A2 Verb Conjugation 9 min read Easy

The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears

When a verb stem ends in '으' and meets a vowel, drop the '으' and match the preceding vowel.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When a verb stem ends in '으', the '으' drops and the preceding vowel determines the new suffix.

  • If the vowel before '으' is '아' or '오', add '-아요' (e.g., 아프다 -> 아파요).
  • If the vowel before '으' is anything else (or there is no preceding vowel), add '-어요' (e.g., 쓰다 -> 써요).
  • The '으' is completely deleted before any suffix starting with a vowel.
Stem(으) + [Suffix] -> [Previous Vowel] + [Suffix]

Overview

The Korean '으' (eu) drop pattern is a fundamental phonological rule governing the conjugation of many verbs and adjectives. Unlike irregular conjugations that introduce new sounds or change existing ones in complex ways, the '으' drop simplifies pronunciation by consistently removing the weak vowel 으 when it encounters certain other vowels. This phenomenon is rooted in the phonotactics of Korean, which favors smoother transitions and minimizes articulatory effort.

The vowel 으 is a high, central, unrounded vowel, often described as a 'dark' or 'weak' sound, requiring more muscular tension in the tongue. When followed by a more open, stronger vowel, particularly 아 or 어, the 으 tends to assimilate or be elided entirely for ease of speech. Understanding this pattern is crucial for natural pronunciation and accurate conjugation at the A2 level and beyond.

Conjugation Table

Verb/Adjective (Stem) Romanization Meaning Pre-으 Vowel Conjugated (-아요/어요) Romanization Formal (-습니다/ㅂ니다) Romanization
:---------------------- :------------- :-------- :-------------- :--------------------------- :------------- :----------------------------- :-------------
쓰다 (쓰) _sseu-da_ To write/use/be bitter (None) 써요 _sseo-yo_ 씁니다 _sseup-ni-da_
크다 (크) _keu-da_ To be big (None) 커요 _keo-yo_ 큽니다 _keup-ni-da_
끄다 (끄) _kkeu-da_ To turn off (None) 꺼요 _kkeo-yo_ 낍니다 _kkeup-ni-da_
바쁘다 (바쁘) _ba-ppeu-da_ To be busy ㅏ (a) 바빠요 _ba-ppa-yo_ 바쁩니다 _ba-ppeup-ni-da_
배고프다 (배고프) _bae-go-peu-da_ To be hungry ㅗ (o) 배고파요 _bae-go-pa-yo_ 배고픕니다 _bae-go-peup-ni-da_
예쁘다 (예쁘) _ye-ppeu-da_ To be pretty ㅔ (e) 예뻐요 _ye-ppeo-yo_ 예쁩니다 _ye-ppeup-ni-da_
슬프다 (슬프) _seul-peu-da_ To be sad ㅡ (eu) 슬퍼요 _seul-peo-yo_ 슬픕니다 _seul-peup-ni-da_
아프다 (아프) _a-peu-da_ To be sick/hurt ㅏ (a) 아파요 _a-pa-yo_ 아픕니다 _a-peup-ni-da_
고프다 (고프) _go-peu-da_ To be hungry ㅗ (o) 고파요 _go-pa-yo_ 고픕니다 _go-peup-ni-da_
잠그다 (잠그) _jam-geu-da_ To lock ㅏ (a) 잠가요 _jam-ga-yo_ 잠급니다 _jam-geup-ni-da_

How This Grammar Works

This grammatical pattern, often labeled an 'irregular' conjugation in textbooks, is more accurately described as a phonological rule driven by Korean phonetics. The vowel 으 is inherently unstable when followed by another vowel, particularly the 아 or 어 of a vowel-initial grammatical ending. The '으' drop occurs to facilitate smoother pronunciation and adhere to Korean vowel harmony principles.
Specifically, it applies when a verb or adjective stem ending in 으 is immediately followed by a suffix that begins with a vowel. The most common instance is with the polite declarative ending -아요/어요.
When the 으 is dropped, the choice between -아 and -어 (or -았 and -었 for past tense, etc.) for the suffix is then determined by the vowel of the syllable immediately preceding the dropped 으. This maintains vowel harmony within the word. If the preceding syllable contains a bright vowel (ㅏ or ㅗ), then -아 is used.
For all other vowels (dark vowels like ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ or neutral vowels like ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅚ, ㅟ), -어 is used. In the case of a monosyllabic stem like 쓰다 (쓰-), where there is no preceding syllable, the default is to use -어.
This rule applies consistently across all verb and adjective stems ending in 으 when followed by appropriate vowel-initial endings. For example, 아프다 (_a-peu-da_, 'to be sick') becomes 아파요 (_a-pa-yo_). The 으 from 프 is dropped, and because 아 is the vowel in the preceding syllable 아-, 아 is attached.
Similarly, 예쁘다 (_ye-ppeu-da_, 'to be pretty') becomes 예뻐요 (_ye-ppeo-yo_). Here, 예- contains ㅔ, which is not ㅏ or ㅗ, so 어 is attached.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the '으' drop involves a precise, three-step algorithmic application to ensure correct conjugation. This algorithm applies to any Korean verb or adjective stem ending in 으 (-르 stems are a separate, distinct irregular conjugation).
2
Identify and Isolate the Stem: Begin by identifying the base form of the verb or adjective (ending in -다) and remove the -다 to get the stem. This is the portion of the word that will undergo conjugation.
3
Example: 바쁘다 (_ba-ppeu-da_, 'to be busy') → Stem: 바쁘 (_ba-ppeu_)
4
Example: 슬프다 (_seul-peu-da_, 'to be sad') → Stem: 슬프 (_seul-peu_)
5
Example: 쓰다 (_sseu-da_, 'to write/use') → Stem: 쓰 (_sseu_)
6
Drop the Final 으: If the stem ends with the vowel 으, this 으 is unconditionally dropped. This step is the core of the '으' drop pattern.
7
Example: 바쁘 (_ba-ppeu_) → 바ㅃ (_ba-pp_)
8
Example: 슬프 (_seul-peu_) → 슬ㅍ (_seul-p_)
9
Example: 쓰 (_sseu_) → ㅆ (_ss_)
10
Attach the Appropriate Vowel-Initial Ending: Now, you must choose between attaching an ending starting with 아 or one starting with 어 (e.g., -아요/-어요, -았어요/-었어요, -아서/-어서). This choice is governed by vowel harmony, specifically by the vowel found in the syllable immediately preceding the now-dropped 으.
11
Rule A: If the preceding vowel is ㅏ (a) or ㅗ (o), attach the 아-variant of the ending.
12
Example: 바ㅃ (_ba-pp_). The vowel in the preceding syllable (바) is ㅏ. Therefore, attach -아요: 바빠요 (_ba-ppa-yo_, 'is busy').
13
Example: 배고프다 (_bae-go-peu-da_, 'to be hungry') → 배고프 → 배고ㅍ. The vowel in 고 is ㅗ. Attach -아요: 배고파요 (_bae-go-pa-yo_, 'is hungry').
14
Rule B: If the preceding vowel is anything else (e.g., ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ, ㅔ, ㅐ, ㅚ, ㅟ), or if there is no preceding syllable (i.e., a monosyllabic stem), attach the 어-variant of the ending.
15
Example: 슬ㅍ (_seul-p_). The vowel in the preceding syllable (슬) is ㅡ. Therefore, attach -어요: 슬퍼요 (_seul-peo-yo_, 'is sad').
16
Example: 예쁘다 (_ye-ppeu-da_, 'to be pretty') → 예쁘 → 예ㅃ. The vowel in 예 is ㅔ. Attach -어요: 예뻐요 (_ye-ppeo-yo_, 'is pretty').
17
Example: ㅆ (_ss_). This is a monosyllabic stem (쓰-), so there is no preceding vowel. Therefore, default to attaching -어요: 써요 (_sseo-yo_, 'writes/uses/is bitter').

When To Use It

The '으' drop pattern is essential for conjugating a significant number of common and high-frequency Korean verbs and adjectives. You will encounter and need to apply this rule daily to express basic states, emotions, and actions. It primarily activates when you attach any grammatical ending that begins with a vowel.
Key contexts include:
  • Polite Declarative -아요/어요: This is the most frequent application for forming polite present tense sentences. For example, 나는 바빠요 (_na-neun ba-ppa-yo_, 'I am busy') or 음악을 꺼요 (_eum-a-geul kkeo-yo_, 'I turn off the music').
  • Past Tense Declarative -았어요/었어요: The 으 drop similarly applies before past tense suffixes. For instance, 저는 어제 아팠어요 (_jeo-neun eo-je a-pas-sseo-yo_, 'I was sick yesterday') or 숙제를 다 썼어요 (_suk-je-reul da sseos-sseo-yo_, 'I finished writing my homework').
  • Conjunctive Endings (-아서/어서 for reason/sequence): When linking clauses to express cause or sequential actions, the 으 drop occurs. 배고파서 밥을 먹었어요 (_bae-go-pa-seo bab-eul meo-geo-sseo-yo_, 'Because I was hungry, I ate rice'). 예뻐서 좋아요 (_ye-ppeo-seo jo-a-yo_, 'It's good because it's pretty').
  • Imperative and Propositive Endings (-(으)세요, -(으)ㅂ시다): While the bare -(으)세요 (please do) and -(으)ㅂ시다 (let's do) forms typically attach directly after removing 다, other forms that are vowel-initial will trigger the drop. For example, 바쁘게 지내세요 (_ba-ppeu-ge ji-nae-se-yo_, 'Please spend your time busily').
This pattern covers verbs and adjectives describing:
  • Physical States: 아프다 (_a-peu-da_, 'to be sick/hurt'), 고프다 (_go-peu-da_, 'to be hungry').
  • Emotions and Dispositions: 기쁘다 (_gi-ppeu-da_, 'to be glad'), 슬프다 (_seul-peu-da_, 'to be sad').
  • Qualities and Characteristics: 예쁘다 (_ye-ppeu-da_, 'to be pretty'), 나쁘다 (_na-ppeu-da_, 'to be bad'), 크다 (_keu-da_, 'to be big').
  • Common Actions: 쓰다 (_sseu-da_, 'to write/use'), 끄다 (_kkeu-da_, 'to turn off'), 잠그다 (_jam-geu-da_, 'to lock').

When Not To Use It

The '으' drop rule is highly consistent but also specific in its application. It is crucial to understand when this phonological change does not occur to avoid common conjugation errors. The primary condition for the '으' drop is that the following grammatical ending must begin with a vowel.
Therefore, the rule does not apply when the verb or adjective stem ending in 으 is followed by an ending that begins with a consonant.
  • Consonant-Initial Endings: When you attach suffixes like the formal declarative -ㅂ니다/습니다, the conjunctive -고 ('and', 'then'), the adnominal -는 ('present participle'), the suppositive -겠어요, or the indicative -지만 ('but'), the 으 vowel remains intact. The suffix will usually attach directly to the stem, sometimes requiring an -(으)ㄹ or -(으)시 insert for euphony or politeness, but the 으 of the stem itself does not drop.
  • Example: 바쁘다 (_ba-ppeu-da_, 'to be busy')
  • Correct: 바쁩니다 (_ba-ppeum-ni-da_, 'I am busy [formal]') – The 으 is retained before -ㅂ니다.
  • Incorrect: 바쁩니다
  • Correct: 바쁘고 (_ba-ppeu-go_, 'is busy and...') – The 으 is retained before -고.
  • Incorrect: 바빠고
  • Example: 쓰다 (_sseu-da_, 'to write/use')
  • Correct: 씁니다 (_sseum-ni-da_, 'writes/uses [formal]') – The 으 is retained before -ㅂ니다.
  • Incorrect: 썹니다
  • Correct: 쓸 테니까 (_sseul te-ni-kka_, 'because I will use/write...') – The 으 is retained before -(으)ㄹ.
  • Incorrect: 썰 테니까
  • When 으 is Not the Final Vowel of the Stem: This rule specifically concerns the final 으 of the verb/adjective stem. If a verb or adjective contains 으 elsewhere in its stem but does not end with 으, this rule does not apply. For example, 들다 (_deul-da_, 'to carry/hold') has ㅡ but does not end with it, so it conjugates regularly as 들어요 (_deul-eo-yo_). Another example is 믿다 (_mit-da_, 'to believe'), which has ㅡ but conjugates as 믿어요 (_mi-deo-yo_).
  • 르 Irregular Verbs/Adjectives: Do not confuse the '으' drop with the 르 irregular conjugation (e.g., 모르다 (_mo-reu-da_, 'to not know')). While 르 contains 으, its conjugation pattern is distinct: the 르 changes to ㄹ라 or ㄹ러, and an additional ㄹ is inserted. For example, 모르다 becomes 몰라요 (_mol-la-yo_), not 모라요. The 으 drop pattern only applies to stems that end purely in 으, not 르.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific points of confusion with the '으' drop pattern. Recognizing these common errors is the first step toward correcting them and solidifying your understanding.
Incorrect
✗Confusing with 르 Irregular Verbs: This is perhaps the most pervasive error. The 르 irregular rule (e.g., 모르다
✓몰라요, 부르다 → 불러요) involves doubling the ㄹ and replacing 르 entirely. The '으' drop, however, only drops the 으 and then applies vowel harmony based on the preceding syllable. Remember: 바쁘다 (_ba-ppeu-da_) is 바빠요 (_ba-ppa-yo_), not 바빨라요. If the stem ends in 르, it's 르 irregular. If it ends in 으 (and not 르), it's the 으 drop.
  • Incorrect Vowel Harmony Application for Monosyllabic Stems: For stems like 쓰다 (쓰-), 크다 (크-), or 끄다 (끄-), there is no preceding syllable to dictate vowel harmony. A common mistake is to either apply 아 by default or to assume the original 으 dictates 어. The rule is clear: if there is no preceding vowel, default to -어. Thus, 쓰다 becomes 써요 (_sseo-yo_), not 싸요 (_ssa-yo_). 크다 becomes 커요 (_keo-yo_), not 카요 (_ka-yo_). This error stems from an incomplete understanding of the vowel harmony rule's fallback condition.
  • Applying the Drop with Consonant-Initial Endings: As detailed in

Conjugation of 으-Irregular Verbs

Verb Stem Preceding Vowel Conjugated Form
쓰다
쓰
None
써요
아프다
아프
아
아파요
예쁘다
예쁘
예
예뻐요
고프다
고프
고
고파요
잠그다
잠그
잠
잠가요
슬프다
슬프
슬
슬퍼요
바쁘다
바쁘
바
바빠요
크다
크
None
커요

Meanings

A phonological rule where the vowel '으' is deleted when followed by a suffix starting with a vowel, requiring a check of the preceding syllable.

1

Vowel Deletion

The standard irregular conjugation for stems ending in 으.

“배가 고파요.”

“예뻐요.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem - 으 + 아/어요
써요
Negative
Stem - 으 + 지 않아요
쓰지 않아요
Past
Stem - 으 + 었어요
썼어요
Question
Stem - 으 + 아/어요?
써요?
Adjective
Stem - 으 + (으)ㄴ
예쁜
Cause
Stem - 으 + 아/어서
아파서

Formality Spectrum

Formal
바쁩니다.

바쁩니다. (Daily life)

Neutral
바빠요.

바빠요. (Daily life)

Informal
바빠.

바빠. (Daily life)

Slang
바빠 죽겠어.

바빠 죽겠어. (Daily life)

The 으-Drop Decision Tree

Stem ends in 으

Check Previous Vowel

  • 아/오 Add -아요
  • Other Add -어요
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Examples by Level

1

배가 고파요.

I am hungry.

2

편지를 써요.

I am writing a letter.

3

예뻐요.

It is pretty.

4

바빠요.

I am busy.

1

문을 잠가요.

I am locking the door.

2

아파요.

I am sick.

3

나빠요.

It is bad.

4

슬퍼요.

I am sad.

1

그 영화는 정말 슬펐어요.

That movie was really sad.

2

이름을 적으세요.

Please write your name.

3

머리가 아팠어요.

My head hurt.

4

그녀는 정말 예뻤어요.

She was really pretty.

1

그는 문을 잠그지 않았어요.

He did not lock the door.

2

바쁜 일이 있어서 못 가요.

I have busy work, so I cannot go.

3

그는 글을 쓰려고 해요.

He intends to write.

4

배가 고파서 밥을 먹어요.

I am hungry, so I am eating.

1

그는 아픈 몸을 이끌고 출근했어요.

He went to work despite being sick.

2

예쁜 꽃이 피었어요.

A pretty flower bloomed.

3

그는 편지를 써서 보냈어요.

He wrote and sent the letter.

4

바쁜 와중에 연락했어요.

I contacted you while busy.

1

그녀의 슬픈 눈빛이 잊히지 않아요.

Her sad gaze is unforgettable.

2

글을 쓰는 것은 어렵지만 즐거워요.

Writing is difficult but enjoyable.

3

잠그지 않은 문이 열려 있었어요.

The unlocked door was open.

4

그는 아픈 기색이 전혀 없었어요.

He showed no signs of being sick.

Easily Confused

The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears vs 르 Irregular

Both involve changes to the stem, but 르 adds a ㄹ.

The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears vs Regular Verbs

Learners try to drop the 으 in all verbs.

The 'Eu' Drop Pattern: Why 으 Disappears vs ㄷ Irregular

Both involve stem changes.

Common Mistakes

✗

쓰어요

✓

써요

Failed to drop the 으.
✗

크아요

✓

커요

Chose the wrong suffix.
✗

아프아요

✓

아파요

Did not drop the 으.
✗

예쁘어요

✓

예뻐요

Incorrect suffix choice.
✗

잠그어요

✓

잠가요

Incorrect suffix.
✗

슬프아요

✓

슬퍼요

Incorrect suffix.
✗

바쁘어요

✓

바빠요

Incorrect suffix.
✗

쓰지 않아요 -> 쓰지 않아요 (Wait, this is correct, but learners often write '써지 않아요')

✓

쓰지 않아요

Over-applying the rule to negative forms.
✗

아프고 -> 아프고 (Correct)

✓

아프고

Applying the rule where it doesn't belong (only before vowel suffixes).
✗

예쁘다 -> 예뻐요 (Correct)

✓

예뻐요

Confusion with past tense.
✗

잠그는 -> 잠그는 (Correct)

✓

잠그는

Confusion with noun modifiers.
✗

쓰는 -> 쓰는 (Correct)

✓

쓰는

Confusion with noun modifiers.
✗

아픈 -> 아픈 (Correct)

✓

아픈

Confusion with noun modifiers.

Sentence Patterns

저는 오늘 ___.

이것은 정말 ___.

편지를 ___.

배가 ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

나 지금 너무 바빠.

Social Media very common

오늘 날씨 예뻐요!

Job Interview common

바쁜 업무도 잘 처리합니다.

Travel common

머리가 아파요.

Food Delivery App common

배가 고파서 주문해요.

Writing Report common

보고서를 써요.

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💡

Check the previous syllable

Always look at the syllable before '으' to decide the suffix.
⚠️

Don't keep the 으

The most common mistake is keeping the 으. Delete it!
🎯

Practice with common verbs

Focus on '쓰다', '크다', '아프다' first.
💬

Polite speech

Using the correct form shows you are a polite learner.

Smart Tips

Immediately drop the 으 and look at the previous syllable.

쓰다 -> 쓰어요 → 쓰다 -> 써요

Check for 아 or 오 in the previous syllable.

아프다 -> 아프어요 → 아프다 -> 아파요

The rule still applies: drop 으 and add 었어요.

아프다 -> 아프었어요 → 아프다 -> 아팠어요

Adjectives follow the same rule as verbs.

예쁘다 -> 예쁘어요 → 예쁘다 -> 예뻐요

Pronunciation

써요 [써요]

Vowel Elision

The '으' is completely silent, and the preceding vowel merges with the suffix.

Statement

바빠요 ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

으 is a ghost; it vanishes, and the previous vowel decides the suffix.

Visual Association

Imagine a letter '으' standing on a stage. When the suffix '-아요' or '-어요' walks on stage, the '으' gets scared and jumps off, leaving the previous vowel to shake hands with the new suffix.

Rhyme

If the stem ends in 으, let it go, check the vowel before, then you'll know.

Story

A man named 'Eu' was very shy. Whenever a new friend (a vowel suffix) arrived, he would hide behind the previous syllable. If the previous syllable was 'A' or 'O', he would send them to 'Ay-o'. Otherwise, he sent them to 'Eo-yo'.

Word Web

쓰다아프다예쁘다바쁘다잠그다슬프다크다고프다

Challenge

Write 5 sentences using 5 different 으-irregular verbs in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Using the correct conjugation is a sign of respect and education.

The '으' drop is standard in the Seoul dialect.

Sometimes the vowel choice varies slightly, but the '으' drop remains.

The '으' drop is a historical phonological simplification in Middle Korean.

Conversation Starters

“

오늘 바빠요?

“

이 글씨를 써요?

“

어디가 아파요?

“

그 영화가 슬퍼요?

Journal Prompts

오늘 하루가 어땠어요? 바쁜 일이 있었나요?
가장 좋아하는 책이나 글에 대해 써보세요.
최근에 아팠던 경험이 있나요?
예쁜 장소에 가본 적이 있나요?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate '쓰다' in polite form.

저는 편지를 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 써요
으 drops, no preceding vowel, so add 어요.
Choose the correct conjugation for '아프다'. Multiple Choice

머리가 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 아파요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 아, so add 아요.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

그녀는 예쁘어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 예뻐요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 예, so add 어요.
Change to past tense. Sentence Transformation

바빠요 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 바빴어요
으 drops, add 었어요.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

으-irregular verbs always add -아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It depends on the preceding vowel.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 배가 고파요? B: 네, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 고파요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 고, so add 아요.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

문을 / 잠가요 / 저는

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 저는 문을 잠가요
Standard SOV order.
Sort by suffix. Grammar Sorting

Which adds -아요?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 아프다
아프다 has '아' before '으'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate '쓰다' in polite form.

저는 편지를 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 써요
으 drops, no preceding vowel, so add 어요.
Choose the correct conjugation for '아프다'. Multiple Choice

머리가 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 아파요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 아, so add 아요.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

그녀는 예쁘어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 예뻐요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 예, so add 어요.
Change to past tense. Sentence Transformation

바빠요 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 바빴어요
으 drops, add 었어요.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

으-irregular verbs always add -아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It depends on the preceding vowel.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 배가 고파요? B: 네, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 고파요
으 drops, preceding vowel is 고, so add 아요.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

문을 / 잠가요 / 저는

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 저는 문을 잠가요
Standard SOV order.
Sort by suffix. Grammar Sorting

Which adds -아요?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 아프다
아프다 has '아' before '으'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Conjugate '예쁘다' (pretty) to describe the flowers. Fill in the Blank

꽃이 참 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 예뻐요
Conjugate '쓰다' (to use) in past tense. Fill in the Blank

돈을 다 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 썼어요
Identify the incorrect conjugation. Error Correction

Which sentence is WRONG?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 슬파요.
Arrange to say: 'I wrote a letter to a friend.' Sentence Reorder

친구에게 / 썼어요 / 편지를

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 친구에게 편지를 썼어요
Which verb fits the context? 'My stomach is ___.' Multiple Choice

배가 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 고파요
Match the verb stem to its conjugated form. Match Pairs

Match stem to form

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 크다 : 커요
Complete with 'bad' (나쁘다). Fill in the Blank

기분이 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 나빠요
Translate: 'The room is big.' Translation

The room is big.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 방이 커요.
Fix: 'I am busy tomorrow.' Error Correction

내일 바뻐요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내일 바빠요.
Select the correct past tense for 'lock' (잠그다). Multiple Choice

문을 ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 잠갔어요

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It is a phonological rule to make speech easier.

No, only to verbs ending in 으.

Default to -어요.

Yes, it is used in all speech levels.

If it ends in 으, it is likely irregular.

Yes, it is standard in writing.

It takes practice, but it is very consistent.

Very few, most follow this rule.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Stem-changing verbs

Korean is purely phonological deletion.

French partial

Elision

French elision is for articles, Korean is for verb stems.

German low

None

German maintains stem integrity more strictly.

Japanese low

None

Japanese conjugation is based on verb groups.

Arabic low

None

Arabic is root-based.

Chinese none

None

Chinese has no conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Korean Irregular ㅂ Verbs: Hot, Cold, and Spicy (ㅂ 불규칙)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

Identifying the Verb Stem (어간)

Overview In Korean, verbs (`동사`, *dongsa*) and adjectives (`형용사`, *hyeong-yongsa*), often collectively referred to...

Related Grammar Rules

A2

Irregular ㅎ Verbs: Colors & 'Like that' (파랗다, 그렇다)

Overview The `ㅎ` irregular (히읗 불규칙 동사) rule governs a specific set of Korean descriptive verbs, primarily those...
A2

The ㅂ Melting Rule: Hot & Cold Verbs (chupda/chuwoyo)

Overview The Korean `ㅂ` irregular rule, often dubbed the "Hot & Cold Verbs," is a crucial phonological phenomenon that...
A2

Irregular Verbs (ㄷ → ㄹ): Walking, Hearing, Asking

Overview In Korean, verb conjugation often follows predictable patterns. However, certain verbs undergo systematic chang...
A2

Korean Honorific Infix: Respecting the Subject (-(으)시)

Overview The Korean honorific infix `-(으)시` (\[-(eu)si]) serves a fundamental role in expressing **subject honorificat...
A2

Future Intent & Guessing (겠)

Overview Korean grammar employs the suffix `겠` (ges) to convey nuanced future-oriented meanings that extend beyond a si...
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