You need to change the forms when using verbs or adjectives in Korean. While regular rules apply to most words, some words do not follow these rules. There are many irregular conjugation rules. However, in this post, you will learn the irregular conjugations ㅡ and 르 grammar. These rules can be a bit challenging compared to other rules, but don't worry! I will guide you through the step-by-step explanations!
<Table of Contents>
1-B. Regular conjugation
1-C. Words with ㅡ
2-B. Regular conjugation
2-C. Words with 르
2-D. Special '르' words
3. Wrap up
1. Conjugation of ㅡ
Regular and irregular conjugations can happen when a verb or adjective stem ends with ㅡ (으).
A. Irregular conjugation
For a verb or adjective stem that ends with ㅡ (으) and if it is followed by 아 or 어, 'ㅡ' is omitted. The 아 or 어 form will be decided depending on the last vowel. Here, take a look at the examples of making the present tense words.
아프다 [ah-peu-da] means to be sick. Let's see how we can make it into the present tense.
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. So we have to erase that vowel. 아ㅍ. Now, the last vowel here is ㅏ. When the vowel is ㅏ, we need to add 아요 to make the present tense. 아ㅍ + 아요 will become 아파요. [ah-pa-yo].
☆ 아프다 → 아프 → 아ㅍ → The last vowel is ㅏ, so add 아요. → 아ㅍ+아요 → 아파요
크다 [keu-da] is an adjective meaning 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 [keo-yo].
☆ 크다 → 크 → ㅋ → No vowel. It is not ㅏ or 오, so add 어요. → ㅋ+어요 → 커요
When any endings that start with the consonant ㅇ combine with "ㅡ" words will follow these irregular rules.
B. Regular conjugation
When the verb or adjective stem ends with a vowel ㅡ is followed by a consonant ending, ㅡ is not omitted.
아프다 → 아프 → 아프+지요? → 아프지요?
크다 → 크 → 크+지요? → 크지요?
"지요?" is an ending of confirmation. Since it starts with the consonant ㅈ, this time there is no omission of ㅡ. You just simply add the ending to the stem.
아프다 → 아프 → 아프+고 → 아프고
크다 → 크 → 크+고 → 크고
"고" is a connective ending as the meaning of "and". Since it starts with a consonant, you don't have to worry about omission.
C. 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).
끄다 [ggeu-da] to turn off
꺼요 [ggeo-yo] / 껐어요 [ggeo-sseo-yo]
잠그다 [jam-geu-da] to lock, to fasten
잠가요 [jam-ga-yo] / 잠갔어요 [jam-ga-sseo-yo]
모으다 [mo-eu-da] to collect
모아요 [mo-ah-yo] / 모았어요 [mo-ah-sseo-yo]
쓰다 [sseu-da] to write, to use, to be bitter
써요 [sseo-yo] / 썼어요 [sseo-sseo-yo]
쓰다 really has many meanings. As a verb, it means "to write" or "to use". As an adjective, it means "to be bitter."
배고프다 [bae-go-peu-da] to be hungry
배고파요 [bae-go-pa-yo] / 배고팠어요 [bae-go-pa-sseo-yo]
아프다 [ah-peu-da] to be sick
아파요 [ah-pa-yo] / 아팠어요 [ah-pa-sseo-yo]
기쁘다 [gi-bbeu-da] to be glad, to be pleased
기뻐요 [gi-bbeo-yo] / 기뻤어요 [gi-bbeo-sseo-yo]
나쁘다 [na-bbeu-da] to be bad, to be wrong
나빠요 [na-bba-yo] / 나빴어요 [na-bba-sseo-yo]
슬프다 [seul-peu-da] to be sad
슬퍼요 [seul-peo-yo] / 슬펐어요 [seul-peo-sseo-yo]
2. Conjugation of 르
"르" is another irregular conjugation. Even though it has the vowel "ㅡ" 르 and 으 conjugations are a bit different. We will use the "ㅡ" rule but with one more step! There are both regular and irregular conjugations that happen.
A. 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 [bba-leu-da] is an adjective, meaning "to be fast." Let's change it into the present tense. First, we only need the stem which 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 [bbal-la-yo].
☆ 빠르다 → 빠르 → 빠ㄹ → 빨ㄹ → 빨ㄹ+아요 → 빨라요
모르다 [mo-leu-da] is a verb. It means to not know. To say "I don't know." We need to change it to the present tense! The stem of it is 모르. Get rid of the last vowel "ㅡ" and now we have 모ㄹ. Insert ㄹ before ㄹ. 몰ㄹ. The last vowel is ㅗ so we need to use the rule 1, adding 아요. 몰ㄹ+아요 becomes 몰라요 [mol-la-yo].
☆ 모르다 → 모르 → 모ㄹ → 몰ㄹ → 몰ㄹ+아요 → 몰라요
B. Regular Conjugation
When a verb or an adjective that ends with "르" is followed by an ending that starts with a consonant, you don't have to worry about erasing and adding. You can simply attach the ending to the stem.
빠르다 → 빠르 → 빠르 + 지요? → 빠르지요?
모르다 → 모르 → 모르 + 지요? → 모르지요?
Here, I show you more examples with the confirming ending 지요. 르 words are followed by the consonant, so no addition or omission happened.
빠르다 → 빠르 → 빠르+고 → 빠르고
모르다 → 모르 → 모르+고 → 모르고
고 also starts with a consonant. It is not 아 or 어, so you don't have to worry about adding extra ㄹ or anything!
C. Words with 르
Let's check out different 르 words.
모르다 [mo-leu-da] to now know
몰라요 [mol-la-yo] / 몰랐어요. [mol-la-sseo-yo]
오르다 [oh-leu-da] to climb up, to go up
올라요 [ol-la-yo] / 올랐어요 [ol-la-sseo-yo]
부르다 [bu-leu-da] to call out / to sing
불러요 [bul-leo-yo] / 불렀어요 [bul-leo-sseo-yo]
흐르다 [heu-leu-da] to flow
흘러요 [heu-leo-yo] / 흘렀어요 [heul-leo-sseo-yo]
서두르다 [seo-du-leu-da] to hurry
서둘러요 [seo-dul-leo-yo] / 서둘렀어요 [seo-dul-leo-sseo-yo]
빠르다 [bba-leu-da] to hurry
빨라요 [bbal-la-yo] / 빨랐어요 [bbal-la-sseo-yo]
다르다 [da-leu-da] to be different
달라요 [dal-la-yo] / 달랐어요 [dal-la-sseo-yo]
배부르다 [bae-bu-leu-da] to be full, stuffed (stomach)
배불러요 [bae-bul-leo-yo] / 배불렀어요 [bae-bul-leo-sseo-yo]
Make sure to pronounce both ㄹ when you read them!
D. Special '르' words
Some verbs don't follow irregular '르' rules, even though they end with it! You have to memorize them separately!
1. irregular ㅡ
The words below have 르 at the end. However, they don't follow the 르 rule but they will follow irregular ㅡ rules, the first rule you saw above.
치르다 [chi-leu-da] to take (an exam)
치러요 [chi-leo-yo] / 치렀어요 [chi-leo-sseo-yo]
들르다 [deul-leu-da] to drop by, to stop by
들러요 [deul-leo-yo] / 들렀어요 [deul-leo-sseo-yo]
↪ Since 들르다 already has two ㄹ, you can't add extra ㄹ! You still erase ㅡ though!
따르다 [dda-leu-da] to follow
따라요 [dda-la-yo] / 따랐어요 [dda-la-sseo-yo]
2. 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.'
이르다 [ee-leu-da] to arrive
이르러요 [ee-leu-leo-yo] / 이르렀어요 [ee-leu-leo-sseo-yo]
↪ The new syllable '러' is inserted. That is why this is called 'irregular 러'.
푸르다 [pu-leu-da] to be blue
푸르러요 [pu-leu-leo-yo] / 푸르렀어요 [pu-leu-leo-sseo-yo]
3. Wrap up: Irregular conjugations ㅡ and 르 grammar
When a verb stem or an adjective stem ends ㅡ or 르 you have to pay extra attention!
ㅡ rules: When a word is conjugated with an ending that starts with a vowel (아/어), you have to drop ㅡ before you attach that ending.
르 rules: When a word is followed by an ending with a vowel, you drop ㅡ and add extra ㄹ.
When ㅡ or 르 words are followed by an ending starting with a consonant, you don't have to erase ㅡ.
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