Want to master Korean verb modifiers like ~(으)ㄴ, ~는, and ~(으)ㄹ? Understanding their conjugation rules will help you form more natural and accurate sentences. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown with clear explanations and examples!
1. Conjugation Rules
- For verbs ending in a vowel:
- Past: Add ㄴ (e.g., 먹다 -> 먹은)
- Example: 먹은 약 (the medicine I took)
- Present: Add 는 (e.g., 먹다 -> 먹는)
- Example: 먹는 물 (the water I am drinking)
- Future: Add ㄹ (e.g., 먹다 -> 먹을)
- Example: 먹을 빵 (the bread I will eat)
- Past: Add ㄴ (e.g., 먹다 -> 먹은)
- For verbs ending in a consonant:
- Past: Add 은 (e.g., 읽다 -> 읽은)
- Example: 읽은 책 (the book I read)
- Present: Add 는 (e.g., 읽다 -> 읽는)
- Example: 읽는 책 (the book I am reading)
- Future: Add 을 (e.g., 읽다 -> 읽을)
- Example: 읽을 소설 (the novel I will read)
- Past: Add 은 (e.g., 읽다 -> 읽은)
- Irregular Verbs:
- ㅂ-불규칙:
- Replace ㅂ with 우 before adding endings.
- Example: 줍다 (to pick up)
- Past: 주운 (e.g., 주운 물건 — the item I picked up)
- Present: 주우는 (e.g., 주우는 사람 — the person picking up)
- Future: 주울 (e.g., 주울 장소 — the place I will pick up)
- ㄹ-불규칙:
- Drop the ㄹ before ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ endings.
- Example: 살다 (to live)
- Past: 산 (e.g., 산 집 — the house I lived in)
- Present: 사는 (e.g., 사는 동네 — the neighborhood I live in)
- Future: 살 (e.g., 살 곳 — the place I will live in)
- 르-불규칙:
- When followed by a vowel, “르” changes to “ㄹ” and an additional “ㄹ” is added.
- Example: 고르다 (to choose)
- Past: 고른 (e.g., 고른 답 — the answer I chose)
- Present: 고르는 (e.g., 고르는 사람 — the person choosing)
- Future: 고를 (e.g., 고를 책 — the book I will choose)
- ㄷ-불규칙:
- Replace ㄷ with ㄹ when followed by a vowel.
- Example: 듣다 (to listen)
- Past: 들은 (e.g., 들은 이야기 — the story I heard)
- Present: 듣는 (e.g., 듣는 음악 — the music I am listening to)
- Future: 들을 (e.g., 들을 노래 — the song I will listen to)
- ㅅ-불규칙:
- Drop ㅅ when followed by a vowel.
- Example: 짓다 (to build)
- Past: 지은 (e.g., 지은 집 — the house I built)
- Present: 짓는 (e.g., 짓는 사람 — the person building)
- Future: 지을 (e.g., 지을 계획 — the plan I will build)