Korean Verb Conjugation: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Why Korean Verb Conjugation Matters

Korean verb conjugation is the single most important grammar skill you will develop as a learner. Unlike English, where verbs change relatively little (eat, eats, ate, eating, eaten), Korean verbs transform extensively to express tense, politeness, formality, mood, and intention — all through endings attached to the verb stem. A single Korean verb like 먹다 (meokda — to eat) can take dozens of different forms depending on the context.

The good news is that Korean verb conjugation is highly systematic. Once you learn the core rules — especially the vowel harmony rule and the major ending patterns — you can conjugate the vast majority of verbs correctly. There are some irregular verbs that bend the rules, but even those follow predictable sub-patterns. This guide will walk you through everything from the absolute basics to the irregular verbs that trip up intermediate learners.

If you are preparing for the TOPIK Level 1 exam or just starting your Korean learning journey, verb conjugation is where you should invest serious study time. Every sentence you read, hear, speak, or write will involve at least one conjugated verb. Mastering conjugation early will accelerate every other aspect of your Korean studies.

Dictionary Form and Verb Stems: The Starting Point

Every Korean verb in its dictionary form ends in -다 (da). This is the form you will see in textbooks, vocabulary lists, dictionaries, and flashcard apps like TOPIKLord's TOPIK Level 1 deck. Here are some common examples:

• 먹다 (meokda) — to eat
• 가다 (gada) — to go
• 오다 (oda) — to come
• 마시다 (masida) — to drink
• 하다 (hada) — to do
• 보다 (boda) — to see, to watch
• 읽다 (ikda) — to read
• 쓰다 (sseuda) — to write, to use
• 살다 (salda) — to live
• 듣다 (deutda) — to listen, to hear

To conjugate any of these verbs, the first step is always the same: remove -다 to find the verb stem. The verb stem is the foundation onto which you attach all endings. For 먹다, the stem is 먹 (meok). For 가다, the stem is 가 (ga). For 마시다, the stem is 마시 (masi). Notice that some stems end in a consonant (먹, 읽) and some end in a vowel (가, 마시, 하). This distinction matters because certain endings behave differently depending on whether the stem ends in a consonant or a vowel.

The other critical piece of information is the last vowel of the stem. For 먹다, the last vowel in the stem 먹 is ㅓ (eo). For 가다, the last vowel in the stem 가 is ㅏ (a). For 오다, the last vowel in the stem 오 is ㅗ (o). This last vowel determines which variant of the ending you use, thanks to the vowel harmony rule.

The Vowel Harmony Rule: The Key to Korean Conjugation

Vowel harmony is the single most important rule in Korean verb conjugation. It determines whether a verb ending uses the -아 (a) or -어 (eo) variant. The rule is simple:

• If the last vowel of the verb stem is ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o) → use the -아 variant
• If the last vowel is anything else (ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ, ㅐ, etc.) → use the -어 variant
• If the verb stem is 하 (from 하다 verbs) → always use 해 (a special contraction of 하 + 여)

Let's see this in action with the polite informal ending -아요/-어요:

• 가다 (gada) → stem 가 (last vowel ㅏ) → 가 + 아요 = 가요 (gayo) — (I) go
• 오다 (oda) → stem 오 (last vowel ㅗ) → 오 + 아요 = 와요 (wayo) — (I) come
• 먹다 (meokda) → stem 먹 (last vowel ㅓ) → 먹 + 어요 = 먹어요 (meogeoyo) — (I) eat
• 마시다 (masida) → stem 마시 (last vowel ㅣ) → 마시 + 어요 = 마셔요 (masyeoyo) — (I) drink
• 하다 (hada) → stem 하 → 하 + 여요 = 해요 (haeyo) — (I) do

Notice that when a vowel-ending stem meets a vowel ending, contractions often occur. 가 + 아 contracts to 가 (the double ㅏ merges). 오 + 아 contracts to 와. 마시 + 어 contracts to 마셔. These contractions are natural and consistent — with practice, they become automatic. Consonant-ending stems like 먹 simply attach the ending directly: 먹 + 어요 = 먹어요.

Polite Informal Ending: -아요/-어요 (해요체)

The polite informal ending, called 해요체 (haeyoche), is the most commonly used speech level in everyday Korean. It is polite enough for strangers, colleagues, and people you have just met, yet warm and natural enough for daily conversation. If you can only learn one conjugation pattern, make it this one. The formula is:

Verb stem + -아요 (if last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ) / -어요 (otherwise) / 해요 (for 하다 verbs)

Here is a conjugation chart for common verbs in the polite informal present tense:

Example sentences:

• 저는 매일 한국어를 공부해요 (jeoneun maeil hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo) — I study Korean every day
• 어디에 가요? (eodie gayo?) — Where are you going?
• 커피를 마셔요 (keopireul masyeoyo) — I drink coffee
• 텔레비전을 봐요 (tellebijeoneur bwayo) — I watch television

Polite Formal Ending: -ㅂ니다/-습니다 (합쇼체)

The polite formal ending, called 합쇼체 (hapsyoche), is the highest level of politeness used in standard conversation. You will hear it in news broadcasts, business presentations, military speech, and when addressing people of significantly higher social status. The formation rule depends on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or a consonant:

• Stem ends in a vowel → add -ㅂ니다 (bnida). Example: 가다 → 가 + ㅂ니다 = 갑니다 (gamnida) — (I) go
• Stem ends in a consonant → add -습니다 (seumnida). Example: 먹다 → 먹 + 습니다 = 먹습니다 (meokseumnida) — (I) eat

More examples:

• 오다 (oda) → 옵니다 (omnida) — come
• 마시다 (masida) → 마십니다 (masimnida) — drink
• 하다 (hada) → 합니다 (hamnida) — do
• 보다 (boda) → 봅니다 (bomnida) — see, watch
• 읽다 (ikda) → 읽습니다 (ikseumnida) — read
• 공부하다 (gongbuhada) → 공부합니다 (gongbuhamnida) — study

Example sentences:

• 저는 학생입니다 (jeoneun haksaengimnida) — I am a student
• 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) — Thank you
• 한국어를 공부합니다 (hangugeoreul gongbuhamnida) — I study Korean
• 내일 서울에 갑니다 (naeil seoure gamnida) — I go to Seoul tomorrow

For the TOPIK exam, you will encounter both 해요체 and 합쇼체 in listening and reading passages. Understanding both is essential, though 해요체 is more common in everyday life. If you are studying the Korean honorifics system, polite formal speech is where you will start.

Casual Form: -아/-어 (반말)

The casual or intimate form, known as 반말 (banmal), is used among close friends, family members of similar age, and with people younger than you. It is formed by simply dropping the 요 from the polite informal ending:

• 가요 (gayo) → 가 (ga) — go
• 먹어요 (meogeoyo) → 먹어 (meogeo) — eat
• 마셔요 (masyeoyo) → 마셔 (masyeo) — drink
• 해요 (haeyo) → 해 (hae) — do
• 봐요 (bwayo) → 봐 (bwa) — see, watch
• 써요 (sseoyo) → 써 (sseo) — write

Important: Using 반말 with someone older or of higher social status is considered very rude in Korean culture. When in doubt, always use polite speech. You will naturally learn when 반말 is appropriate as you gain exposure to Korean social contexts. For TOPIK exam preparation, you should be able to recognize 반말 in reading passages and dialogues, even if you primarily produce polite forms.

Example sentences:

• 뭐 해? (mwo hae?) — What are you doing?
• 밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?) — Did you eat?
• 어디 가? (eodi ga?) — Where are you going?
• 이거 봐! (igeo bwa!) — Look at this!

Past Tense: -았/었 (-아요/-어요 + ㅆ)

Forming the past tense in Korean follows the same vowel harmony pattern as the polite informal ending, but with the addition of the past tense marker ㅆ (ss). The formula is:

• Last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ → stem + -았 (at) + speech level ending
• All other vowels → stem + -었 (eot) + speech level ending
• 하다 verbs → stem + 했 (haet) + speech level ending

Past tense conjugation chart (polite informal):

Example sentences:

• 어제 영화를 봤어요 (eoje yeonghwareul bwasseoyo) — I watched a movie yesterday
• 한국에 갔어요 (hanguge gasseoyo) — I went to Korea
• 아침을 먹었어요 (achimeul meogeosseoyo) — I ate breakfast
• 숙제를 했어요 (sukjereul haesseoyo) — I did my homework

Future Tense: -겠- and -ㄹ/을 거예요

Korean has two main ways to express future actions or intentions. Both are important for TOPIK preparation and everyday communication.

Pattern 1: -ㄹ/을 거예요 (Plan or Intention)

This is the more common future form and expresses a plan, intention, or prediction. The rule for attaching it:

• Stem ends in a vowel → add -ㄹ 거예요. Example: 가다 → 갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) — will go
• Stem ends in a consonant → add -을 거예요. Example: 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (meogeul geoyeyo) — will eat
• Stem ends in ㄹ → the ㄹ already exists, just add 거예요. Example: 살다 → 살 거예요 (sal geoyeyo) — will live

Example sentences:

• 내일 한국어를 공부할 거예요 (naeil hangugeoreul gongbuhal geoyeyo) — I will study Korean tomorrow
• 주말에 친구를 만날 거예요 (jumare chingureul mannal geoyeyo) — I will meet a friend on the weekend
• 비가 올 거예요 (biga ol geoyeyo) — It will rain

Pattern 2: -겠- (Conjecture or Strong Will)

The -겠- (get) infix expresses conjecture (a guess about the present or future) or a strong, formal intention. It attaches directly to the verb stem regardless of the final letter:

• 먹다 → 먹겠어요 (meokgesseoyo) — I will eat (strong will) / It seems like (someone) will eat
• 가다 → 가겠습니다 (gagetsseumnida) — I shall go (formal, determined)
• 알다 → 알겠습니다 (algetsseumnida) — I understand (literally: I will know)

You will commonly hear 알겠습니다 (algetsseumnida) in daily Korean, which is the standard way to say "I understand" or "Understood" in formal settings. The -겠- form is less common than -ㄹ 거예요 in casual conversation but appears frequently in formal speech and on the TOPIK exam.

Negative Form: 안 and -지 않다

There are two ways to negate a verb in Korean. Both are widely used and largely interchangeable in meaning, though they differ in nuance and formality.

Short Negation: 안 (an) + Verb

Simply place 안 before the verb. This is the shorter, more conversational form:

• 안 먹어요 (an meogeoyo) — I don't eat
• 안 가요 (an gayo) — I don't go
• 안 봐요 (an bwayo) — I don't watch
• 안 마셔요 (an masyeoyo) — I don't drink

For 하다 compound verbs, 안 goes between the noun and 하다:

• 공부 안 해요 (gongbu an haeyo) — I don't study
• 운동 안 해요 (undong an haeyo) — I don't exercise
• 요리 안 해요 (yori an haeyo) — I don't cook

Long Negation: Verb Stem + -지 않다 (ji anta)

Attach -지 않다 to the verb stem. The 않다 part then conjugates to match the speech level:

• 먹지 않아요 (meokji anayo) — I don't eat
• 가지 않아요 (gaji anayo) — I don't go
• 공부하지 않아요 (gongbuhaji anayo) — I don't study
• 마시지 않습니다 (masiji anseumnida) — I don't drink (formal)

The long form is slightly more emphatic and often preferred in writing and formal speech. Both forms are tested on TOPIK, so you should be comfortable recognizing and producing both. If you are still working on learning the Korean writing system, check out our guide to learning Hangul first.

Progressive Form: -고 있다 (Ongoing Actions)

To express that an action is currently in progress (the equivalent of English "-ing"), use the pattern verb stem + -고 있다 (go itda). The 있다 part conjugates for speech level:

• 먹고 있어요 (meokgo isseoyo) — I am eating
• 공부하고 있어요 (gongbuhago isseoyo) — I am studying
• 읽고 있어요 (ilkgo isseoyo) — I am reading
• 기다리고 있어요 (gidarigo isseoyo) — I am waiting
• 듣고 있습니다 (deutgo isseumnida) — I am listening (formal)

The progressive form is straightforward because -고 attaches directly to the verb stem without any vowel harmony considerations. This makes it one of the easier conjugation patterns to learn. Note that some verbs describing wearing or carrying items use -고 있다 to express a state rather than an ongoing action: 모자를 쓰고 있어요 (mojareul sseugo isseoyo) means "I am wearing a hat" (current state), not "I am in the process of putting on a hat."

Example sentences in context:

• 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? (jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?) — What are you doing right now?
• 한국어를 배우고 있어요 (hangugeoreul baeugo isseoyo) — I am learning Korean
• 비가 오고 있어요 (biga ogo isseoyo) — It is raining
• 친구를 기다리고 있었어요 (chingureul gidarigo isseosseoyo) — I was waiting for a friend

Irregular Verbs: The Six Patterns You Must Know

Most Korean verbs follow the regular conjugation rules described above. However, there are six categories of irregular verbs where the final consonant (or final syllable) of the verb stem changes when a vowel-based ending is attached. These irregulars are among the trickiest parts of Korean grammar, but each category follows its own consistent pattern. Understanding Korean particles and these irregular verb patterns together will give you a solid grammar foundation.

1. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ 불규칙)

For certain verbs whose stem ends in ㄷ, the ㄷ changes to ㄹ when followed by a vowel-based ending:

• 듣다 (deutda — to listen) → 들어요 (deureoyo) — listen (polite informal)
• 걷다 (geotda — to walk) → 걸어요 (georeoyo) — walk
• 묻다 (mutda — to ask) → 물어요 (mureoyo) — ask

Exception: Not all ㄷ-ending verbs are irregular. 닫다 (datda — to close) and 받다 (batda — to receive) are regular: 닫아요 (dadayo), 받아요 (badayo). You must learn which ㄷ verbs are irregular individually.

2. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ 불규칙)

For certain verbs and adjectives whose stem ends in ㅂ, the ㅂ changes to 우 (or 오 in a few cases) when followed by a vowel-based ending:

• 돕다 (dopda — to help) → 도와요 (dowayo) — help
• 춥다 (chupda — to be cold) → 추워요 (chuweoyo) — it is cold
• 덥다 (deopda — to be hot) → 더워요 (deoweoyo) — it is hot
• 어렵다 (eoryeopda — to be difficult) → 어려워요 (eoryeoweoyo) — it is difficult
• 쉽다 (swipda — to be easy) → 쉬워요 (swiweoyo) — it is easy
• 아름답다 (areumdapda — to be beautiful) → 아름다워요 (areumdaweoyo) — it is beautiful

Exception: 입다 (ipda — to wear) and 잡다 (japda — to catch) are regular: 입어요 (ibeoyo), 잡아요 (jabayo).

3. ㄹ Irregular (ㄹ 불규칙)

Verbs whose stem ends in ㄹ drop the ㄹ before endings that start with ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ. This is particularly important for the polite formal -ㅂ니다 ending:

• 살다 (salda — to live) → 삽니다 (samnida — live, formal) / 살아요 (sarayo — live, informal)
• 알다 (alda — to know) → 압니다 (amnida — know, formal) / 알아요 (arayo — know, informal)
• 만들다 (mandeulda — to make) → 만듭니다 (mandeumnida — make, formal) / 만들어요 (mandeureoyo — make, informal)
• 팔다 (palda — to sell) → 팝니다 (pamnida — sell, formal) / 팔아요 (parayo — sell, informal)

Notice that ㄹ-irregular verbs conjugate normally with vowel-based endings like -아요/-어요. The ㄹ only drops before consonant-starting endings ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ. This pattern is consistent for all ㄹ-ending stems.

4. ㅎ Irregular (ㅎ 불규칙)

Certain adjectives whose stem ends in ㅎ drop the ㅎ when a vowel-based ending is attached, and the resulting vowels contract:

• 빨갛다 (ppalgata — to be red) → 빨개요 (ppalgaeyo) — it is red
• 노랗다 (norata — to be yellow) → 노래요 (noraeyo) — it is yellow
• 파랗다 (parata — to be blue) → 파래요 (paraeyo) — it is blue
• 하얗다 (hayata — to be white) → 하얘요 (hayaeyo) — it is white
• 까맣다 (kkamata — to be black) → 까매요 (kkamaeyo) — it is black

This irregular pattern mostly applies to color adjectives and a few others. The contraction rules can feel confusing at first, but the pattern is consistent once you see enough examples.

5. ㅅ Irregular (ㅅ 불규칙)

For certain verbs whose stem ends in ㅅ, the ㅅ is dropped when a vowel-based ending is attached:

• 짓다 (jitda — to build) → 지어요 (jieoyo) — build
• 낫다 (natda — to get better, to recover) → 나아요 (naayo) — get better
• 잇다 (itda — to connect) → 이어요 (ieoyo) — connect

Exception: 웃다 (utda — to laugh) and 씻다 (ssitda — to wash) are regular: 웃어요 (useoyo), 씻어요 (ssiseoyo).

6. 르 Irregular (르 불규칙)

Verbs and adjectives whose stem ends in 르 undergo a special change: the ㅡ is dropped, an extra ㄹ is added to the preceding syllable, and then the regular -아/-어 ending follows:

• 모르다 (moreuda — to not know) → 몰라요 (mollayo) — don't know
• 빠르다 (ppareuda — to be fast) → 빨라요 (ppallayo) — it is fast
• 다르다 (dareuda — to be different) → 달라요 (dallayo) — it is different
• 자르다 (jareuda — to cut) → 잘라요 (jallayo) — cut
• 부르다 (bureuda — to call, to sing) → 불러요 (bulleoyo) — call, sing

The 르 irregular is one of the most common irregular patterns, and you will encounter these verbs very early in your studies. Fortunately, nearly all 르-ending verbs follow this pattern, so there are very few exceptions to worry about.

Putting It All Together: Conjugation Summary

Here is a complete conjugation summary for the verb 먹다 (meokda — to eat) across the major patterns covered in this guide:

Study Tips for Mastering Korean Verb Conjugation

Korean verb conjugation can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right approach, you will build fluency faster than you expect. Here are proven strategies:

1. Learn verbs in sentences, not in isolation. Instead of memorizing 먹다 = to eat, learn 저는 아침을 먹어요 (jeoneun achimeul meogeoyo) = I eat breakfast. This trains your brain to produce conjugated forms naturally and reinforces particle usage at the same time.

2. Master one speech level at a time. Start with polite informal (-아요/-어요) because it is the most useful in daily life. Once that feels comfortable, add polite formal (-ㅂ니다/-습니다). Then move to casual form and other patterns. Trying to learn all forms simultaneously often leads to confusion.

3. Use spaced repetition for irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow predictable rules, but irregular verbs require memorization. Spaced repetition algorithms show you cards just before you would forget them, which is the most efficient way to commit irregular patterns to long-term memory.

4. Practice conjugation drills out loud. Speaking conjugated forms helps build muscle memory. Take a verb like 가다 and quickly produce: 가요, 갑니다, 가, 갔어요, 갈 거예요, 안 가요, 가고 있어요. Do this with five different verbs each day and your speed and accuracy will improve dramatically.

5. Listen to Korean content actively. While watching Korean dramas, variety shows, or YouTube content, pay attention to verb endings. Try to identify whether speakers are using polite formal, polite informal, or casual speech. Notice how the same verb changes form depending on who is speaking to whom. This contextual exposure makes the grammar rules feel natural rather than abstract.

6. Do not fear mistakes. Even native Korean speakers occasionally stumble on complex conjugations. The irregular verbs and contraction rules take time to internalize. The key is consistent practice over time, not perfection from day one. Every mistake is a learning opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions