Learning Korean Grammar Role with Verbs

Understanding verbs is a key to understanding Korean grammar and communicating fluently. As we embark on this journey of learning Korean, we will cover different aspects of verb usage that will help you expand your speaking and writing skills.

In the previous lesson we learned about Korean Adjectives, now we are going to learn about a Korean Verb.  Before we get to the main topic, let's first learn the definition of a verb. It is generally a word used to express something that someone does. There are 3 types of verbs in Korean, those with the final syllable "다" and "하다" and irregular verbs. So, let's get started with the spirit of learning Korean and explore the beauty of this language together!

Korean Regular Verbs with The Last Syllables 다

Literally, 다 (da) means all. In verbs, however, 다 (da) is a final form, used to indicate the ending of an action or activity. It is often used in news sentences, facts, or general statements. This kind of verb needs to be known because each verb is modified based on time, politeness, conjunctions, and so on.

In Korean, "하다" (hada) is a word that has the general meaning of "to do" or "to work on. When "하다" is appended to another word, it indicates that the subject is performing the action or activity associated with the verb. Let's look at the explanation below:

1. Sit (앉다)

In Korean "Sit" is a verb used to indicate where someone sits. In Korean "sit" (앉다) consists of two syllables, the first syllable serves as the base word which is 앉. and the second syllable is 다. 다 is a word that usually follows Korean adjectives and Korean verbs. Example:

>> 저는 앉아 있다 

(I sit down).

For those of you who don't know how to write and read Korean letters, please check here Learn How to Read and Write Hangeul

2. Stand (서다)

"Stand" is a verb used to indicate the position of a person or other object. Stand (서다) has two syllables, the first syllable is 서 as a base word and the second syllable is 다.
Example:

>> 저는 서있다

(I stand up)

3. The other Verbs end with 다.

Excepts 앚다, and 서다. Sentence with Verbs end with syllable 다 are not ended with 있다, because 있다 only used to indicate a position.

Examples:

• 저는 밥을 먹다  (I eat rice).
• 저는 물 마시다  (I drink water).
• 저는콘스트를 보다  (I saw a concert).

Korean Regular Verbs with The Last Syllables 하다

The last syllable on the verb 하다 "하다" is often used to form more general or abstract verbs, as well as to describe more general or non-specific actions or activities. Let's look at the following explanation:

1. Like (좋아하다)

“Like” is a verb used to express the feeling of awe to something or someone. In Korean, we can say “Like” using “좋아하다”. 좋아하다 has 4 syllables, the first two syllables are basic words, that are 좋-아and the second words are하다 to indicate a verb. Let’s look at the following examples:

>> 이 음식을 좋아하다
      (I like this food)
>> 이 사진을 좋아하다
      (I like this picture)
*In Korean, sometimes subject “I” is not mentioned in a sentence.
 

2. Dislike/Hate (싫어하다)

The opposite of the word "like" is "dislike". We can express something we don’t like using “싫어하다”. 싫어하다also has 4 syllables, the first two syllables are 싫-어 and the second two syllables are 하다. Let’s look at the following examples:

>> 저는 그 여자를 싫어하다
      (I don’t like woman that)
>> 이 분위기를 싫어하다
      (I don’t like atmosphere this)

Korean Irregular Verbs

As we know, almost all verbs in Korean end with regular syllables, these are 다 (da) and 하다 (hada). Now let's learn about irregular verbs. Irregular verbs similar to regular verbs, irregular verbs also have syllables 다, but have not 하다. But, the difference is irregular verbs have basic words that end with the following 6 letters: ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅡ, ㄹ, 르, ㅅ. Let’s look at the following examples:

1. Irregular Verbs “ㅂ”

the way to use irregular verbs ㅂ is to replace the letter ㅂ in the basic word with the letter 오 / 우 + 어 / 아. Examples:

Korean words: irregular verb 'ㅂ'

But, the following words are not included in the irregular verb: 좁다 (narrow), 씹다(chew), 넓다 (wide), 접다(fold). 입다(wear clothes), 잡다(grab), 뽑다(pluck out/hire).

2. Irregular Verbs“ㄷ”

Just like the previous irregular verb, ㄷgets changed to ㄹ. Let’s look at the following examples: 

Korean words: irregular verbs 'ㄷ'

But, the following words are not included in the irregular verb: 받다 (receive), 몯다(get out), 닫다 (close).

3. Irregular Verbs “ㅡ”

If the last letter in the base word is ㅡ, then we will change it with the letter 아/어. let's look at the following explanation:

Korean language: irregular verbs ㅡ

4. Irregular Verbs“ㄹ”

Just like the previous irregular verb ㄷ, ㄹwill be changed to ㄴ/은/는.

Korean language: irregular verbs ㄹ

5. Irregular Verbs “르”

These kind of irregular verbs are slightly different from the previous irregular verbs.  Let’s look at the following explanation to see how do we change the irregular verbs 르.

Desain

6. Irregular Verbs“ㅅ”

These irregular verbs are easier than the previous irregular verbs. We just need to remove the letter ㅅ to make a sentence in an informal form. Let’s look at the following examples:

>> 그는 반죽을 너무 세게 저었다

      (He stirred the dough too hard)

But, the following words are not included in the irregular verb벗다(take off), 빼앗다(steal, rob), 씻다(wash), 솟다(soar, rise)

Special Verb in Korean: “Want” ~고싶다

This verb is used to say “I want..” using conjunction 고 and 싶다which if both are combined will be 고 싶다 which is used to replace the syllables 하다 or 다.

How to say "want" in Korean sentence

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