The Korean language has a very systematic structure. While there are a few exceptions, understanding the basic rules can make it much easier to start speaking Korean right away.
But diving too deep into grammar might make it boring, right? So, we’ll keep it short and easy for you to understand. (The drawings might not be great, but please bear with us! 😊)
The foundation of this system is
understanding the stem (어간[eo-gan])
The stem is the core part of a word that carries its meaning and doesn’t change. Various endings are added to this stem to form different expressions.
For example,
먹다 means 'Eat'
The stem of 먹다 is 먹 [meok].
Various endings can be added to the stem to create different forms with various meanings.
A/V-(스)ㅂ니다: 먹습니다 ← I eat / I am eating (formal&polite).
A/V-아/어요: 먹어요 ← I eat / I am eating (informal&polite).
V-(으)ㄹ 거예요: 먹을 거예요 ← I will eat (informal&polite).
V-고 있다: 먹고 있다 ← I am eating (informal&impolite).
This usually applies to verbs and adjectives, so keep that in mind!
Comments