Korean Adjectives: Describing Things (is/am/are)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Korean, adjectives act like verbs; you must conjugate them to say 'is' or 'are'.
- Adjectives end in -다 in the dictionary form (e.g., 예쁘다).
- Drop the -다 and add the appropriate ending for politeness.
- Use -아요/-어요 for polite informal speech.
Overview
Korean adjectives (형용사, hyeong-yong-sa) function fundamentally as descriptive verbs. Unlike in English, where adjectives modify nouns and require a separate 'to be' verb (e.g., "the sky is blue"), Korean descriptive verbs inherently contain the meaning of "to be," "is," "am," or "are." This means they directly express a state or quality without needing an additional linking verb like 이다 (i-da).
This core linguistic difference simplifies sentence structure. Instead of "The sky is blue," Korean directly expresses "The sky blue-is" or 하늘이 파랗다 (ha-neul-i pa-rat-da). Understanding this principle is crucial, as it underpins how states, qualities, and characteristics are communicated in Korean.
It helps beginners avoid the common error of adding 이다 to an adjective.
For example, to state that something "is big," you use the descriptive verb 크다 (keu-da). This single word already signifies "to be big." To use it politely in a sentence, you simply conjugate 크다 to 커요 (keo-yo). This structure is consistent across all descriptive verbs, forming the foundation for expressing any quality or condition.
How This Grammar Works
형용사) are an integral part of the verb system, describing the state, quality, or condition of a subject. They share conjugation patterns with action verbs, but their semantic function differs: descriptive verbs express being, while action verbs express doing. Every descriptive verb exists in a dictionary form, which invariably ends with the infinitive marker -다 (-da), akin to "to" in English infinitives (e.g., "to be pretty").-다 to isolate the verb stem. This stem carries the core meaning and is the base to which various grammatical endings are affixed. Consider 예쁘다 (ye-ppeu-da), meaning "to be pretty"; its stem is 예쁘- (ye-ppeu-).예쁘다 describes one pretty person, ten pretty people, or a pretty flower. 예뻐요 means "she is pretty," "they are pretty," or "it is pretty." This simplifies agreement rules considerably compared to many European languages.해요체, hae-yo-che) and the formal polite style (하십시오체, ha-sip-si-o-che). 해요체 is the most common and versatile, used in daily conversations, with friends, and even with polite strangers. It is the safest choice for beginners.하십시오체 is reserved for highly formal contexts such as news broadcasts, official speeches, or showing extreme deference to elders, though initially, you will primarily encounter it for recognition rather than active production.이 꽃이 예뻐요 (i kkot-i ye-ppeo-yo) translates to "This flower is pretty." Here, 예쁘- is the stem, -어요 is the polite ending, and the entire 예뻐요 forms the predicate at the sentence's conclusion.Formation Pattern
-다) and attaching a new ending to the stem. Mastering this pattern, particularly for the informal polite 해요체 and formal polite 하십시오체 forms, is fundamental for expressing states and qualities.
-다. Remove -다 to reveal the verb stem.
좋다 | jot-da | to be good | 좋- |
크다 | keu-da | to be big | 크- |
행복하다 | haeng-bok-ha-da | to be happy | 행복하- |
해요체 (Informal Polite)
-아요 or -어요) is primarily governed by vowel harmony, referring to the last vowel in the stem.
ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o)
-아요 (-a-yo). This maintains vowel harmony, where bright vowels (ㅏ, ㅗ) attract bright vowels.
좋다 (to be good) -> 좋- + -아요 = 좋아요 (jo-a-yo) - "It's good."
작다 (to be small) -> 작- + -아요 = 작아요 (jag-a-yo) - "It's small."
ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ)
-어요 (-eo-yo). This applies to dark vowels (ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ) attracting dark vowels.
슬프다 (to be sad) -> 슬프- + -어요 = 슬퍼요 (seul-peo-yo) - "I'm sad."
예쁘다 (to be pretty) -> 예쁘- + -어요 = 예뻐요 (ye-ppeo-yo) - "It's pretty."
-하다 (-ha-da)
-하다 always transform to -해요 (-hae-yo). This is a contraction of 하- + -아요 which became lexicalized.
행복하다 (to be happy) -> 행복하- -> 행복해요 (haeng-bok-hae-yo) - "I'm happy."
피곤하다 (to be tired) -> 피곤하- -> 피곤해요 (pi-gon-hae-yo) - "I'm tired."
해요체)
ㅗ + ㅏ요 -> ㅘ요 (wa-yo): 보다 (to see - action verb, but illustrates the pattern) -> 보- + -아요 = 봐요 (bwa-yo).
ㅜ + ㅓ요 -> ㅝ요 (wo-yo): 배우다 (to learn - action verb) -> 배우- + -어요 = 배워요 (bae-wo-yo).
ㅣ + ㅓ요 -> ㅕ요 (yeo-yo): 마시다 (to drink - action verb) -> 마시- + -어요 = 마셔요 (ma-syeo-yo).
ㅡ Deletion (Weak Vowel): If a stem ends in ㅡ, this vowel often drops before an -아/어요 ending. The choice between -아 and -어 depends on the vowel preceding the ㅡ.
ㅡ is ㅏ or ㅗ: 바쁘다 (to be busy) -> 바쁘- -> 바ㅃ- + -아요 = 바빠요 (ba-ppa-yo) - "I'm busy." (The ㅏ in 바 dictates -아요).
ㅡ is anything else (or if ㅡ is the only vowel in the stem): 쓰다 (to write/use) -> 쓰- -> ㅆ- + -어요 = 써요 (sseo-yo) - "I write/use." (No preceding vowel, so default -어요).
ㅂ Irregular Conjugation (A1 Essential): Many descriptive verbs whose stems end in ㅂ are irregular. When a vowel-initial ending (like -아/어요) is attached, the ㅂ changes to ㅜ (u) or sometimes ㅗ (o). For A1, focus on the ㅜ change.
춥다 (to be cold) -> 춥- changes to 추우- + -어요 = 추워요 (chu-wo-yo) - "It's cold."
아름답다 (to be beautiful) -> 아름답- changes to 아름다우- + -어요 = 아름다워요 (a-reum-da-wo-yo) - "It's beautiful."
덥다 (to be hot) -> 덥- changes to 더우- + -어요 = 더워요 (deo-wo-yo) - "It's hot."
ㅂ-ending verbs are irregular. For example, 좁다 (to be narrow) is regular: 좁- + -아요 = 좁아요 (jo-ba-yo). These must be memorized through exposure.
하십시오체 (Formal Polite)
-습니다 (-seup-ni-da).
좋다 (to be good) -> 좋- + -습니다 = 좋습니다 (joh-seup-ni-da) - "It is good."
작다 (to be small) -> 작- + -습니다 = 작습니다 (jak-seup-ni-da) - "It is small."
-ㅂ니다 (-mni-da).
크다 (to be big) -> 크- + -ㅂ니다 = 큽니다 (keum-ni-da) - "It is big."
행복하다 (to be happy) -> 행복하- + -ㅂ니다 = 행복합니다 (haeng-bok-ham-ni-da) - "I am happy."
When To Use It
- Describing Physical Qualities of Objects and Places
이 사과가 맛있어요.(i sa-gwa-ga ma-si-sseo-yo.) - "This apple is delicious."방이 정말 넓어요.(bang-i jeong-mal neol-beo-yo.) - "The room is really spacious."물이 뜨겁습니다.(mul-i tteu-geop-seup-ni-da.) - "The water is hot (formal)."
- Describing Characteristics of People and Animals
그 아기가 아주 귀여워요.(geu a-gi-ga a-ju gwi-yeo-wo-yo.) - "That baby is very cute."제 친구는 친절해요.(je chin-gu-neun chin-jeol-hae-yo.) - "My friend is kind."선생님은 항상 바쁘십니다.(seon-saeng-nim-eun hang-sang ba-ppeu-sim-ni-da.) - "The teacher is always busy (formal and honorific)."
- Describing States of Being and Feelings
저는 요즘 피곤해요.(jeo-neun yo-jeum pi-gon-hae-yo.) - "I am tired these days."시험이 어려워요.(si-heom-i eo-ryeo-wo-yo.) - "The exam is difficult."저는 지금 배고픕니다.(jeo-neun ji-geum bae-go-peum-ni-da.) - "I am hungry right now (formal)."
- Describing Environmental Conditions
오늘 날씨가 정말 맑아요.(o-neul nal-ssi-ga jeong-mal malg-a-yo.) - "Today the weather is really clear."이 카페는 분위기가 좋아요.(i ka-pe-neun bun-wi-gi-ga joh-a-yo.) - "This café's atmosphere is good."밖이 시끄럽습니다.(bakk-i si-kkeu-reop-seup-ni-da.) - "It is noisy outside (formal)."
날씨가 좋네요 ("The weather is good, isn't it?") or 옷이 예쁘시네요 ("Your clothes are pretty!") facilitate connection and demonstrate attentiveness, making accurate use of these verbs essential for social fluency. They allow speakers to share perceptions of shared reality.Common Mistakes
- 1. Using
이다(i-da, to be) with Descriptive Verbs: This is the most prevalent error. English speakers are accustomed to pairing an adjective with a form of "to be" (e.g., "she is pretty"). However, Korean descriptive verbs intrinsically contain this "to be" meaning. You must never use이다or its conjugated forms (이에요/예요,입니다) directly after a descriptive verb. - Incorrect:
이 꽃이 예쁘다이에요.(i kkot-i ye-ppeu-da-i-e-yo.) - This is grammatically redundant, akin to "This flower to-be-pretty is." - Correct:
이 꽃이 예뻐요.(i kkot-i ye-ppeo-yo.) - "This flower is pretty."
- 2. Incorrect Vowel Harmony for
-아/어요Conjugation: Misapplying the-아요vs.-어요rule is a common slip. The rule is strict: stems with a final vowel ofㅏorㅗtake-아요; all other vowels take-어요. - Incorrect:
크어요.(keu-eo-yo.) - Incorrectly using-어요with the vowelㅡin크-(which is notㅏorㅗ). Whileㅡis notㅏorㅗ, it undergoes deletion, making the correct conjugation커요. - Correct:
커요.(keo-yo.) - The stem크-'sㅡdrops, and-어요attaches and contracts, forming커요. - Incorrect:
바쁘어요.(ba-ppeu-eo-yo.) - Misapplying-어요when the vowel precedingㅡisㅏ(바-). - Correct:
바빠요.(ba-ppa-yo.) - Theㅡin바쁘-drops, and-아요attaches because of the precedingㅏ, forming바빠요.
- 3. Forgetting the
-하다(-ha-da) to-해요(-hae-yo) Rule: Descriptive verbs ending in-하다consistently conjugate to-해요in the informal polite form. Attempting to apply the general-아/어요rule directly (e.g.,하아요) is incorrect and will sound unnatural to native speakers. - Incorrect:
피곤하아요.(pi-gon-ha-a-yo.) - Correct:
피곤해요.(pi-gon-hae-yo.) - "I am tired."
- 4. Ignoring Irregular Conjugations, Especially
ㅂIrregular: Theㅂirregular is a significant hurdle. Many descriptive verbs whose stems end inㅂ(e.g.,춥다,덥다,아름답다) change theㅂto우(u) or오(o) when followed by a vowel-initial ending like-아/어요. Failing to apply this rule results in grammatically incorrect and difficult-to-understand forms. - Incorrect:
춥아요.(chup-a-yo.) - Directly applying-아요without the requiredㅂchange. - Correct:
추워요.(chu-wo-yo.) - "It is cold." - Incorrect:
아름답어요.(a-reum-dap-eo-yo.) - Correct:
아름다워요.(a-reum-da-wo-yo.) - "It is beautiful."
- 5. Confusing Descriptive Verbs with Action Verbs in Advanced Structures: While descriptive verbs conjugate similarly to action verbs at the A1 level (e.g., in
-아/어요), they behave differently in more complex grammatical constructions (e.g., you cannot form imperative or most progressive forms with descriptive verbs). For A1, remember their core function: descriptive verbs describe states, while action verbs describe actions. You don't "do" a state. - You can say
밥을 먹어요.(bap-eul meog-eo-yo., "I eat rice.") - Action verb - You cannot say
예쁘고 있어요.(ye-ppeo-go i-sseo-yo.) - Incorrect continuous form for a descriptive verb, as "being pretty" is a state, not an ongoing action. - Instead, you simply say
예뻐요.(ye-ppeo-yo., "She is pretty.") - Descriptive verb expressing a static state.
- 6. Incorrect Sentence Finality: The conjugated descriptive verb must be the final element of the predicate, and typically the final word in a simple sentence. Placing other words or clauses after it (unless they are specific particles or post-positions modifying the entire sentence) will make your sentence sound unnatural or grammatically incorrect.
- Incorrect:
책이 좋아요 읽어요.(chaek-i joh-a-yo ilg-eo-yo.) - Attempting to add another verb after the descriptive verb that already completes the thought. - Correct:
책이 좋아요.(chaek-i joh-a-yo.) - "The book is good." - Correct:
저는 책을 읽어요.(jeo-neun chaek-eul ilg-eo-yo.) - "I read a book." (These are two separate complete sentences.)
Real Conversations
To truly grasp Korean descriptive verbs, observe how native speakers integrate them into authentic communication. These verbs are a cornerstone of daily interaction, appearing in everything from casual observations to expressions of personal feelings.
- 1. Expressing Opinions and Impressions (Casual/Social Media)
Descriptive verbs are frequently used to share immediate reactions, opinions, or emotional responses, particularly in informal settings. This is common when commenting on experiences, media, or other people's posts.
- On a friend's new profile picture:
A
와, 사진 진짜 예뻐요! (wa, sa-jin jin-jja ye-ppeo-yo!) - "Wow, the picture is really pretty!"B
고마워요! 날씨가 좋았어요. (go-ma-wo-yo! nal-ssi-ga joh-a-sseo-yo.) - "Thanks! The weather was good."- Commenting on a new restaurant dish:
A
이 음식 어때요? 맛있어요? (i eum-sik eo-ttae-yo? ma-si-sseo-yo?) - "How's this food? Is it delicious?"B
네, 진짜 맛있어요! 근데 좀 매워요. (ne, jin-jja ma-si-sseo-yo! geun-de jom mae-wo-yo.) - "Yes, it's really delicious! But it's a bit spicy."- 2. Making Observations (Everyday Life)
Koreans often use descriptive verbs to comment on their environment, the weather, or general states of affairs. This forms a significant part of small talk and demonstrating attentiveness.
- Entering a cold room:
A
방이 좀 추워요. (bang-i jom chu-wo-yo.) - "The room is a bit cold."B
네, 창문 열어서 시원해요. (ne, chang-mun yeol-eo-seo si-won-hae-yo.) - "Yes, I opened the window, so it's cool."- Discussing daily workload:
A
오늘 일이 너무 많아요. (o-neul il-i neo-mu man-a-yo.) - "Today's work is too much."B
맞아요. 저도 너무 피곤해요. (ma-ja-yo. jeo-do neo-mu pi-gon-hae-yo.) - "That's right. I'm too tired too."- 3. Expressing Personal Feelings and Conditions (Formal/Informal)
Descriptive verbs are indispensable for communicating your internal state, whether in a casual chat with friends or a more formal response in a professional setting.
- Responding to a colleague about a project (formal):
A
새 프로젝트가 중요합니다. (sae peu-ro-jek-teu-ga jung-yo-ham-ni-da.) - "The new project is important."B
네, 아주 중요합니다. (ne, a-ju jung-yo-ham-ni-da.) - "Yes, it is very important."- Talking about a minor ailment:
A
어디가 아프세요? (eo-di-ga a-peu-se-yo?) - "Where does it hurt (honorific)?"B
배가 좀 아파요. (bae-ga jom a-pa-yo.) - "My stomach hurts a bit."- 4. Conciseness in Context
Korean frequently omits subjects or objects when they are evident from the context. This is particularly common with descriptive verbs, making conversations efficient and natural. The listener infers the missing information.
- Looking at a beautiful natural scene:
와, 진짜 아름다워요! (wa, jin-jja a-reum-da-wo-yo!) - "Wow, it's really beautiful!" (The subject, e.g., "the scenery," is implied).
- After tasting a very sweet dessert:
너무 달아요! (neo-mu dal-a-yo!) - "It's too sweet!" (The subject, e.g., "this dessert," is implied).
Quick FAQ
좋다 (jot-da, to be good) become 좋아요 (jo-a-yo) and not 좋어요 (jo-eo-yo)?좋다 is 좋- (joh-). The last vowel in this stem is ㅗ (o).해요체 conjugation, stems with a last vowel of ㅏ or ㅗ combine with -아요. Thus, 좋- + -아요 correctly forms 좋아요. The consonant ㅎ (h) is silent when followed by a vowel in this conjugation, maintaining the pronunciation jo-a-yo.있다 (it-da, to exist/have) and 없다 (eop-da, to not exist/not have) considered descriptive verbs?있다 and 없다 are unique. While they don't describe a quality in the same way 예쁘다 (pretty) or 크다 (big) do, they function grammatically like descriptive verbs, particularly in their conjugation patterns. They are often categorized as "existence verbs" or quasi-adjectives.-어요 rule because their stems (있-, 없-) end in a consonant that doesn't follow the ㅏ/ㅗ rule, and they don't undergo irregular changes in the 해요체.있-+-어요=있어요(i-sseo-yo) - "There is/are," or "I have."없-+-어요=없어요(eop-sseo-yo) - "There isn't/aren't," or "I don't have."
해요체 form, forming a question is straightforward: you simply raise your intonation at the end of the sentence. No additional grammatical particles or structural changes are needed for 해요체 questions.- Statement:
날씨가 좋아요.(nal-ssi-ga joh-a-yo.) - "The weather is good." - Question:
날씨가 좋아요?(nal-ssi-ga joh-a-yo?) - "Is the weather good?"
하십시오체 form, the ending changes slightly to indicate a question:- Statement:
날씨가 좋습니다.(nal-ssi-ga joh-seup-ni-da.) - "The weather is good." - Question:
날씨가 좋습니까?(nal-ssi-ga joh-seup-ni-kka?) - "Is the weather good?"
- Seeing a delicious cake: (Implicit subject:
그 케이크- "That cake")
와, 진짜 맛있어요! (wa, jin-jja ma-si-sseo-yo!) - "Wow, it's really delicious!"- Talking about being tired after work: (Implicit subject:
저- "I")
아, 피곤해요. (a, pi-gon-hae-yo.) - "Ah, I'm tired."이에요/예요 and conjugated descriptive verbs?이에요/예요 are conjugated forms of the copula 이다 (i-da), which also means "to be." However, they are used exclusively after nouns to equate one noun with another (e.g., "This is a student"). Descriptive verbs, as discussed, already contain the "to be" meaning and are used to describe qualities.이에요/예요 after a descriptive verb.- Nouns +
이에요/예요:
이것은 책이에요. (i-geot-eun chaek-i-e-yo.) - "This is a book." (Book = noun)그것은 의자예요. (geu-geot-eun ui-ja-ye-yo.) - "That is a chair." (Chair = noun)- Descriptive Verb (conjugated):
이 책은 재미있어요. (i chaek-eun jae-mi-i-sseo-yo.) - "This book is interesting." (Interesting = quality)그 의자는 편해요. (geu ui-ja-neun pyeon-hae-yo.) - "That chair is comfortable." (Comfortable = quality)gwan-hyeong-sa-hyeong). For A1 learners, it's enough to be aware that 예뻐요 ("it is pretty") is different from 예쁜 꽃 ("a pretty flower").-은/ㄴ for adjectives) will be covered in later lessons. For now, concentrate on the fundamental predicate forms discussed here.Polite Ending Conjugation
| Dictionary | Stem | Vowel | Polite Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
크다
|
크
|
ㅡ
|
커요
|
|
작다
|
작
|
ㅏ
|
작아요
|
|
좋다
|
좋
|
ㅗ
|
좋아요
|
|
예쁘다
|
예쁘
|
ㅡ
|
예뻐요
|
|
바쁘다
|
바쁘
|
ㅏ
|
바빠요
|
|
슬프다
|
슬프
|
ㅡ
|
슬퍼요
|
Meanings
Korean adjectives (descriptive verbs) function as the predicate of a sentence, meaning they inherently contain the 'is/are' state.
State of Being
Describing a quality or state of a subject.
“날씨가 좋아요.”
“방이 커요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + 아요/어요
|
커요
|
|
Negative (Short)
|
안 + Adjective
|
안 커요
|
|
Negative (Long)
|
Stem + 지 않아요
|
크지 않아요
|
|
Question
|
Stem + 아요/어요 + ?
|
커요?
|
|
Past
|
Stem + 았/었어요
|
컸어요
|
|
Formal
|
Stem + 습니다
|
큽니다
|
Formality Spectrum
좋습니다. (General)
좋아요. (General)
좋아. (General)
좋네! (General)
Adjective Roots
Vowel ㅏ/ㅗ
- 작다 small
Vowel ㅡ
- 예쁘다 pretty
Examples by Level
사과가 맛있어요.
The apple is delicious.
날씨가 좋아요.
The weather is good.
방이 커요.
The room is big.
사람이 많아요.
There are many people.
이 영화가 안 재미있어요.
This movie is not fun.
한국어가 어렵나요?
Is Korean difficult?
오늘 너무 바빠요.
I am very busy today.
그 가방이 예뻐요.
That bag is pretty.
그분은 성격이 참 좋으시네요.
His personality is really good.
어제는 날씨가 춥지 않았어요.
Yesterday the weather was not cold.
이 식당은 음식이 짜기로 유명해요.
This restaurant is famous for being salty.
생각보다 훨씬 예쁘네요.
It is much prettier than I thought.
그의 태도는 매우 냉담했습니다.
His attitude was very cold.
그 사실을 알고 나니 마음이 편안해졌어요.
After knowing the fact, my heart became at ease.
이 문제는 해결하기가 매우 까다롭습니다.
This problem is very tricky to solve.
그녀의 목소리는 정말 아름답더군요.
Her voice was really beautiful (I recall).
그의 주장은 논리적으로 타당해 보입니다.
His argument seems logically valid.
상황이 매우 긴박하게 돌아가고 있습니다.
The situation is turning very urgent.
그의 행동은 도저히 이해하기 어렵습니다.
His behavior is impossible to understand.
그 풍경은 말로 표현할 수 없을 만큼 아름다웠습니다.
The scenery was indescribably beautiful.
그의 언사는 매우 고상하고 우아하였습니다.
His speech was very noble and elegant.
그토록 광활한 대지를 본 적이 없습니다.
I have never seen such a vast land.
그의 철학은 시대를 초월하여 여전히 유효합니다.
His philosophy transcends time and is still valid.
그의 태도에는 오만함이 깃들어 있었습니다.
His attitude was imbued with arrogance.
Easily Confused
Learners try to add '이다' to adjectives.
Learners use adjectives where adverbs are needed.
When to use '안' vs '지 않다'.
Common Mistakes
사과가 맛있어요이다
사과가 맛있어요
날씨가 좋아요다
날씨가 좋아요
방이 크요
방이 커요
안 예쁘다
안 예뻐요
재미있어요가
재미있어요
바쁘지 않아요
바쁘지 않아요 (Correct, but check context)
예쁘요
예뻐요
좋으셨어요
좋았어요
크게입니다
큽니다
맛있겠어요
맛있겠어요 (Context dependent)
아름답게입니다
아름답습니다
슬프다네요
슬프다네요 (Correct, but check nuance)
긴박해요
긴박합니다
Sentence Patterns
___이/가 ___요.
___이/가 안 ___요.
___이/가 ___나요?
___이/가 너무 ___요.
Real World Usage
오늘 너무 좋아요!
음식이 맛있어요.
성격이 밝습니다.
방이 커요?
너무 예뻐요.
어려워요.
Vowel Harmony
Don't add '이다'
Practice with '너무'
Politeness
Smart Tips
Drop the 'ㅡ' and look at the previous vowel.
Use '습니다' instead of '요'.
Use '안' for short, '지 않아요' for long.
Just use rising intonation.
Pronunciation
Vowel Harmony
The '아요/어요' choice depends on the last vowel of the stem.
Question
커요? ↑
Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the '다' as a heavy anchor you must cut off to let the adjective fly into a sentence.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant '다' falling off a word like a heavy backpack, making the word light and ready to dance.
Rhyme
Drop the 다, check the vowel, add the ending, hear the howl!
Story
A little word named 'Big' (크다) was sad because he was stuck in a dictionary. One day, he met a '다' cutter. He cut off his '다', added '어요', and became '커요', finally able to join a sentence.
Word Web
Challenge
Look at 5 objects in your room and describe them using [Object] + 이/가 + [Adjective] + 요.
Cultural Notes
Politeness levels are essential. Always use '요' with strangers.
Uses slightly different honorifics and formal endings.
Often drops particles in casual speech.
Korean adjectives are historically descriptive verbs that evolved to express state.
Conversation Starters
오늘 날씨가 어때요?
이 음식이 맛있어요?
한국어가 어렵나요?
그 영화가 재미있었어요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
날씨가 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
사과가 맛있어요이다.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
The room is big.
Answer starts with: 방이 ...
A: 이 음식이 매워요? B: ___.
Use '예쁘다' for 'The bag'.
Which takes '아요'?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises날씨가 ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
사과가 맛있어요이다.
좋아요 / 날씨가 / 오늘
The room is big.
A: 이 음식이 매워요? B: ___.
Use '예쁘다' for 'The bag'.
Which takes '아요'?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises이 옷이 너무 ___.
아름다워요 / 바다가 / 정말
This water is cold. (차갑다)
Look at the following forms and pick the wrong one:
Match the following:
To a teacher: '숙제가 어렵다.'
아기가 ___ (귀엽다).
Choose one:
Is it far? (멀다)
Identify the correct fix:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Korean adjectives already contain the 'is' meaning.
It becomes '해요'.
Yes, to describe personality or appearance.
The 'ㅡ' vowel drops and merges.
Yes, it is a descriptive verb.
Add '았/었어요'.
Yes, like those ending in 'ㅡ' or 'ㄷ'.
Yes, for simple negation.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ser/Estar + Adjetivo
Korean merges the copula and adjective.
Être + Adjectif
No copula in Korean.
Sein + Adjektiv
Korean is agglutinative.
i-adjectives
Korean has more complex vowel rules.
很 + Adjective
Korean conjugates; Chinese does not.
Nominal sentence
Korean uses specific endings.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
How to Conjugate Korean Adjectives (Descriptive Verbs) | Live Class Abridged
Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean
100 Essential Korean adjectives (noun modifier and descriptive form)
SIMPLE KOREAN
How to conjugate Korean Adjectives into Noun Modifiers (You must know!!)
Alpha Korean Class | Helena
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