Understanding Korean Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences in Korean are used when you want to tell someone to do something. These sentences are like giving commands, making requests, or giving advice.
Important Points
- Imperative sentences usually end with special verb endings.
- These endings change depending on how polite or formal you want to be.
- The basic endings for informal speech are '-아/어' and for formal speech are '-십시오'.
- When talking to friends or younger people, you can use informal endings.
- When talking to elders or in formal situations, you should use formal endings.
Let's look at how to form these sentences. First, take the verb stem, which is the verb without '다'. Then, add the correct ending based on how polite you want to be.
Examples
- 가다 (to go) -> 가세요 (Please go) [Formal]
- 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹어라 (Eat) [Informal]
- 읽다 (to read) -> 읽으십시오 (Please read) [Very Formal]
In informal situations, you can use endings like '-아/어라'. In more polite situations, use '-아/어 주세요' or '-십시오' for very formal settings.
Important Points
- Use '-아/어라' for casual commands among friends.
- Use '-아/어 주세요' to politely ask someone to do something.
- Use '-십시오' for formal commands or requests.
Examples
- 앉다 (to sit) -> 앉으세요 (Please sit) [Polite]
- 보다 (to see) -> 봐라 (Look) [Informal]
- 듣다 (to listen) -> 듣십시오 (Please listen) [Very Formal]