Korean grammar '-아요/어요/여요(해요).'

1. Explanation

 : '-아요/어요/여요(해요).' is representative ending particles in Korean. They are used in conjunction with verbs or adjectives to describe actions or states. Many Koreans use these ending particles frequently in their daily life. Therefore, if you study these well, it will not only improve your speaking skills but also improve your understanding of comprehension in Korean dramas or Korean movies. So, let's look at example together.

 

  (1) If the verb stem or adjective stem has vowel 'ㅏ or ㅗ',

      you have to conjugate it with '-아요.'

  (2) If the verb stem or adjective stem has except vowel 'ㅏ or ㅗ',

      you have to conjugate it with '-어요.'

  (3) The verb '-하다.' changes to '-해요.'

     * 하다 conjugates with '-여요'. => '하여요' => '하여' can be contracted to '해' => '해요.'

  (4) Tip

    1) Step 1 - Cheak the verb stem or adjective stem 

    2) Step 2 - Cheak the ending syllable's vowel 

    3) Step 3 - Conjugate with the correct one

 

*Source : National Institute of the Korean Langugae

 

2. Examples

 언니가 학교에 가요. (The older sister goes to school.)

 *가다 to go

  1) A verb stem is '가-'

  2) It has a vowel 'ㅏ'

  3) It conjugates with '-아요'.

  4) 가아요.

  5) '가아' can be contracted to '가'

  6) 가요.

 

 나는 BTS가 좋아요. (I like BTS.)

 *좋다 to like

  1) An adjective stem is '좋-'

  2) It has a vowel 'ㅗ'

  3) It conjugates with '-아요'.

  4) 좋아요.

 

 엄마는 책을 읽어요. (Mom reads a book.)

 *읽다 to read

  1) A verb stem is '읽-'

  2) It has a vowel 'ㅣ'

  3) It conjugates with '-어요'.

  4) 읽어요.

 

 친구가 김밥을 먹어요. (A friend eats gimbap.)

 *먹다 to eat

  1) A verb stem '먹-'

  2) It has a vowel 'ㅓ'

  3) It conjugates with '-어요'.

  4) 먹어요.

 

 스트레이 키즈가 노래해요. (Stray Kids is singing.)

 *노래하다 to sing

  1) A form of the verb is '-하다'

  2) '-하다.' changes to '-해요'.

  3) 노래해요.

 

 동생이 공부해요. (The younger sibling is studying.)

 *공부하다( to study )

  1) A form of the verb is '-하다'

  2) '-하다.' changes to '-해요'.

  3) 공부해요.

 

3. Practice

 Korean food is delicious.

 한국 음식이 __________. ( *맛있다 delicious )

 

 The sky is clear.

 하늘이 __________. ( *맑다 clear ) 

 

 I like BLACKPINK's songs. 

 블랭핑크 노래가 __________ . ( *좋다 to like ) 

 

 I'm bored now.

 나 지금 __________. ( *심심하다 - bored )

 

 The older brother is studying.

 오빠가 __________. ( *공부하다 - to study )

 

 There is no homework today.

 오늘 숙제가 __________. ( *없다 there is no ) 

 

 I rest on the weekend.

 주말에 __________. ( *쉬다 to rest ) 

 

 Teacher, I have a question.

 선생님 질문이 __________. ( *있다 - there is ) 

 

4. Vocabulary

 언니 older sister / 학교 school / 에 particle(place) / 가요 to go / 나  I / 은, 는 subject marker / 가 emphasize noun / 좋아요 to like / 엄마  mom / 책  book / 을, 를 object marker / 읽어요 read / 친구 friend / 이, 가 subject marker / 김밥 gimbap / 먹어요 to eat / 노래해요 to sing / 동생  younger sibling / 공부해요 to study / 한국 음식 Korean food / 맛있다  delicious / 하늘  sky / 맑다  clear / 노래  song / 지금  now / 심심하다  bored / 오빠  older brother / 오늘  today / 숙제 homework / 없다 there is no, don't have / 주말 weekend / 에 particle(time) / 쉬다 to take rest / 선생님 teacher / 질문 question / 있다 there is, have 

 

5. Answer

 맛있어요 / 맑아요 / 좋아요 / 심심해요 / 공부해요 / 없어요 / 쉬어요 / 있어요