Korean Verb and Adjective Conjugation

 Kovin's Note : 

Korean V Below, you can study the conjugation and major/irregular rules of Korean verbs and adjectives with English explanations, and then you can complete 25 four-choice multiple-choice practice questions along with the answers with explanations all at onceerb and Adjective Conjugation

1. What is Conjugation?

In Korean, conjugation means changing the form of a verb or adjective according to the grammatical ending that follows it.

For example:

• 가다 (to go) → 가요 (go / am going)

• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어요 (eat / am eating)

• 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예뻐요 (is pretty)

• 공부하다 (to study) → 공부해요 (study / am studying)

The dictionary form of a Korean verb or adjective usually ends in 다.

To conjugate it, we normally remove 다 first.

가다 → 가 + 어요 → 가요
먹다 → 먹 + 어요 → 먹어요

Korean verbs and adjectives are both called predicates because they can function as the predicate of a sentence.

2. Korean Verbs

A Korean verb expresses an action or event.

Examples:

Dictionary form	Meaning	Polite present
가다	to go	가요
오다	to come	와요
먹다	to eat	먹어요
마시다	to drink	마셔요
읽다	to read	읽어요
공부하다	to study	공부해요

The basic verb stem is obtained by removing 다.

먹다 → 먹-
가다 → 가-
공부하다 → 공부하-

3. Korean Adjectives

Korean adjectives are different from English adjectives in an important way.

They can function as the predicate of a sentence without the verb "to be."

For example:

날씨가 좋아요.
The weather is good.

음식이 맛있어요.
The food is delicious.

그 사람이 친절해요.
That person is kind.

The dictionary form is:

• 좋다 = to be good

• 맛있다 = to be delicious

• 친절하다 = to be kind

• 예쁘다 = to be pretty

• 춥다 = to be cold

Korean adjectives conjugate in much the same way as verbs.

4. Regular Conjugation

A regular verb/adjective follows the normal conjugation rules without changing its stem in an exceptional way.

For example:

먹다 → 먹어요

Remove 다:

먹다 → 먹-

Add -어요:

먹 + 어요 → 먹어요

가다 → 가요

가다 → 가- → 가요

좋다 → 좋아요

좋다 → 좋- → 좋아요

Regular conjugation can involve ordinary vowel combinations, but the basic stem remains predictable.

5. Irregular Conjugation

Some Korean verbs and adjectives change their stem when certain endings are attached.

These are called irregular conjugations.

Important irregular patterns include:

• ㅡ irregular

• ㄹ irregular / ㄹ deletion

• ㄷ irregular

• ㅂ irregular

• ㅅ irregular

• 르 irregular

• ㅎ irregular

• 러 irregular

It is important to remember that not every word containing one of these consonants is irregular.

6. ㅡ Deletion (으 탈락)

When a verb/adjective stem ends in ㅡ, the ㅡ is usually deleted before an ending beginning with a vowel such as -아/어요.

Example 1: 쓰다

쓰다 → 쓰- → ㅡ disappears → 써요

쓰다 → 써요
to write → write / am writing

Example 2: 크다

크다 → 크- → ㅡ disappears → 커요

크다 → 커요
to be big → is big

Example 3: 바쁘다

바쁘다 → 바쁘- → 바빠요

바쁘다 → 바빠요
to be busy → is busy

The vowel before ㅡ can affect whether 아 or 어 is used.

Examples

• 쓰다 → 써요

• 크다 → 커요

• 바쁘다 → 바빠요

• 예쁘다 → 예뻐요

• 아프다 → 아파요

7. ㄹ Deletion (ㄹ 탈락)

Some stems ending in ㄹ lose ㄹ before certain endings beginning with:

• ㄴ

• ㅂ

• ㅅ

For example:

살다 + -ㅂ니다

살다 → 살- → 삽니다

The ㄹ disappears.

살다 → 삽니다
to live → live

알다 + -는

알다 → 알- → 아는

알다 → 아는 사람
a person who knows

만들다 + -세요

만들다 → 만들- → 만드세요

만들다 → 만드세요
Please make it.

Other examples

Dictionary form	Conjugated form
살다	삽니다
알다	압니다
만들다	만드세요
길다	깁니다
멀다	멉니다

8. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ 불규칙)

Some verbs whose stem ends in ㄷ change ㄷ → ㄹ when followed by a vowel-initial ending.

Example: 듣다

듣다 → 듣- + 어요 → 들어요

ㄷ changes to ㄹ.

듣다 → 들어요
to listen → listen / am listening

Example: 걷다

걷다 → 걸어요

걷다 → 걸어요
to walk → walk / am walking

Example: 묻다

In the sense of "to ask":

묻다 → 물어요

묻다 → 물어요
to ask → ask

Important!

Not every ㄷ-final verb is irregular.

For example:

받다 → 받아요

받다 means "to receive," and ㄷ does not change.

So:

• 듣다 → 들어요 

• 걷다 → 걸어요 

• 받다 → 받아요  regular

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9. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ 불규칙)

Some stems ending in ㅂ change when followed by a vowel-initial ending.

Generally:

ㅂ → 우/오

Examples:

춥다

춥다 → 추워요

춥다 → 추워요
to be cold → is cold

덥다

덥다 → 더워요

덥다 → 더워요
to be hot → is hot

어렵다

어렵다 → 어려워요

어렵다 → 어려워요
to be difficult → is difficult

돕다

돕다 is special:

돕다 → 도와요

Some ㅂ irregular words use 오 rather than 우.

Other examples:

• 쉽다 → 쉬워요

• 아름답다 → 아름다워요

• 무겁다 → 무거워요

• 가볍다 → 가벼워요

Important!

Some ㅂ-final words are regular.

For example:

입다 → 입어요

"to wear" is regular.

So:

• 춥다 → 추워요 

• 어렵다 → 어려워요 

• 입다 → 입어요  regular

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10. ㅅ Irregular (ㅅ 불규칙)

Some stems ending in ㅅ lose ㅅ before a vowel-initial ending.

Example: 짓다

짓다 → 지어요

ㅅ disappears.

짓다 → 지어요
to build → build

Example: 낫다

낫다 → 나아요

낫다 → 나아요
to get better/recover → get better

Example: 붓다

붓다 → 부어요

붓다 → 부어요
to swell → swell

Important!

Not every ㅅ-final verb is irregular.

For example:

웃다 → 웃어요

The ㅅ remains.

So:

• 짓다 → 지어요 

• 낫다 → 나아요 

• 웃다 → 웃어요  regular

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11. 르 Irregular (르 불규칙)

The 르 irregular is one of the most important Korean irregular patterns.

When a stem ending in 르 is followed by -아/어요:

1. 르 changes according to the vowel harmony pattern.

2. An additional ㄹ is added to the preceding syllable.

Example: 모르다

모르다 → 몰라요

모르다 → 몰라요
to not know → do not know

Example: 부르다

부르다 → 불러요

부르다 → 불러요
to call / sing → call / sing

Example: 다르다

다르다 → 달라요

다르다 → 달라요
to be different → is different

Example: 빠르다

빠르다 → 빨라요

빠르다 → 빨라요
to be fast → is fast

More examples:

• 고르다 → 골라요

• 자르다 → 잘라요

• 기르다 → 길러요

• 누르다 → 눌러요

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12. ㅎ Irregular (ㅎ 불규칙)

Some adjectives ending in ㅎ undergo changes when certain endings are attached.

The ㅎ may disappear, and the vowel may change.

Example: 그렇다

그렇다 → 그래요

그렇다 → 그래요
to be so / like that → is so

Example: 어떻다

어떻다 → 어때요

어떻다 → 어때요
how is it? / what is it like?

Example: 하얗다

하얗다 → 하얘요

하얗다 → 하얘요
to be white → is white

Example: 그렇다

그렇다 → 그래요

Example: 이렇다

이렇다 → 이래요

이렇다 → 이래요
to be like this → is like this

Example: 파랗다

파랗다 → 파래요

파랗다 → 파래요
to be blue → is blue

Common ㅎ irregular adjectives include:

• 그렇다 → 그래요

• 어떻다 → 어때요

• 이렇다 → 이래요

• 저렇다 → 저래요

• 하얗다 → 하얘요

• 파랗다 → 파래요

• 빨갛다 → 빨개요

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13. 러 Irregular (러 불규칙)

The 러 irregular is relatively limited.

Some verbs/adjectives ending in 르 or certain stems form -러요 rather than the ordinary 르 pattern.

Important examples include:

이르다

When 이르다 means "to arrive early / be early":

이르다 → 이르러요

이르다 → 이르러요
to arrive early → arrive early

푸르다

푸르다 → 푸르러요

푸르다 → 푸르러요
to be green/blue → is green/blue

These forms should be learned as special conjugation patterns.

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14. Summary of the Main Patterns

Pattern	Basic change	Example
Regular	No special stem change	먹다 → 먹어요
ㅡ deletion	ㅡ disappears	쓰다 → 써요
ㄹ deletion	ㄹ disappears before certain endings	살다 → 삽니다
ㄷ irregular	ㄷ → ㄹ before vowel	듣다 → 들어요
ㅂ irregular	ㅂ → 우/오	춥다 → 추워요
ㅅ irregular	ㅅ disappears before vowel	짓다 → 지어요
르 irregular	additional ㄹ + 르 change	모르다 → 몰라요
ㅎ irregular	ㅎ disappears/changes	그렇다 → 그래요
러 irregular	special -러 form	이르다 → 이르러요

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15. Multiple-Choice Practice — 25 Questions

Choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

1. What is the correct polite present form of 가다?

A. 가어요
B. 가요
C. 가아요
D. 가어

2. What is the correct form of 먹다?

A. 먹아요
B. 먹어요
C. 먹와요
D. 먹요

3. What happens to ㅡ in the ㅡ-deletion pattern?

A. It changes to ㅏ.
B. It changes to ㅓ.
C. It is usually deleted.
D. It becomes ㄹ.

4. What is the correct form of 쓰다?

A. 쓰어요
B. 써요
C. 싸요
D. 쓰요

5. What is the correct form of 바쁘다?

A. 바쁘어요
B. 바빠요
C. 바뻐요
D. 바쁘요

6. Which word demonstrates ㄹ deletion?

A. 먹다 → 먹어요
B. 듣다 → 들어요
C. 살다 → 삽니다
D. 춥다 → 추워요

7. What is the correct form of 듣다?

A. 듣어요
B. 들어요
C. 들어요요
D. 든어요

8. Which word is an example of the ㄷ irregular?

A. 받다
B. 믿다
C. 듣다
D. 닫다

9. What is the correct form of 걷다?

A. 걷어요
B. 걸어요
C. 거어요
D. 걷아요

10. Which one is a regular ㄷ-final verb?

A. 듣다
B. 걷다
C. 묻다 ("to ask")
D. 받다

11. What is the correct form of 춥다?

A. 춥어요
B. 추워요
C. 추어요
D. 추와요

12. What happens in the ㅂ irregular pattern?

A. ㅂ usually changes to 우/오.
B. ㅂ changes to ㄹ.
C. ㅂ disappears and becomes ㄴ.
D. ㅂ never changes.

13. Which one is a regular ㅂ-final verb?

A. 춥다
B. 어렵다
C. 돕다
D. 입다

14. What is the correct form of 짓다?

A. 짓어요
B. 지어요
C. 지아요
D. 짜요

15. What happens in the ㅅ irregular pattern?

A. ㅅ becomes ㄹ.
B. ㅅ becomes ㅂ.
C. ㅅ disappears before a vowel-initial ending.
D. ㅅ becomes ㄷ.

16. Which one is regular?

A. 짓다
B. 낫다
C. 웃다
D. 붓다

17. What is the correct form of 모르다?

A. 모르어요
B. 몰라요
C. 모라요
D. 몰어요

18. Which is an example of the 르 irregular?

A. 모르다 → 몰라요
B. 먹다 → 먹어요
C. 가다 → 가요
D. 입다 → 입어요

19. What is the correct form of 다르다?

A. 다러요
B. 다르어요
C. 달라요
D. 달어요

20. What is the correct form of 그렇다?

A. 그렇어요
B. 그러요
C. 그래요
D. 그라요

21. Which word demonstrates ㅎ irregular conjugation?

A. 좋다 → 좋아요
B. 그렇다 → 그래요
C. 먹다 → 먹어요
D. 가다 → 가요

22. What is the correct form of 어떻다?

A. 어떠요
B. 어떻게요
C. 어때요
D. 어떻어요

23. Which is an example of the 러 irregular pattern?

A. 모르다 → 몰라요
B. 이르다 → 이르러요
C. 다르다 → 달라요
D. 쓰다 → 써요

24. Which pair is INCORRECT?

A. 춥다 → 추워요
B. 듣다 → 들어요
C. 짓다 → 지어요
D. 입다 → 이워요

25. Which explanation is correct?

A. Every ㄷ-final word is ㄷ irregular.
B. Every ㅂ-final word changes to 워요.
C. Some words follow irregular patterns, while others with the same final consonant are regular.
D. Korean adjectives cannot be conjugated.

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16. Answers and Explanations

1. B — 가요

가다 has the stem 가-.
The ending combines naturally with the stem:

가다 → 가요

2. B — 먹어요

먹다 → 먹- + 어요:

먹다 → 먹어요

The stem ends in a consonant, so -어요 is used.

3. C — It is usually deleted.

In the ㅡ deletion pattern, ㅡ disappears before an appropriate vowel-initial ending.

쓰다 → 써요

4. B — 써요

쓰다 → 쓰- → ㅡ deletion:

쓰다 → 써요

5. B — 바빠요

바쁘다 contains ㅡ.

바쁘다 → 바쁘- → ㅡ deletion → 바빠요

6. C — 살다 → 삽니다

살다 has a stem ending in ㄹ.

Before -ㅂ니다, ㄹ disappears:

살다 → 삽니다

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7. B — 들어요

듣다 is a ㄷ irregular verb.

듣다 → 들어요

ㄷ changes to ㄹ before the vowel-initial ending.

8. C — 듣다

듣다 is a classic ㄷ irregular verb:

듣다 → 들어요

The other examples listed do not follow this particular irregular pattern.

9. B — 걸어요

걷다:

걷다 → 걸어요

ㄷ → ㄹ.

10. D — 받다

받다 is regular:

받다 → 받아요

The ㄷ does not change.

11. B — 추워요

춥다 is ㅂ irregular:

춥다 → 추워요

The ㅂ changes as part of the irregular conjugation.

12. A — ㅂ usually changes to 우/오.

For many ㅂ-irregular words:

춥다 → 추워요
어렵다 → 어려워요

돕다 is a special example:

돕다 → 도와요

13. D — 입다

입다 is regular:

입다 → 입어요

The ㅂ remains.

14. B — 지어요

짓다 is ㅅ irregular:

짓다 → 지어요

The ㅅ disappears before the vowel-initial ending.

15. C — ㅅ disappears before a vowel-initial ending.

For example:

짓다 → 지어요
낫다 → 나아요

16. C — 웃다

웃다 is regular:

웃다 → 웃어요

The ㅅ remains.

17. B — 몰라요

모르다 is 르 irregular:

모르다 → 몰라요

An additional ㄹ appears in the preceding syllable, and the 르 pattern changes.

18. A — 모르다 → 몰라요

This is a classic example of the 르 irregular.

19. C — 달라요

다르다:

다르다 → 달라요

The preceding syllable receives an additional ㄹ and the 르 pattern changes.

20. C — 그래요

그렇다 is a ㅎ irregular adjective:

그렇다 → 그래요

The ㅎ disappears and the vowel pattern changes.

21. B — 그렇다 → 그래요

그렇다 is one of the common ㅎ-irregular adjectives.

22. C — 어때요

어떻다:

어떻다 → 어때요

This is a common ㅎ-irregular form.

23. B — 이르다 → 이르러요

이르다, in the sense of "to arrive early / be early," has the special 러 irregular form:

이르다 → 이르러요

24. D — 입다 → 이워요

This is incorrect.

The correct form is:

입다 → 입어요

입다 is a regular ㅂ-final verb, not a ㅂ irregular.

25. C — Some words follow irregular patterns, while others with the same final consonant are regular.

This is one of the most important points in Korean conjugation.

For example:

• 듣다 → 들어요 (ㄷ irregular)

• 받다 → 받아요 (regular)

And:

• 춥다 → 추워요 (ㅂ irregular)

• 입다 → 입어요 (regular)

Therefore, learners need to memorize which individual words are irregular.

Quick Review Chart

Irregularity	What happens?	Example
ㅡ deletion	ㅡ disappears	쓰다 → 써요
ㄹ deletion	ㄹ disappears before certain endings	살다 → 삽니다
ㄷ irregular	ㄷ → ㄹ	듣다 → 들어요
ㅂ irregular	ㅂ → 우/오	춥다 → 추워요
ㅅ irregular	ㅅ disappears	짓다 → 지어요
르 irregular	Additional ㄹ + 르 change	모르다 → 몰라요
ㅎ irregular	ㅎ disappears/changes	그렇다 → 그래요
러 irregular	Special -러 form	이르다 → 이르러요

A useful learning strategy: Don't memorize only the consonant rule. Memorize each new vocabulary item together with its conjugated form—for example, 듣다 → 들어요, 춥다 → 추워요, 모르다 → 몰라요. This helps you distinguish true irregular words from regular words that happen to have the same final consonant.