안녕하세요? In the previous post, you saw what the informal present tense is and how you conjugate the regular verbs. Today, I'll show you how to change irregular verbs into the present tense.
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1. Irregular Conjugation Rules
Some verbs with some special final consonants do not exactly follow the regular conjugation rules! Those special final consonants are ㄷ, ㅅ, and ㅂ. You will see them often when you learn the conjugation rules in Korean grammar lessons.
I will show you step-by-step explanations here. Try to understand the rules, and once you get it, you can memorize a basic form and a conjugated form as chunks.
ㄷ verbs: Change ㄷ to ㄹ, add 아/어요
The stem's last final consonant is a key of these irregular verbs. When it is ㄷ(d), you will change that ㄷ to ㄹ(l). Then, you will add 아요 or 어요 using the regular conjugation rules! That means you have to judge which one to use depending on the last vowel. Sounds complicated? Once you understand the steps below, it won't be too hard!
듣다 to listen
It ends with 다 because, of course, it is a verb. Let's get rid of 다. → 듣 → The final consonant is ㄷ. Change that to ㄹ. → 들 →The vowel is ㅡ. It's not ㅏ or ㅗ, so we use the regular conjugation rule number 3, add 어요. → 들어요.
Meaning | Basic Form | Present Tense Form |
to listen |
Does it make sense? Here is one more example. I will skip talking about our persistent friend "다". Always pay attention to the stem!
걷다 to walk
걷 → The final consonant is ㄷ. Switch this ㄷ to ㄹ. → 걸 →The vowel is ㅓ. Once again, it's not ㅏ or ㅗ, so we use the conjugation rule number 3. → 걸어요.
to walk |
ㅅ verbs: Erase ㅅ, add 아/어요
When the stem ends with the final consonantㅅ(s), you will erase that ㅅ. Then, you will add 아요 or 어요 depending on the last vowel it has. Here are detailed steps for you!
잇다 to connect
잇 → The final consonant is ㅅ. Drop it out. → 이 →The vowel is ㅣ. It's not ㅏ or ㅗ, so we use the conjugation rule number 3. Please add 어요. → 이어요.
to connect |
긋다 to draw (lines)
긋 → The final consonant is ㅅ. Erase it. → 그 →The vowel is ㅡ. It's not ㅏ or ㅗ, so we use the conjugation rule number 3. → 그어요.
to draw (lines) |
ㅂ verbs: Erase ㅂ, add 와/워요
ㅂ(b) is the special fellow of these irregular verbs. You erase ㅂ just like you did to ㅅ first. However, unlike others who still used the same 아요/어요 like regular rules, the verbs with ㅂ require 와요 or 워요. Just like the verbs with ㅏ or ㅗ who needed 아요, you will add 와요 this time. Other than that you will add 워요 instead of 어요. Follow the steps below!
돕다 to help
돕 → The final consonant is ㅂ. Erase it. → 도 →The vowel is ㅗ. So, we use the conjugation rule number 1 but with the special form 와요. → 도와요.
to help |
줍다 to pick up
줍 → Say goodbye to ㅂ. → 주 →The vowel is ㅜ. It's not ㅏ or ㅗ, so we use the conjugation rule number 3 but with the special form 워요. → 주워요.
to pick up |
Others
There are actually many other irregular rules. "ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅂ" are pretty "regular" irregular verbs. You will see these three over and over again in other grammar lessons as well.
However, some rules are pretty big to cover in the basic grammar lesson. For now, try to memorize these irregular "beginner-level" verbs.
쓰다 to write, to use → 써요.
to write, use |
부르다 to call (a name), to sing → 불러요.
to call |
They are not difficult, right? If you are curious why, please click here to read my other post about the irregular ㅡ and 르 rules.
2. Informal Present Tense Examples
Let's check some examples of the informal present tense ending including regular conjugation rules. As you know, "네," is a polite yes, and "아니요," is a polite no.
1
저는 숙제해요. I'm doing my homework. / I do my homework.
The informal present tense can be translated into either the simple present tense or the progressive present tense. So you can translate it as "I do my homework" or "I am doing my homework."
2
저는 지금 공부해요. I'm studying now.
One way to provide the context is by adding the word "지금" which means "now". So, you can definitely tell the sentence is about what is happening now.
3
가: 걸어요? Are you walking?
나: 네, 걸어요. Yes, I am walking.
걷다 is an irregular ㄷ verb. When the conjugation matters, you always have to change the ㄷ to ㄹ! That is why we say 걸어요, not 걷어요.
4
A: 민지 씨는 써요? Is Minji writing?
B: 아니요, 읽어요. No, she is reading.
Person B doesn't say "아니요, 민지는 읽어요." because the speaker and listener both know B is talking about 민지. When the topic or subject is obvious, it is usually omitted.
3. Wrap up
How was the lesson? The present tense rules are pretty big grammar! However, it is the most useful one, so I recommend you to take time and master the Korean present tense rule!
To make the informal present tense, you must change a verb stem with 아/어/여요.
Mainly, it is decided depending on the stem's last vowel.
However, when a stem has ㄷ, ㅅ, or ㅂ as the final consonant, it may be an irregular verb.
You can download the free PDF worksheet to practice the irregular present tense rule. It has the answer sheet as well, so you can check the answers on your own! If you have any questions, please let me know.
Irregular verb conjugation practice
Irregular verb conjugation quiz
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