Understanding Korean Irregular Verbs and Adjectives
In Korean, some verbs and adjectives change a little differently when we use them in sentences. These are called irregular verbs and adjectives. Let's learn how they work!
They are called irregular because they don't follow the usual rules when we change them to talk about the past, present, or future. But don't worry! With practice, they become easy to remember.
Types of Irregular Verbs and Adjectives
Important Points
- ㅅ Irregular: Some verbs lose the 'ㅅ' when adding endings.
- ㄷ Irregular: Some verbs change 'ㄷ' to 'ㄹ' when adding endings.
- ㅂ Irregular: Some adjectives and verbs change 'ㅂ' to '우' or '오' when adding endings.
- 르 Irregular: Some verbs add an extra 'ㄹ' and change '르' to 'ㄹ라' or 'ㄹ러'.
- ㅎ Irregular: Some adjectives drop 'ㅎ' when adding certain endings.
Examples of Irregular Conjugations
Here are some examples to help you see how these irregulars work.
Examples
- ㅅ Irregular: 짓다 (to build) -> 집을 지어요 (building a house)
- ㄷ Irregular: 걷다 (to walk) -> 길을 걸어요 (walking on the road)
- ㅂ Irregular: 춥다 (to be cold) -> 날씨가 추워요 (the weather is cold)
Important Tips to Remember
Now you know a little more about Korean irregular verbs and adjectives. Keep practicing, and soon it will be as easy as pie!