G.2.2  The structure of predicates: Polite ending~어요/아요

 

Examples 

(1) 영미: 학교 식당이 어디 있어요?
  린다: 유니온 빌딩에 있어요. 일층에 있어요.
(2) 영미: 학교 식당 음식이 어때요?
  린다: 네, 좋아요. 커피가 맛있어요.

 

 

1. The structure of predicates consists of a stem and the ending. Attached directly to a verb or adjective stem, ~ is used in citing a predicate. This form is called the 'dictionary form', because verbs and adjectives are listed in the dictionary with the ~ ending. The citation forms of the above predicates are as follows:

 

       Copular Stem

Ending

Verb Stem

Ending

Adjective Stem

Ending

아니

인사하

 

 

맛있

 

 

지내

 

 

괜찮

 

 

 

 

 

 

반갑

 

 

 

 

 

2. The polite ending ~어요/아요: This ending is most frequently used in conversation. It has a number of variation depending on the vowels in the stem.

 

a. When the last vowel of the stem is either or , the 아요 form is used.     

      

 좋다

 좋아요

 많다

 많아요

 앉다

 앉아요

 괜찮다

 괜찮아요

 알다

 알아요

 

b. All the other stems take ~어요/아요

                           

 먹다

 먹어요

 있다

 있어요

 맛있다

 맛있어요

 넓다

 넓어요

 

c. There are exceptions to the above rules.

 

 이다

 이에요/예요

 아니다

 아니에요

 하다

 해요

 

   All verbs that contain 하다 are subject to this change.

 

 인사하다

 인사해요

 공부하다

 공부해요

 숙제하다

 숙제해요

 전화하다

 전화해요

 

d. There are irregularities and vowel contractions (see G5.9 for details) that change the shape of the ending. Irregular verbs will be discussed one by one in the relevant sections.

 

                vowel contraction

 가다

 가요 (+아요)

 지내다

 지내요 (지내+어요)

 싸다

 싸요 (+아요)

 자다

 자요 (+아요)

 irregular

 크다

 커요 (+어요)

 

[연습 1] Given the citation/dictionary form, write out the appropriate form of ~어요/아요 ending.

 

보기: 먹다 'to eat' 먹어요

 

(1) 공부하다                          (2) 지내다

(3) 있다                                  (4) 앉다

(5) 맛있다                              (6) 싸다

(7) 가다                                  (8) 좋다

(9) 많다        

 

[연습 2] Given the predicate form, write out its citation ending.

 

       보기: 먹어요 'to eat' 먹다

 

(1) 인사해요                          (2) 재미있어요

(3) 넓어요                              (4) 괜찮아요

(5) –이에요/예요                   (6) 아니에요