Verb/Adj Stem + 아
If the last syllable of the stem contains the vowels ㅗ or ㅏ, then 아 is added. However, if the stem has no 받침 "bachim" like 가다, then an extra 아 should not be added. Please note this rule does not apply for 하다 verbs (see the section below for 하다 adj/verbs). Stems that end in 오 are often contracted to 와 (오 + 아 = 와), especially in colloquial speech.
Here are some examples:
1. 가다 "gada" (to go) = 가아
2. 괜찮다 "gwaenchanta" (to be fine, ok) = 괜찮아 "gwaenchana"
3. 놀다 "nolda" (to play) = 놀아
Verb/Adj Stem + 어
If the last syllable of the stem contains any vowel other than 오, 아, and is not a 하다 verb then it becomes an 어. Note that verb stems with 이 turn into a 여 (read below), it is due to a contraction of 이 + 어 = 여. If the last syllable of the stem contains the vowel 이 and there's no 받침, let's say 시키다 "sikhida" (to order), then it becomes a 여 (시켜). The 여 is a result of the contraction between 이 + 어. The contracted form is almost always used in spoken and written Korean. Also note a separate table of examples has been created below for the adj/verb stems which end in 이. Verbs that end in in the vowel ㅐ don't get anything conjugated to it like 내다 becomes 내요.
Here are some examples:
1. 먹다 "meokda" (to eat) = 먹어
2. 읽다 "ikda" (to read) = 읽어 "il-geo"
3. 힘들다 "him-deul-da" (to be difficult, tiring) = 힘들어
Here are some examples for 이 + 어 = 여 :
1. 놀리다 "nollida" (to tease, make fun of) = 놀리어 "nollieo" --> 놀려
2. 시키다 "sikhida" (to order) = 시키어 --> 시켜
3. 웃기다 "utkida" (to make a person laugh) = 웃기어 --> 웃겨
여 Verbs/Adjectives (하다 "Hada")
Any verb or adjective that ends in 하다 falls under this category. The 하 becomes 해 "hae" due to a contraction with 하 and 여. The contracted form is used most of the time, especially in colloquial speech. However, 하여 is used mostly in very formal situations.
Here are some examples:
1. 건강하다 "geon-ganghada" (to be healthy) = 건강하여 --> 건강해
2. 공부하다 "gongbuhada" (to study) = 공부하여 --> 공부해
3. 설명하다 "seolmyeonghada" (to explain) = 설명하여 --> 설명해
4. 연습하다 "yeonseuphada" (to practice) = 연습하여 --> 연습해
5. 행복하다 "haengbokhada" (to be happy) = 행복하여 --> 행복해
EXERCISE 7.1 Change the following verbs to their casual form. Good luck!
1. 자다 (jada): to sleep
2. 보다 (boda): to see
3. 일어나다 (ir-eona da): to get up
4. 화나다 (hwanada): to be angry
5. 슬프다 (seulpeuda): to be sad
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KOREAN FOR BEGINNERS
RandomThis is a Korean language guide for those who want to learn and improve their Korean language skills. You will also find some exercises at the end of each lessons, so feel free to answer them in the comment section below. I update this book almost e...
