This is Tim from KC101.com.
Throughout this post, I'd like to give you profound insight into "Informal Sentence Endings" - 자 & 요.
Remember this - these "Informal Sentence Endings - 자 & 요" are very commonly used in daily conversation.
Note: distinguish "Informal Sentence Endings - 자 & 요" from "Formal Sentence Endings - ㅂ/습니다 & ㅂ/읍시다"
Please keep in mind the followings!!!
1. You must learn about 동사 어간 "verb stem" FIRST before studying "any Sentence Endings"
(for more information about 동사 어간, please take a look at the post of "About 일반동사 (동작동사) "Action verbs"".
2. You must be familiar with these rules...
a. 동사 어간 "verb stem" + 자
b-1. 동사 어간 "verb stem" + 아요
b-2. 동사 어간 "verb stem" + 어요
b-3. 동사 어간 "verb stem" + 여요
★ Here are lists of some of basic "informal sentence endings" in Korean
a. 비격식 청유문 "Informal Proposal Sentence Ending". Formation: Verb Stem + 자
b. 비격식체 (비격식 서술문) "Informal Sentence Ending". Formation: Verb Stem + 아요 / 어요 / 여요
★ Here are rules -
A. 비격식 청유문: Verb Stem + 자
B. 비격식체 (비격식 서술문) note - It's very difficult to remember! My best recommendation is to say and practice them as much as you can!
b-1. If the LAST VOWEL of Verb Stem are "ㅏ" or "ㅗ" => Verb Stem + 아요 (가요, 와요, 맡아요, 앉아요, 만나요, 놀아요, 타요, and so on)
b-2. If the LAST VOWEL of Verb Stem are "ㅓ", "ㅜ", "ㅡ" or "ㅣ" => Verb Stem + 어요 (먹어요, 보아요, 듣어요, 읽어요, 서요, 입어요, 벗어요, 헤어져요, 기다려요, and so on)
b-3. If the Verb Stem is 하 => Verb Stem + 여요 (하여요 = 해요, 말하여요 = 말해요, 공부하여요 = 공부해요, and so on)
Now, let's simply practice some... (are you ready?)
Example #1) 가자 "to go". 가 [ㄱ + ㅏ] is the Verb Stem, and then...
=> a. (비격식 청유문 "Informal Proposal Sentence Ending") 가 "verb stem" + 자 => 가자 "let's go"
=> b-1. (비격식체 (비격식 서술문) "Informal Sentence Ending") 가 [ㄱ + ㅏ] "verb stem" + 아요 => 가아요 => 가요
Example #2) 먹어요 "to eat". 먹 [ㅁ + ㅓ + ㄱ] is the Verb Stem, and then...
=> a. (비격식 청유문 "Informal Proposal Sentence Ending") 먹 "verb stem" + 자 => 먹자 "let's eat"
=> b-2. (비격식체 (비격식 서술문) "Informal Sentence Ending") 먹 [ㅁ + ㅓ + ㄱ] "verb stem" + 어요 => 먹+어요 => 먹어요
Example #3) 하다 "to do". 하 [ㅎ + ㅏ] is the Verb Stem, and then...
=> a. (비격식 청유문 "Informal Proposal Sentence Ending") 하 "verb stem" + 자 => 하자 "let's do"
=> b-3. (비격식체 (비격식 서술문) "Informal Sentence Ending") 하 [ㅎ + ㅏ] "verb stem" + 여요 => 하여요 => 해요
Now it's your turn,
#3. 보다 "to see". 보 [ㅂ + ㅗ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _______ b. ________
#4. 오다 "to come". 오 [ㅇ + ㅗ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _______ b. ________
#5. 읽다 "to read". 읽 [ㅇ + ㅣ + ㄹㄱ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _______ b. ________
#6. 말하다 "to speak". 말하 [말 + 하] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _______ b. ________
#7. 쓰다 "to write". 쓰 [ㅆ + ㅡ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. __________ b. ___________
#8. 앉다 "to sit". 앉 [ㅇ + ㅏ + ㄴㅈ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _________ b. __________
#9. 기다리다 "to wait". 기다리 [기 + 다 + ㄹ + ㅣ] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a.__________ b. ____________
#10. 공부하다 "to study". 공부하 [공 + 부 + 하] is the Verb Stem, and it becomes... a. _________ b. _____________
Now, you know about "자" & "요" "Informal Sentence Endings"
If you remember these rules, you wouldn't have much difficulties to communicate with Korean.
Thanks for your time and study.
Please feel free to give me any advice and comment on this post.
Hope this post helps you give the profound insight into "자" & "요" "Informal Sentence Endings"
cheers, 여러분 힘내세요~~ "Go Go everyone~~~"
Tim
ps. For more practice on 'VERB STEM', please give a listen to "Lower Intermediate Season 2"
