In Korean, verb and adjective forms change based on certain rules. While most words follow regular patterns, some have irregular conjugations. This post will cover the ㅡ, 르, and 러 rules. These rules can be tricky, but don't worry! I'll guide you through step-by-step explanations.
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1. Conjugation of ㅡ
Some verb or adjective stems end with a vowel ㅡ like 아프다 or 크다. These words can be conjugated regularly and irregularly. It does not randomly happen and there is a rule! So, I'll show you how and when.
Irregular conjugation
To make the informal present tense, we attached 아요 or 어요. When these 아/어 rules follow the ㅡ word, ㅡ will be omitted. Look at the examples.
아프다 to be sick
The stem of the word is 아프 and the last syllable of this word is 프. If you look at this 프, the vowel is ㅡ. First, erase the vowel. 아ㅍ.
Now, we have to check the existing last vowel. We have the vowelㅏ from 아. When the vowel is ㅏ, we need to add 아요 to make the present tense.
Now we have 아ㅍ and 아요. In Korean, consonants can't exist alone! So, combine that ㅍ with 아! Since ㅇ doesn't have sound, we can simply make 파. Easy, right? 아ㅍ + 아요 will become 아파요.
크다 to be big.
The stem is 크. First, erase ㅡ. Then we only have ㅋ left. There is no vowel anymore! That means the vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. Then, we need to use the conjugation rule number 3, adding 어요. ㅋ+어요 will become 커요.
Any endings that start with 아/어 will be conjugated irregularly. For example, to make the informal past tense we add 았어요 or 었어요. As you see 았 and 었 also have 아/어. It can be written as 아/어 rule or 아/어/여 rule depending on the teacher. Here are some examples.
Regular conjugation
When a verb or adjective with ㅡ is followed by an ending other than 아/어/여, you can use the regular rule! That means you don't have to omit the vowel ㅡ.
There are two possible ways. First, the ending can start with a consonant. For example, there is an ending "고 싶어요" to show "I want to."
쓰다 to write
The stem is 쓰. Even though it has the vowel ㅡ at the stem, we will add "고". It starts with the consonant ㄱ. It is not 아/어 rule.
Then, you don't have to erase anything! Just simply attach the ending to the stem. 쓰고 싶어요. I want to write.
Secondly, the ending can start with (으). When a rule is written like this, the final consonant of the stem is the key. In this case, you don't have to worry about erasing. Here, I'll show you the example with the intention ending (으)ㄹ래요.
쓰다 to write
Again, the stem is 쓰. We'll attach the ending (으)ㄹ래요. Since it is not 아/어 ending, you don't have to worry about anything!
쓰 doesn't have the final consonant. That means we need to use the form ㄹ래요. The first ㄹ will go under the 쓰 and become the final consonant. 쓸래요. I'll write.
You can use the regular rules you've learned. Nothing has to be gone. So, they are pretty easy.
Again, the main key to deciding whether regular or irregular is what kind of ending you will attach to a ㅡ word. If the rule starts with 아/어/여 use the irreguarl. If not, you'll use the regular rule!
Words with ㅡ
Here are some ㅡ words. I will show you the basic form first and then the informal present tense (아/어요) and the past tense form (았/었어요). If you want to learn the details of the words, please click here to read my vocabulary lesson.
Basic Form | Meaning | Present Tense | Past Tense |
to turn off | |||
to lock | |||
to gather | |||
to write | |||
to be hungry | |||
to be sick | |||
to be glad | |||
to be bad | |||
to be sad | |||
to be busy |
2. Conjugation of 르
"르" is another irregular conjugation. It is a variation of "ㅡ" conjugation. So, to continue this section, make sure you understand the "ㅡ" rule above first! Just like the irregular ㅡ rule, 르 rule also has regular and irregular ways.
Irregular Conjugation
When a verb or an adjective stem that ends with 르 meets the ending starts with either 아 or 어, they change irregularly. The ㅡ part is omitted and ㄹ will be inserted at the front. If it sounds complicated, please follow the example below.
빠르다 to be fast
Let's change it into the present tense. The stem is 빠르. If you look at the last syllable it ends with 르. Now, please erase 'ㅡ' and make 빠ㄹ. Then insert ㄹ before the ㄹ and make 빨ㄹ. To decide 아요 or 어요, where do you have to see? Yes, the last vowel! It is ㅏ from 빨. Since the last vowel is ㅏ, we will add 아요 to it. 빨ㄹ+아요 becomes 빨라요.
부르다 to call out / to sing a song
The stem is 부르. Get rid of the last vowel "ㅡ" and now we have 부ㄹ. Insert ㄹ before ㄹ. Make the final consonant. 불ㄹ. The last vowel is ㅜ. It is not ㅏ or ㅗ. That means we need to use the present tense rule 3. Other than ㅏ or ㅗ requries 어요. 불ㄹ + 어요 becomes 불러요.
As you see, 르 rule is just a bit special ㅡ rule. Except for the fact you have to attach one more ㄹ in front of the ㄹ, they are the same.
So, just like ㅡ rules, when you attach the ending with 아/어/여, you'll follow the irregular method! Here are some examples. Even if you don't know each rule, don't worry. Just to know the fact 르 changes with 아/어/여 endings!
Regular Conjugation
When a verb or an adjective that ends with "르" is followed by an ending that starts other than 아/어 rules, you'll use the regular rule! Let's see the examples with "고 싶어요. (I want to) and the future tense "(으)ㄹ 거예요."
모르다 to do not know
The stem is 모르. We'll attach 고 싶어요. Since the ending starts with 고, we don't have to worry about changing things. Just simply attach the ending to the stem. 모르고 싶어요. I don't want to know.
부르다 to call out / to sing
The stem is 부르. We will attach the ending (으)ㄹ 거예요 to mean "I'll". This ending starts with (으)ㄹ. It is not 아/어/여. So, you don't erase ㅡ or add ㄹ. Just use the regular rule of the (으)ㄹ 거예요. Since 부르 doesn't have the final consonant, we'll add ㄹ거예요 to it. 부를 거예요. I'll sing.
Words with 르
Let's check out different 르 words. Click the speaker icon boxes to listen to the words!
Basic Form | Meaning | Present Tense | Past Tense |
to do not know | |||
to climb up | |||
to call out | |||
to be full (stomach) | |||
to push | |||
to flow | |||
to hurry | |||
to be different | |||
to be fast | |||
to be early |
3. Special '르' & '러'
Some verbs don't follow irregular '르' rules, even though they end with it! You have to memorize them separately!
Special 르 Words
The words below have 르 at the end. However, they don't follow the 르 rule! They will only follow irregular ㅡ rules, the first rule you saw above. That means you will erase ㅡ but not attach extra ㄹ.
Basic Form | Meaning | Present Tense | Past Tense |
to pay | |||
to drop by | |||
to follow |
Irregular 러
Even though the words below have 르 at the stem, you don't erase ㅡ or add extra ㄹ. Instead, you will insert '러' after '르.' Look at the present and past tense forms and see where "러" is located.
Basic Form | Meaning | Present Tense | Past Tense |
to arrive | |||
to be blue |
Those words are variations of ㅡ rules. That means just like other ㅡ words, they will be irregularly conjugated when they are followed by 아/어 rules. If it is attached with endings that start with a consonant, you don't have to erase or add weird words! Also, for the rules that the final consonant is matter, you'll use the no final consonant rules. (As you see they all end with "르!")
3. Wrap up & Worksheets: Irregular Conjugations ㅡ and 르 Grammar
You've learned the irregular ㅡ grammar today. You also saw some variations of ㅡ rules. Here is the summary for you!
ㅡ rules: When a word is conjugated with an ending that starts with 아/어, you have to drop ㅡ before you attach that ending.
르 rules: When a word is followed by an ending with 아/ㅇ어, you drop ㅡ and add an extra ㄹ.
When ㅡ or 르 words are followed by an ending starting with a consonant, you don't have to erase ㅡ.
Here are some free worksheets you can use to practice the words. If you want to learn the detailed usages and meanings of the words you learned today, please click here to check out my vocabulary lesson! There will be more worksheets.
Irregular ㅡ words
Irregular 르 words
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