How to make Korean sentences in the present tense (for beginners)

Summary

In this video, Donna from Talk to Me in Korean explains how to form present tense sentences in Korean for absolute beginners. She breaks down the basic rules for conjugating verbs into the present tense, focusing on the most common endings such as 'io' and 'yo'. Donna provides examples using various verbs, demonstrating the process of changing verbs based on the last vowel of their stems. She also introduces the unique 'hada' verbs and their exception. The video serves as an accessible introduction to Korean sentence structure, ideal for those new to the language.

Takeaways

• 😀 The present tense in Korean describes actions happening now or generally, like 'I eat'.
• 😀 The most common present tense ending in Korean is '아요' (Ayo) or '어요' (Eo).
• 😀 When forming the present tense, the verb stem is modified based on the vowel of the last syllable.
• 😀 If the vowel in the verb stem is 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', the ending '아요' is added (e.g., '가다' becomes '가요').
• 😀 If the vowel in the verb stem is not 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', the ending '어요' is added (e.g., '먹다' becomes '먹어요').
• 😀 Verbs ending in '하다' (hada) have an exception in the present tense, where they change to '해요' (haeyo).
• 😀 Learning Hangul (the Korean writing system) is essential for understanding Korean verbs, but focusing on pronunciation first can be helpful.
• 😀 The script provides examples with different verbs such as '가다' (to go), '먹다' (to eat), and '보다' (to see) to demonstrate the rules of present tense conjugation.
• 😀 It's important to learn how to conjugate verbs into the present tense before forming full sentences, which can include subjects, objects, and additional adjectives.
• 😀 For a more in-depth study of the present tense and irregular patterns, learners can visit the website 'Talk To Me In Korean' for free essential courses.

Q & A

What is the present tense in Korean?

The present tense in Korean is used to describe actions that are happening now, or actions that are habitual or general. For example, 'I eat' refers to something happening in the present, 'I ate' refers to the past, and 'I will eat' refers to the future.

What is the most common ending for the present tense in Korean?

The most common ending for the present tense in Korean is 'IO' or 'Hayo'.

What is the first rule for forming the present tense in Korean?

The first rule is to take the verb in its dictionary form, remove the final syllable 'da', and if the vowel before 'da' is 'o' or 'a', you add 'io' to the verb.

Can you give an example of the first rule for forming the present tense?

For the verb 'to go' (gada), the vowel before 'da' is 'a', so it becomes 'ga' + 'io' = 'ga-yo', meaning 'I go' or 'You go'.

What happens when the vowel before 'da' is not 'a' or 'o'?

If the vowel before 'da' is not 'a' or 'o', you add 'yo' instead of 'io' for easier pronunciation. For example, 'mokda' (to eat) becomes 'mago' (I eat).

What are 'hada' verbs and how do they conjugate in the present tense?

'Hada' verbs are verbs formed by adding 'hada' to a noun. In the present tense, 'hada' changes to 'haeyo'. For example, 'gongbu hada' (to study) becomes 'gongbu haeyo' (I study).

What is the exception when conjugating 'hada' verbs in the present tense?

The exception with 'hada' verbs is that instead of following the regular pattern, 'hada' changes to 'haeyo' in the present tense.

How do you structure a basic sentence in Korean after conjugating the verb in the present tense?

Once the verb is conjugated in the present tense, you can add a subject to indicate who is doing the action, or an object to specify what the action is being done to. You can also add adjectives like 'now' or 'quickly' to make the sentence more specific.

What should a learner do if they want to study the present tense in more detail?

To study the present tense in more detail, learners can visit the website 'Talk to Me in Korean' and take Level 1, Lesson 16, which goes into more depth and includes irregular patterns.

What is the importance of understanding the present tense in Korean?

Understanding the present tense in Korean is crucial because it is the foundation for forming sentences in everyday conversation, allowing you to talk about current actions, habitual actions, or general truths.