Korean grammar '-ㅂ니다/습니다.'

 

1. Explanation

 : '-ㅂ니다/습니다.' is used in conjugation with verbs or adjectives in the Korean language. And it makes formal statement. We learned '-아요/어요/여요(해요).' in Korean grammar #4. '-ㅂ니다/습니다.' is more formal expression. So you can use this in official situaions such as a broadcast, an official speech or a military service. Actually, it's not common to use this in our daily life. However, many textbooks written by using this ending particle. Therefore, for learners who are studying Korean, this ending particle is necessary. They conjugate with different forms of verbs or adjectives. If the verb stem or adjective stem ends with vowel, it conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.' However, if the verb stem or adjective stem ends with consonant, it conjugates with '-습니다.' Let's look at example together.

 

*Source : National Institute of Korean Language

 

2. Examples

 오늘 한국어 높임말을 공부합니다. (I'm studying honorific Korean today.)

 *공부하다 to study

  1) A verb stem is '공부하-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ' 

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.'

  4) 공부합니다.

 

 저는 우즈베키스탄 사람입니다. (I'm from Uzbekistan.)

 *이다 be

  1) A verb stem is '이-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅣ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.'

  4) 입니다.

 

 내일 친구를 만납니다. (I will meet a friend tomorrow.)

 *만나다 to meet

  1) A verb stem is '만나-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.'

  4) 만납니다.

 

 뜨거운 커피를 마십니다. (I drink hot coffee.)

 *마시다 to drink

  1) A verb stem is '마시-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅣ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.'

  4) 마십니다.

 

 늦어서 미안합니다. (Sorry for late.)

 *미안하다 to sorry 

  1) A verb stem is '미안하-'

  2) It ends with a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-ㅂ니다.'

  4) 미안합니다.

 

 만나서 반갑습니다. (Nice to meet you.)

 *반갑다 to glad

  1) A verb stem is '반갑-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-습니다.'

  4) 반갑습니다.

 

 겨울 산의 눈이 정말 아름답습니다. (The snow on the winter mountains is really beautiful.)

 *아름답다 beautiful

  1) A verb stem is '아름답-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-습니다.'

  4) 아름답습니다.

 

 한국어가 너무 어렵습니다. (Korean is too difficult.)

 *어렵다 difficult

  1) A verb stem is '어렵-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-습니다.'

  4) 어렵습니다.

 

 고맙습니다. (Thank you.)

 *고맙다 to thank

  1) A verb stem is '고맙-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-습니다.'

  4) 고맙습니다.

 

 종이를 접습니다. (I fold the paper.)

 *접다 to fold

  1) A verb stem is '접-'

  2) It ends with a consonant 'ㅂ'

  3) It conjugates with '-습니다.'

  4) 접습니다.

 

3. Practice

 I'm going to the concert hall with me younger sister.

 여동생과 콘서트장에 _____________. ( *가다 to go )

 

 Today is not my birthday.

 오늘은 저의 생일이 _____________. ( *아니다 not ) 

 

 I'm listening to BTS songs.

 BTS 노래를 _____________. ( *듣다 to listen )

 

 I'm reading a news article.

 뉴스 기사를 _____________. ( *읽다 to read )

 

 I'm taking photos at the museum.

 박물관에서 사진을 ____________. ( *찍다 to take a photo )

 

 I watch movies in the evening.

 저녁에 영화를 _____________. ( *보다 to watch )

 

 Dad is in the kitchen.

 아빠는 주방에 _____________. ( *있다 be verb )

 

 Announcing a new policy.

 새로운 정책을 _____________. ( *알리다 to announce )   

 

4. Vocabulary

 오늘 today / 한국어 Korean / 높임말 honorific / 공부하다 study / 저 I(polite) / (country) 사람입니다. I'm from (country) / 내일 tomorrow / 친구 friend / 만나다 meet / 뜨거운 hot / 커피 coffee / 마시다 to drink / 늦다 late / 미안하다 sorry / 반갑다 glad / 겨울 winter / 산 mountain / 눈 snow / 아름답다 beautiful / 너무 too / 어렵다 difficult / 고맙다 thank / 종이 paper / 접다 to fold / 여동생 younger sister / 과 with / 콘서트 concert / 가다 to go / 저의(제) my / 생일 birthday / 아니다 not / 노래 song / 듣다 to listen / 뉴스 news / 기사 article / 읽다 to read / 박물관 museum / 사진 picture / (사진)을 찍다 to take a picture / 저녁 evening / 영화 movie / 보다 to watch / 아빠 dad / 주방 kitchen / 있다 there is, have / 새로운 new / 정책 policy / 알리다 to announce

5. Answer

  갑니다. / 아닙니다. / 듣습니다. / 읽습니다. / 찍습니다. / 봅니다. / 있습니다. / 알립니다.