Verbs - Korean Grammar

Verbs are an essential part of the Korean language and play a vital role in expressing actions, states, and events. Understanding verb theory is crucial for mastering Korean grammar.

In Korean, verbs are inflected to indicate tense, mood, honorifics, and politeness levels. The most basic form of a verb is the infinitive form, which ends in -다 (da) or -하다 (hada). From this form, various endings are added to convey different meanings. Regular Korean verbs are divided into two groups: Action verbs (동사, dongs-a) and Descriptive verbs (형용사, hyeong-yongsa). Action verbs depict physical or mental actions, while descriptive verbs describe qualities, conditions, or states of being.

To conjugate a verb, we typically remove the 다 (da) ending and add different verb endings depending on the intended meaning. For example, -아요 (-ayo) is added to make a verb polite, and -ㄹ/을게요 (-l/eulgeyo) is used to express future tense.

Korean verb theory can be complex, but the regularity and consistency of verb endings make it easier to grasp. Practice and exposure to various verb forms are crucial for improving fluency and accuracy in Korean.