Question~ can you give an example of a verb in past tense, present tense, and future tense in Korean? I've never really understood this. Please and thanks :)
Hi~ Korean verb conjugations depend on the final vowel of the verb stem. Here’s a brief overview of the present, past and future tenses~ Enjoy!
To make the present tense, you find the verb stem, which is what ever comes before -다. Then, you add either -아요/-어요, depending on what the last vowel of the verb stem is. With stems where the last vowel is 오 or 아, -아요 is added to the end to make it present tense. These vowels are called ‘bright vowels.’
앉다 —-> 앉아요 (the verb stem is 앉- and the final vowel in the verb stem is 아)
찬열은 카페에서 앉아요. Chanyeol sits in the cafe.
좋다 —-> 좋아요 (the verb stem is 좋- and the final vowel in the verb stem is 오)
김치가 좋아요. The kimchi is good.
Stems where the last vowels are 어,우,으, or 이 have -어요 added to them to make present tense. These vowels are called ‘dark vowels’ They are conjugated just like the bright vowels are.
먹다 —-> 먹어요 (the verb stem is 먹- and the final vowel in the verb stem is 어 )
경수는 아이스크림을 먹어요. Kyungsoo eats ice cream.
있다 —-> 있어요 (the verb stem is 있- and the final vowel in the verb stem is 이)
남자진구가 있어요. I have a boyfriend.
Finally, there are special verbs that end in -하다. To conjugate these in present tense, you change -하다 to -해요.
노래하다 —-> 노래해요 (the verb ends in -하다)
백현이 노래해요. Baekhyun sings.
공부하다 —-> 공부해요 ( the verb ends in 하다)
저는 한국어를 공부해요. I study Korean.
Another thing to note is that for verb stems that end in 아, 애, 어, or 에 without a final consonant at the end, only -요 is added
가다 —->가요 (there is no final consonant in the verb stem)
어디에 가요? Where are you going?
자다 —-> 자요 (there is no final consonant in the verb stem)
When a stem ends in any other vowel without a consonant, they become contracted.
보다- 봐요 (보- ends in a bright vowel without a final consonant, so -아요 is added to make 봐요)
주다- 줘요 (주- ends in a dark vowel without a final consonant, so -어요 is added to make 줘요)
저는 선물을 줘요. I give a present.
These are the most common variants of present tense. There are, of course, irregular verbs, but right now let’s just focus on the basics okay?
Once you know present tense, past is pretty simple. Once again, we conjugate based on the last vowel in the verb stem. There are three different endings: one for bright vowels, one for dark vowels, and one for -하다 verbs.For bright vowels, -았어요 is added to the verb stem. For dark vowels, -었어요 is added to the verb stem. For -하다, 했어요 is added to the verb stem.
가다 —-> 갔어요 (The stem ends in -아 which is a bright vowel, so -았어요 is used)
학교에 갔어요. I went to school.
읽다 —-> 읽었어요 (The stem ends in -이 which is a dark vowel, so -었어요 is used)
태민은 책을 읽었어요. Taemin read a book.
운동하다 —-> 운동했어요 (The stem ends in -하다, so -했어요 is used)
어제 친구하고 우동했어요. Yesterday my friend and I exercised.
Future tense is much simpler than past and present. The conjugation of verbs in future tense depends on if the verb stem has a vowel at the end or a consonant. If the verb ends in a vowel -ㄹ 거예요 is added. If the verb ends in a consonant, -을 거예요 is added.
만나다 —-> 만날 거예요 (the stem ends in a vowel, so -ㄹ 거예요 is used)
내일 친구를 만날 거예요. Tomorrow I will meet my friend.
심다 —-> 심을 거예요 (the stem ends in a consonant, so -을 거예요 is used)
봄에 꽃을 심을 거예요. In the spring I will plant flowers.
So this is what most verbs will look like when conjugated in the past, present, or future. There are some exceptions and there are irregular verbs that are conjugated a little differently, and if you would like to get some clarification on them, feel free to send me a message, or if you have any questions in general. Hope this helps!^^
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