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Basic Korean Learning Guide: How to Use 아/어요 in Present Tense]

Are you new to learning Korean and want to speak naturally like a native? In this article, we will guide you through using the present tense with the polite ending 아/어요 – one of the most essential grammar points for beginners.

1. Why Should You Learn to Use 아/어요?

In Korean, the polite ending 아/어요 is used in most daily conversations. This standard polite form helps you speak in a friendly yet respectful manner. Learning how to use it correctly will boost your confidence when communicating with Korean speakers.

2. How to Conjugate Verbs with 아/어요

Korean verb conjugation depends on the vowel and the presence of a final consonant (patchim) in the verb stem. Here are the basic rules:

🔹 Rule 1: Add 어요 if the verb stem ends with a consonant (patchim)

  • 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어요
  • 읽다 (to read) → 읽어요

🔹 Rule 2: Add 아요 if there is no patchim and the final vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ

  • 가다 (to go) → 가요
  • 보다 (to see) → 봐요

🔹 Rule 3: Add 어요 if there is no patchim and the vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ

  • 배우다 (to learn) → 배워요

💡 Tip: If the verb stem ends with the vowel ㅡ, check the vowel before it to decide whether to add 아요 or 어요.

3. Using Nouns with 이에요/예요

When talking about things or people, you need to end the sentence politely with 이에요/예요:

  • 이에요: Used when the noun ends with a consonant
    • 학생 (student) → 학생이에요 (I am a student)
  • 예요: Used when the noun ends with a vowel
    • 의자 (chair) → 의자예요 (This is a chair)

4. Practice Conversations: Everyday Situations

To memorize better, try practicing in real-life scenarios:

👋 Greeting a friend:

  • “안녕하세요. 오늘 뭐 해요?” (Hello. What are you doing today?)
  • “공부해요.” (I am studying.)

🍽 Ordering food at a restaurant:

  • “김밥 주세요.” (Please give me a kimbap.)
  • “감사합니다.” (Thank you.)

🙋 Introducing yourself:

  • “저는 민수예요. 베트남에서 왔어요.” (I am Min-su. I come from Vietnam.)

5. Mini Exercise: Test Your Skills!

Try conjugating these verbs and form sentences:

  1. 사다 (to buy) → ?
  2. 마시다 (to drink) → ?
  3. 읽다 (to read) → ?

💡 Hint: Apply the rules from section 2!

6. Conclusion: Master Korean from the Basics

Mastering how to use 아/어요 and 이에요/예요 is an essential step in speaking Korean naturally. Practice daily to become comfortable using these sentence patterns. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more effective Korean learning tips!

Ready to test yourself? Share your answers in the comments! 🚀