Learn Korean Ep. 70: Adjectives

Summary

This lesson explains how adjectives in Korean are derived from verbs, a unique feature of the language. Descriptive verbs, like ‘big’ (크다) or ‘small’ (작다), can be transformed into adjectives by removing the verb endings and adding specific suffixes depending on the verb stem. The video covers various conjugation rules for different verb types, including those ending in vowels, consonants, or unique syllables like ‘ㅍ’. By learning these conjugation patterns, learners can expand their vocabulary without memorizing countless adjective-noun combinations. Understanding these rules helps build a stronger foundation in Korean grammar.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adjectives in Korean come before the noun, similar to English, and are used to describe a noun (e.g., big house).
• 😀 Korean adjectives are derived from verbs known as 'descriptive verbs' and are not just standalone adjectives like in English.
• 😀 To convert descriptive verbs into adjectives, remove the 'da' ending and adjust the stem based on whether it ends in a vowel or consonant.
• 😀 When the verb stem ends in a vowel, add 'n' to form the adjective (e.g., 'kun' for 'big').
• 😀 When the verb stem ends in a consonant, add 'un' to form the adjective (e.g., 'hagen' for 'small').
• 😀 It’s crucial to understand verb conjugation for building a larger vocabulary in Korean, rather than memorizing individual adjectives.
• 😀 Knowing how to conjugate verbs into adjectives makes learning more efficient and helps avoid memorizing thousands of combinations.
• 😀 Descriptive verbs may conjugate differently if they end in specific consonants or letters (e.g., 'pp' or 'l').
• 😀 Verbs ending in 'pp' (e.g., 'otda' for 'difficult') conjugate by removing the 'pp' and adding 'hoon' before adding 'n'.
• 😀 Verbs ending in 'l' (e.g., 'meoreuda' for 'far') conjugate by removing 'l' and adding 'n' to the end.
• 😀 Descriptive verbs with 'eu' (e.g., 'meosida' for 'delicious') change to 'in' in their adjective form (e.g., 'meosin' for 'delicious').

Q & A

What is the role of adjectives in Korean?

In Korean, adjectives describe nouns, much like in English. However, adjectives in Korean originate from descriptive verbs, which are conjugated to modify a noun.

How do adjectives in Korean relate to verbs?

Korean adjectives are derived from descriptive verbs. For instance, the verb 'to be big' (크다, *keuda*) becomes an adjective by removing the verb ending and adding a suffix.

Can you give an example of an adjective formed from a verb in Korean?

Yes, for the verb 'to be big' (크다), by removing the verb ending '다' and adding 'ㄴ' (since it ends in a vowel), we get '큰' (big).

What is the conjugation rule for verbs ending in a consonant?

If a verb stem ends in a consonant, the suffix '-은' is added to form the adjective. For example, the verb 'to be small' (작다, *jakda*) becomes '작은' (small).

How do you conjugate verbs with a stem ending in a *ㅍ* sound?

For verbs with a stem ending in a single *ㅍ* (like *어렵다* meaning 'to be difficult'), remove the *ㅍ* and add '-운' to form the adjective (어려운, *eoryeoun*).

What happens to verbs ending in *ㄹ* when conjugated into adjectives?

For verbs ending in *ㄹ*, simply remove the *ㄹ* and add 'ㄴ' to the stem to form the adjective. For example, '멀다' (to be far) becomes '먼' (far).

What is the conjugation rule for verbs that end with *ㅅ*?

For verbs ending in *ㅅ*, such as '맛있다' (to be delicious), remove the *ㅅ* and add '는' to form the adjective. So, '맛있다' becomes '맛있는' (delicious).

Are there any common mistakes learners make when conjugating adjectives?

Yes, common mistakes include forgetting irregular conjugations, such as for verbs ending in *ㅍ* or *ㄹ*, and confusing descriptive verbs with action verbs.

Why is it important to learn how to conjugate verbs into adjectives?

Learning how to conjugate verbs into adjectives expands your vocabulary without the need to memorize many separate adjectives. It helps you use verbs in a more flexible way.

What is a key takeaway from this lesson about adjectives in Korean?

The key takeaway is that adjectives in Korean often come from verbs and are formed through conjugation. Understanding this process allows learners to expand their vocabulary and make sentences more naturally.