable of the stem is in the CV form, and if it contains the vowel ㅡ, ㅡ changes to either ㅏ or ㅓ depending on the vowel of the antecedent syllable.
For example, If the vowel of the antecedent syllable is one of the following vowels ㅏ,ㅑ, ㅗ or ㅛ, then ㅡ changes to ㅏ. Likewise, if the vowel of the antecedent syllable is one of the vowelsㅓ, ㅕ, ㅖ ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, or l, then ㅡchanges to ㅓ. In each of these two examples, the honorific ending marker요 follows at the end.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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바쁘다 to be busy |
바쁘 |
바빠요 |
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배고프다 to be hungry |
배고프 |
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아프다 to be sick |
아프 |
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예쁘다 to be pretty |
예쁘 |
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슬프다 to be sad |
슬프 |
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나쁘다 to be bad |
나쁘 |
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Rule 12) If the last syllable of the stem is 르, another ㄹ is added under the CV form of the preceding syllable of 르. The ㅡ vowel of the syllable르 also changes to eitherㅏ or ㅓ, depending on the vowel of the preceding syllable.
For example, if the preceding syllable of the syllable르 contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ ㅗ, or ㅛ, the vowel ㅡ belonging to 르 changes to ㅏ. Likewise, if the preceding syllable of 르 has one of the vowelsㅓ, ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, or ㅣ, the vowel ㅡ belonging to the syllable 르 changes to ㅓ. In each case, the honorific ending marker요 follows at the end.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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빠르다 to be fast |
빠르 |
빨라요 |
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흐르다 to flow |
흐르 |
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노래부르다 to sing |
노래부르 |
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소리지르다 to scream |
소리지르 |
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마르다 to dry |
마르 |
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모르다 to not know |
모르 |
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고르다 to choose |
고르 |
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배부르다 to be full (stomach) |
배부르 |
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Exception) 따르다 “to follow” is conjugated into 따라요
Rule 13-a) For some stems, whose last syllable contains the consonantㅂ underneath the CV form, ㅂ is dropped and is conjugated with 워요. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㅂ is dropped, you have to learn each word by heart.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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덥다 to be hot |
덥 |
더워요 |
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쉽다 to be easy |
쉽 |
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어렵다 to be difficult |
어렵 |
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가볍다 to be light |
가볍 |
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귀엽다 to be cute |
귀엽 |
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고맙다 to thank |
고맙 |
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더럽다 to be dirty |
더럽 |
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무겁다 to be heavy |
무겁 |
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두렵다 to be afraid of |
두렵 |
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맵다 to be spicy |
맵 |
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반갑다 to feel nice when meeting someone |
반갑 |
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부끄럽다 to be shy |
부끄럽 |
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어둡다 to be dark |
어둡 |
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줍다 to pick up |
줍 |
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즐겁다 to be fun |
즐겁 |
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부럽다 to envy |
부럽 |
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아름답다 to be beautiful |
아름답 |
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눕다 to lie (in bed) |
눕 |
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굽다 to bake |
굽 |
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까다롭다 to be picky |
까다롭 |
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부드럽다 to be soft |
부드럽 |
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가깝다 to be near |
가깝 |
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춥다 to be cold |
춥 |
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*돕다 (to help) is an exception because 돕다 changes to 도와요
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돕다 |
도와요 |
Rule 13-b) For other stems where the last syllable contains the consonantㅂ underneath the CV form, ㅂ is not dropped. Instead, if the last syllable contains one of the vowelsㅓ,ㅕ,ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ orㅣ, we add 어요 after the stem. Likewise, if the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ, ㅗ, or ㅛ , we add 아요 after the stem. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㅂ is kept, you have to learn each word by heart.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjective |
Polite form (present) |
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입다 to wear |
입 |
입어요 |
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뽑다 to extract |
뽑 |
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씹다 to chew |
씹 |
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잡다 to catch |
잡 |
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넓다 to be wide |
넓 |
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좁다 to be narrow |
좁 |
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집다 to pick up |
집 |
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굽다 to be curved/ bent |
굽 |
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접다 to fold |
접 |
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Rule 14-a) For some stems where the last syllable contains the consonantㄷ underneath the CV form, ㄷ changes to ㄹ and it becomes conjugated with either어요 or 아요, depending on the vowel that is present. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㄷ changes to ㄹ, you have to learn each word by heart.
For example, if the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅓ,ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ orㅣ, we add 어요 after the stem. Likewise, if the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ, or ㅛ, we add 아요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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걷다 to walk |
걷 |
걸어요 |
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듣다 to listen/ to hear |
듣 |
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깨닫다 to realize |
깨닫 |
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싣다 to load |
싣 |
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Rule 14-b) For some stems where the last syllable contains the consonantㄷ located underneath the CV form, ㄷdoes not get dropped. Instead the last syllable is simply conjugated with either어요 or 아요 depending on the vowel that is present. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㄷ is kept, you have to learn each word by heart.
For example, If the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowels ㅓ,ㅕ,ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ orㅣ, we add 어요 after the stem. If the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ, ㅗ, or ㅛ, we add 아요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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받다 to receive |
받 |
받아요 |
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쏟다 to spill |
쏟 |
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얻다 to obtain, to gain |
얻 |
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믿다 to trust, to believe |
믿 |
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닫다 to close (a door) |
닫 |
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곧다 to be straight |
곧 |
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묻다 to bury |
묻 |
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Rule 15-a) For some stems, whose last syllable contains the consonantㅅ underneath the CV form, ㅅ is dropped and it becomes conjugated with either어요 or 아요, depending on the vowel that is present. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㅅ is dropped, you have to learn each word by heart.
For example, if the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅓ,ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ orㅣ, we add 어요 after the stem. Likewise, if the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ, or ㅛ, we add 아요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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짓다 to build |
짓 |
지어요 |
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낫다 to feel better |
낫 |
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긋다 to draw a line |
긋 |
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젓다 to stir |
젓 |
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붓다 to be swollen, to pour |
붓 |
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잇다 to connect A with B |
잇 |
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Rule 15-b) For some stems where the last syllable contains the consonantㅅ located underneath the CV form, ㅅ does not get dropped. Instead the last syllable is simply conjugated with either어요 or 아요 depending on the vowel that is present. Since there is no rule for the case when the bottom consonant ㅅ is kept, you have to learn each word by heart.
For example, If the l-ast syllable of the stem contains one of the vowels ㅓ,ㅕ,ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ orㅣ, we add 어요 after the stem. If the last syllable of the stem contains one of the vowelsㅏ,ㅑ, ㅗ, or ㅛ, we add 아요 after the stem.
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Infinitive verbs and adjectives |
Stem verbs and adjectives |
Polite form (present) |
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웃다 to smile |
웃 |
웃어요 |
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벗다 to take off clothes |
벗 |
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씻다 to wash |
씻 |
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