Korean Help

Basic Tenses

Present Tense

Standard form: Verb stem + 아/어요

  • If the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아요

  • Otherwise, add 어요

Examples:

  • 가다 (to go) → 가 + 아요 → 가요

  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 어요 → 먹어요

Past Tense

Standard form: Verb stem + 았/었어요

  • If the last vowel in the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 았어요

  • Otherwise, add 었어요

Examples:

  • 가다 (to go) → 가 + 았어요 → 갔어요

  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 었어요 → 먹었어요

Future Tense

Standard form: Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 거예요

  • If the stem ends in a consonant, add 을 거예요

  • If the stem ends in a vowel, add ㄹ 거예요

Examples:

  • 가다 (to go) → 가 + ㄹ 거예요 → 갈 거예요

  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 을 거예요 → 먹을 거예요

Last modified: 02 March 2025