안녕하세요. 토미입니다.
Let’s have fun learning a beautiful language, Korean!
In today’s class, we will learn about the 요 form.
In the previous class, we briefly touched on 이에요 and 예요, but today, we will go over them in more detail.
For this, today’s class will not be based on a conversation as usual but instead will be an intensive lecture on the 요 form from the beginning to the end.
First, please download Conjugating the 요 form list.
A phrase in ‘요 form’ that many of you may be already familiar with is 사랑해요 “I love you.”
Like this phrase, expressions that finish with ~요 are called the 요 form.
On the other hand, expressions that finish with ~ㅂ니다/습니다/입니다, such as 학교에 갑니다 or 토미입니다 are called the 니다 form.
Native Korean speakers use the 요 form more often in conversations.
So, to pass TOPIK I, Levels 1 and 2, you should know this 요 form.
Today’s class will be the most essential yet complex class of the whole Elementary Korean course.
We will continue learning various things, but nothing will be more challenging than what we will learn today.
So, if you have trouble understanding this concept, please review this video repeatedly until you have completely mastered it.
I’m sure you will be able to entirely understand the rules in the end.
I will try to explain the concept as easily as possible, so please stay with me until the end.
I am sure we can get through this together. And you can be the shiny super master of Korean!
그럼 시작할게요.
The Concept of the 요 form
As I mentioned earlier, the 요 form is a sentence that finishes with 요.
Korean people use this form in polite conversations.
I will give you some examples of the 요 form. 먹다 “to eat” would be 먹어요, 가다 “to go” would be 가요, and 사랑하다 “to love” would be 사랑해요.
Did you notice here that in the case of 먹다, 다 is removed and 어요 is added, whereas, in the case of 가다, only 요 is added?
Also, in the case of 사랑해요, 하 became 해.
I am emphasizing the need to be aware of various patterns of verbs and adjectives when using the 요 form.
Today, I will explain these patterns one by one.
So it will be crystal clear in your head!
Eventually, you will have to get used to it, but having this concept in your head will make your Korean learning much easier and faster.
Trust me on that! Been there, done that.
Before we get to the main topic, I would like to explain two concepts you should know before diving in.
That is the type of vowels and the stem of verbs and adjectives.
I already touched on these concepts, so you might already know them.
But I will review them again because they are super super important.
In Hangul, there are two types of vowels: the positive vowels and the negative vowels.
The positive vowels are ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅗ, ㅛ, and the rest ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, ㅣ are the negative vowels.
I will use positive and negative vowels to explain the 요 form, so please remember these.
In the previous lesson, I said 이 is a neutral vowel, but in the 요 form, it will be in the group of negative vowels.
Another thing to remember is the stem of verbs and adjectives.
All Korean verbs and adjectives end with 다 in the original form, and the letter before 다 is called the stem.
For example, if the word is 놀다 “to play,” 놀 that comes before 다 is the stem.
I mentioned the types of vowels and the stem because the patterns of the 요 form are determined by whether the character in the stem or the letter before the stem is a positive or a negative vowel or whether there is a particular final consonant.
From now on, I’ll mention these two concepts frequently, so you will probably get used to them gradually.
Now, let’s learn about the patterns in the 요 form!
Variation Patterns in the 요 form
Let’s start with a list of variation patterns in the 요 form.
I will show you the list. Here you go!
| Final vowel of the stem | Batchim | Original Form | Meaning | Stem | Variation Pattern | 요 form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive vowels | ㅏ | with | 살다 | to live | 살 | ＋ 아요 | 살아요 |
| ㅗ | 좋다 | to be good/like | 좋 | ＋ 아요 | 좋아요 | ||
| ㅏ | without | 가다 | to go | 가 | ＋ 요 | 가요 | |
| ㅗ | 오다 | to come | 오 | ㅗ→ㅘ+요 | 와요 | ||
| Negative vowels | ㅓ , ㅕ , ㅜ ㅠ , ㅡ , ㅣ | with | 먹다 | to eat | 먹 | ＋ 어요 | 먹어요 |
| 만들다 | to make | 만들 | ＋ 어요 | 만들어요 | |||
| Combined Vowels （except ㅐ,ㅔ） | without | 쉬다 | to rest | 쉬 | ＋ 어요 | 쉬어요 | |
| ㅓ , ㅕ , ㅐ , ㅔ | 서다 | to stan | 서 | ＋ 요 | 서요 | ||
| 켜다 | to turn on | 켜 | ＋ 요 | 켜요 | |||
| 보내다 | to send | 보내 | ＋ 요 | 보내요 | |||
| 세다 | to be strong | 세 | ＋ 요 | 세요 | |||
| ㅜ | 배우다 | to learn | 배우 | ㅜ→워+요 | 배워요 | ||
| ㅚ | 되다 | to become | 되 | ㅚ→ㅙ+요 | 돼요 | ||
| ㅣ | 마시다 | to drink | 마시 | ㅣ→ㅕ+요 | 마셔요 | ||
| 하다 | without | 사랑하다 | to love | 사랑하 | 하→해+요 | 사랑해요 | |
There are two main types: basic rules and irregularities.
Here’s the list of the basic rules.
The basic rules are two types.
You check the type of vowel in the stem and whether or not there is a final consonant.
If the stem has a positive vowel, you add –아요.
On the other hand, if it has a negative vowel or a diphthong, you add -어요.
That’s it for the basic rules. Pretty simple, right?
Next, here is the list of irregulars.
| Final vowel of the stem | Original Form | Meaning | Stem | Variation Pattern | 요 form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ㄷirregular | Positive vowel | 깨닫다 | to realize | 깨닫 | ㄷ→ㄹ+아요 | 깨달아요 |
| Negative vowel | 듣다 | to listen | 듣 | ㄷ→ㄹ+어요 | 들어요 | |
| ㅂirregular | Positive vowel / Negative vowel | 가볍다 | to be light | 가볍 | ㅂ→+워요 | 가벼워요 |
| ㅅirregular | Positive vowel | 낫다 | to get cured | 낫 | ㅅ→+아요 | 나아요 |
| Negative vowel | 짓다 | to build | 짓 | ㅅ→+어요 | 지어요 | |
| ㅎirregular | Positive vowel | 빨갛다 | Red | 빨갛 | ㅏㅎ→ㅐ+요 | 빨개요 |
| Negative vowel | 누렇다 | Yellowish | 누렇 | ㅓㅎ→ㅔ+요 | 누레요 | |
| Final vowel of the stem | Original Form | Meaning | Stem | Variation Pattern | 요 form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 으irregular | Positive vowel | 나쁘다 | to be bad | 나쁘 | ㅡ→ㅏ+요 | 나빠요 |
| Negative vowel | 기쁘다 | to be happy | 기쁘 | ㅡ→ㅓ+요 | 기뻐요 | |
| - | 쓰다 | to write | 쓰 | ㅡ→ㅓ+요 | 써요 | |
| 르irregular | Positive vowel | 모르다 | to not know | 모르 | 르→ㄹ+라요 | 몰라요 |
| Negative vowel | 누르다 | to push | 누르 | 르→ㄹ+러요 | 눌러요 | |
If the stem has ㄷ,ㅂ,ㅅ,ㅎ final consonants, or the vowel of the stem is 으, there will be a bit of unique variations.
Especially in the 으 or 르 irregulars, the variation patterns depend on the vowel of the letter before the stem.
We will learn everything in the lists today.
Basic Rules
① -아요 when the stem has a positive vowel
First, let’s look at the positive vowel cases using basic rules. There are three patterns to this.
First, if you can see a positive vowel ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅗ, ㅛ and the stem has a final consonant, you add -아요 directly.
Let’s look at the word 살다, “to live.” 살다 has ㅏ as a positive vowel, and the stem has ㄹ as the final consonant, so you add -아요 after the stem to make 살아요.
I will give you one more example. 좋다 “to be good/like” has ㅗ as a positive vowel, and the stem has ㅎ as the final consonant, so you add -아요 to make 좋아요.
Next, if there is no final consonant and the stem has ㅏ, 요 is added.
For example, 가다 “to go” will become 가요 “go,” and 비싸다 “to be expensive” will become 비싸요 “It is expensive.”
Finally, if there is no final consonant and the stem has ㅗ, you add ㅏ to the vowel of the stem, and it becomes ㅘ요.
For example, 보다 “to look” becomes 봐요, and 오다 “to come” becomes 와요.
② -어요 in the cases of stem + negative vowel / Diphthong
Next, let’s take a look at the cases of negative vowels.
The negative vowels are ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, l or diphthongs.
If the stem has one of these vowels, you add –어요.
However, as I will explain later, if there is no final consonant in ㅡ, it will be classified as another pattern called the 으 irregular.
First, when you can see negative vowels and the stem has a final consonant, you should add -어요.
For example, the verb stem of 먹다 “to eat” is 먹. 먹 has a negative vowel ㅓ, so you add -어요 to make 먹어요.
In the case of 만들다 “to make,” the verb stem is 만들.
들 has a ㅡ negative vowel, so you add 어요 at the end to make 만들어요.
Next, when there is no final consonant, you add -어요 to the end, even in cases with diphthongs other than ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅚ For example, 쉬다 “to rest” becomes 쉬어요.
Next, if there is no final consonant and the stem has a vowel that has ㅓ, such as ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅐ, ㅔ, you add 요.
For example, 서다 “to stand” becomes 서요.
켜다 “to turn on” becomes 켜요, 보내다 “to send” becomes 보내요, and 세다 “to be strong” becomes 세요.
Next, in the case of ㅜ, ㅚ, you add ㅓ to the stem and make ㅝ, ㅙ.
For example, 배우다 “to learn” becomes 배워요, and 되다 “to become” changes to 돼요.
Lastly, if there is no final consonant and the vowel is ㅣ, change ㅣ to ㅕ and add 요.
For example, 마시다 “to drink” becomes 마셔요, and 버리다 “to throw away” becomes 버려요.
③ 하다 becomes 해요
Next, let’s look at the verbs finishing with 하다.
This is the most straightforward pattern because you need to change the end of the phrase to 해요. Friendly and easy, isn’t it? Simple is the best.
For example, 사랑하다 “to love” becomes 사랑해요, and 공부하다 “to study” becomes 공부해요.
Irregulars
④ ㄷ irregular
From here, I will explain exceptional variations, which are called irregulars.
Although it is called irregulars, there are still rules, so you don’t have to worry.
First of all, I’ll explain the case of irregulars when the stem has ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ,ㅎ as the final consonants.
The first one is ㄷ irregular.
When the final consonant of the stem is ㄷ, you change ㄷ to ㄹ and add 아요 or 어요.
You can see the vowel of the stem to determine whether it will be 아요 or 어요.
For example, 깨닫다 “to realize” has the stem 깨닫, which has a positive vowel of ㅏ.
So you change the final consonant ㄷ to ㄹ and add 아요 to make 깨달아요.
The stem of 듣다 “to listen” is 듣. It has a negative vowel ㅡ, so you change the ㄷ final consonant to ㄹ and add 어요.
So it becomes 들어요.
⑤ ㅂ irregular
Next is ㅂ irregular.
If the stem has ㅂ as the final consonant, you remove ㅂ and add 워요.
It does not matter whether the stem has a positive or a negative vowel.
For example, if the word is 고맙다 “to thank,” you remove ㅂ and add 워요 to say 고마워요.
In the case of 가볍다 “to be light,” you remove ㅂ and add 워요 to say 가벼워요.
⑥ ㅅ irregular
Next is the ㅅ irregular.
When the stem has ㅅ as a final consonant, you remove ㅅ.
Then you add -아요 when there is a positive vowel or add -어요 when there is a negative vowel. This is quite simple.
For example, 낫다, “to get cured,” has the stem 낫, which has a positive vowel ㅏ.
So you remove ㅅ and add 아요 to say 나아요.
In the case of 짓다 “to build,” the stem is 짓, which has a negative vowel ㅣ, so you remove ㅅ and add 어요 to say 지어요.
⑦ ㅎ irregular
Next is the ㅎ irregular.
In this case, you remove the final consonant of the stem, ㅎ.
Then you add ㅐ요 instead when the stem has a positive vowel, or add ㅔ요 when the stem has a negative vowel.
For example, 빨갛다 “red” has a stem 빨갛, which has a positive vowel ㅏ.
So you remove ㅎ and add ㅐ요 to say 빨개요.
In the case of 누렇다 “yellowish,” the stem is 누렇, which has a negative vowel ㅓ. So ㅎ is removed, and ㅔ요 is added to say ‘누레요.’
⑧ 으 irregular
Next is the 으 irregular.
This is when the word is like 쓰다 “to write” or 예쁘다 “to be pretty” when the stem is ㅡ without a final consonant.
Here, the rule differs depending on whether the stem is 르 or not. Let’s first look at the cases with a stem that is not 르.
You can decide whether to add 아요 or 어요 depending on whether the letter before ㅡ is a positive vowel or a negative vowel.
The key point is that it is the letter before the stem.
If there is no preceding letter, like 쓰다 “to write,” then 어요 is added to say 써요.
For example, in the word 나쁘다 “to be bad,” 나 is the letter before the stem 쁘.
Since the vowel is a positive vowel ㅏ, you replace ㅡ with ㅏ요 to say 나빠요.
In the word 기쁘다 “to be happy,” the letter coming before the stem 쁘 is 기, which has a negative vowel ㅣ.
So you replace ㅡ with ㅓ요 to say 기뻐요.
⑨ 르 irregular
Next is the case where the stem is 르, and there is no final consonant.
This is called the 르 irregular.
It is almost the same as the 으 irregular.
You add ㅏ요 or ㅓ요 depending on whether the letter before 르 is a positive vowel or a negative vowel.
However, one different thing is that you add ㄹ as a final consonant to the letter that comes before a stem. For example, 모르다 “do not know” has 모 coming before 르.
As it has a positive vowel ㅗ, you add ㄹ라요. In other words, you add ㄹ as a final consonant right under the 모 and replace 르 with 라 to say 몰라요.
누르다 “to push” has 누 coming before 르. The vowel is a negative vowel ㅜ, so you add ㄹ러요. In other words, you add ㄹ as a final consonant right under the 누 and replace 르 with 러 to say 눌러요.
Homework
Now, I will announce two assignments.
The first assignment is to use the 요 form and write about your hobby.
I would write like this!
- 저는 한국요리 자주 만들어요.
I often cook Korean food.
As for the second homework, I usually ask for the memorization of 40 words, but this time, please memorize this list of 요 form as my homework.
I specially made a quiz for the 요 form on this page, so please try it hundreds of times until you can answer everything instantly.
That’s all for today.
I’m so happy you watched this video through, even though this was the hardest one ever.
Once you understand the rules, you can change the words to the 요 form by looking at the verbs and adjectives.
I am sure you can do this!
그럼 오늘도 행복 가득, 웃음 가득한 하루 되세요！ 한국어 화이팅, 화이팅, 화이팅！！
