βπ¨π»βπ«βLetβs Do Some Math Today!
How to conjugate Korean verbs by following simple steps!
μλ ! Hi, there!ππ»
I hope you had another wonderful week. Here in Canada, it seems like the winter is finally going away as the temperature has been slowly risingβοΈ! Meanwhile in Korea, the cherry blossoms are getting to their peak this weekβthey usually begin around mid-March and end in early April. We call the flower, λ²κ½[beot-ggot]βup close, it appears almost white, but from a distance, you can see a light pink color that looks just stunningπ€©!
Today, we are going to learn some math. Donβt worry if math is not your strength, because we are only going to do some simple addition and subtraction!
Nah! Iβm just kiddingπ!
Today, we are going to learn how to conjugate a Korean verb. Although I was kidding about doing math today, conjugating a verb in Korean is actually somewhat like addition and subtraction in math. You just need to follow a couple of simple steps!
Now, letβs take a look at the verb list we saw last week:
β λ¨Ήλ€: to eat β λ¨Ήμ΄μ
β μ¬λ€: to rest β μ¬μ΄μ
β μΌνλ€: to work β μΌν΄μ
β λ§μλ€: to drink β λ§μ
μ
β κ°λ€: to go β κ°μ
β μ½λ€: to read β μ½μ΄μ
β μλ€: to sleep β μμ
β μ΄μΌκΈ°νλ€: to talk β μ΄μΌκΈ°ν΄μ
β μ ννλ€: to call β μ νν΄μ
β μ€λ€: to come β μμ
By now, you should clearly understand that the verbs on the left are in the infinitive form because of the λ€ ending and the ones on the right are in the conjugated form because of the μ ending.
Verb conjugation recipe
Some of you struggled to write about things you like to do as a hobby because we havenβt learned how to conjugate Korean verbs. So, let me give you the steps you need to turn an infinitive verb into a conjugated verb:
Letβs see how these steps actually work when appliedπ.
β λ¨Ήλ€: to eat β λ¨Ήμ΄μ
Step 1: Get the verb stem
In order to get the verb stem, you simply need to get rid of λ€ from a verb in the infinitive form. So, if we get rid of λ€ from the verb λ¨Ήλ€, we get the stem λ¨Ή.
Step 2: Attach μ after γ or γ , or attach μ΄ after any other vowel
After getting the verb stem, what you need to identify the final vowel in the stem. If the final vowel isγ Β orΒ γ , we attachΒ μΒ after the stem. Β For all other vowels, we attachΒ μ΄. So, the final vowel of the stem λ¨Ή is γ , so we are going to attach μ΄ after, thus λ¨Ήμ΄.
Step 3: Attach μ
λ¨Ήμ΄ + μ = λ¨Ήμ΄μ. VoilΓ !
Letβs try another one!
β μ½λ€: to read β μ½μ΄μ
Step 1: Get the verb stem
μ½λ€ β μ½ is the stem of this verb!
Step 2: Attach μ after γ
or γ
, or attach μ΄ after any other vowel
The vowel is γ
£ which is neither γ
nor γ
, weβll attach μ΄ β μ½μ΄
Step 3: Attach μ
μ½μ΄ + μ = μ½μ΄μ. VoilΓ !
Another one!
β κ°λ€: to go β κ°μ
Step 1: Get the verb stem
κ°λ€ β κ° is the stem of this verb!
Step 2: Attach μ after γ
or γ
, or attach μ΄ after any other vowel
The vowel is γ
, so weβll attach μ β κ°μ
Step 3: Attach μ
κ°μ + μ = κ°μμ. VoilΓ !
Waitπ€! The conjugation should be κ°μ, not κ°μμ, right? So, whatβs going on with this verb?
Well, the basic rule of conjugation Iβve been explaining applies to verbs in which their stems end with a consonant. If you recall, the stems of the first two verbs we tried conjugating ended with a consonant:Β λ¨ΉΒ andΒ μ½Β respectively.Β So, how do we conjugate verbs with stems ending with a vowel, likeΒ κ°λ€?
Itβs not that complicated either! First, you simply follow the basic rule until the third step. Essentially weβre going to combine κ°μΒ into just one syllable. Just imagine saying these two syllables fast. Then,Β κ°μΒ would just sound likeΒ κ°Β and that is why the end result is justΒ κ°μ.
Letβs take a look at another verb that has a vowel ending stem!
β μ€λ€: to come β μμ
Step 1: Get the verb stem
μ€λ€ β μ€ is the stem of this verb!
Step 2: Attach μ after γ
or γ
, or attach μ΄ after any other vowel
The vowel is γ
, so weβll attach μ β μ€μ
Step 3: Attach μ
μ€μ + μ = μ€μμ. VoilΓ !
Again, we need to combine these two vowels that come before μ, γ and γ . This time, we have two different vowels. And if you try to say these two vowels in one go, it would sound more like μ [wa] which is a compound vowel.Β (If you have compound vowels memorized, this process will be much easier!) This is why the finalΒ conjugation of the verbΒ μ€λ€ actuallyΒ becomesΒ μμ.
Letβs try another one!
νλ€: to do β ν΄μ
Step 1: Get the verb stem
νλ€ β ν is the stem of this verb!
Step 2: Attach μ after γ
or γ
, or attach μ΄ after any other vowel
The vowel is γ
, so weβll attach μ β νμ
Step 3: Attach μ
νμ + μ = νμμ.
The one is exactly the same as the verb κ°λ€. Then, the end result must be νμ. But it isnβt! The conjugation of this verb is ν΄μ [hae-yo]. Why? Itβs an exceptionβyou just have to knowπ .
Let me give you an exercise to do! Try and conjugate the following verbs on your own and leave your answers in the comments!
β μλ€: to sit β ?
β λ§λ€λ€: to make β ?
β 보λ€: to see β ?
β μ£Όλ€: to give β ?
β λ€λλ€: to go somewhere for a purpose, to attend β ?
Thatβs it for today! How was todayβs lesson? Thanks for learning with me again this week and let me know if there was anything that you didnβt understandπ!
λ΄μ λ λ΄!π
μλ ! For me Korean language has been like a math problem all alongπ€£π€£
1.μλ€=μμμ
2.λ§λλ€=λ§λμμ
3.보λ€=λ΄μ
4.μ£Όλ€=μ€μ
5. I am getting 2 versions here. Is any of these correct?
λ€λλ€=λ€λμ΄μ/ λ€λ΄μ π
Practice conjugations
1. μ λ€ -> μ μ μ
2. μ λ€ λ€ -> μ λ€ μ΄ μ
3. 보 λ€ -> λ΄ μ
4. μ£Ό λ€ -> μ€ μ
5. λ€ λ λ€ -> λ€ λ μ΄ μ / λ€ λ΄ μ ???
κ°μ¬ ν© λ λ€ :-)