Beginner grammar

Korean present tense: starting with -아요 and -어요

Make everyday polite Korean forms such as 가요, 먹어요, 봐요, and 해요, with a small conjugation exercise and common pitfalls.

Haru learning notes · 5 min read · Updated 2026-09-27

The quick answer

For many regular verbs, remove 다 and look at the stem’s last vowel: ㅏ or ㅗ usually takes -아요; other vowels usually take -어요. 하다 commonly becomes 해요. Contractions and irregular forms need additional practice.

Find the stem before choosing an ending

A dictionary lists 먹다, 가다, 보다, and 하다. Remove the final 다 to find 먹-, 가-, 보-, and 하-. Do not add 요 to the dictionary form. In a simple present-tense statement, 먹어요 can mean “eat/eats” or “am/is eating” depending on context. Korean does not use different versions for I and she here.

Start with forms that show the rule clearly

The stem of 살다 ends in the vowel ㅏ, so 살아요 means “live/lives.” The stem of 먹다 has ㅓ, so 먹어요 means “eat/eats.” Look at the last vowel in the stem, not whether the stem has a final consonant. Both 살- and 먹- have final consonants, but they choose different endings.

Learn common contractions as useful pairs

가다 becomes 가요, not 가아요. 보다 becomes 봐요; 보 + 아 contracts to 봐. 마시다 becomes 마셔요, and 하다 becomes 해요. These are everyday patterns worth recognizing early. Try 공부하다 → 공부해요 as a complete pair before working through many conjugation rules.

Know when to check a form

Irregular verbs and stems ending in ㅡ require more than this short rule. For example, 듣다 becomes 들어요 in its everyday polite present form. Do not assume every verb ending in ㄷ behaves alike. A dictionary’s conjugation information and example sentences are more reliable than guessing from spelling alone.

Use the form in a small exchange

뭐 해요? asks “What are you doing?” 공부해요 answers “I am studying.” Read the exchange aloud, then replace the answer with 커피를 마셔요. The same polite endings can have other uses depending on context and intonation; this lesson focuses on simple statements and questions.

Keep these examples handy

Expression or step	Reading or meaning	How to use it
살다 → 살아요	live	Last stem vowel ㅏ
먹다 → 먹어요	eat	Last stem vowel ㅓ
보다 → 봐요	see / watch	Common vowel contraction
마시다 → 마셔요	drink	Common vowel contraction
공부하다 → 공부해요	study	하다 → 해요

Check your understanding

Try each question before opening its answer.

Make polite present forms: 가다, 먹다, 공부하다.

가요, 먹어요, 공부해요.

Is adding 요 to 먹다 enough?

No. Use 먹어요, not 먹다요. Remove 다 and form the correct ending.

Your questions, answered

Is -요 very formal?

These forms are polite and conversational. Formal settings may call for a different speech level.

Does this rule cover all Korean verbs?

No. Begin with the regular patterns and common contractions, then learn irregular forms through examples.

Keep exploring

These beginner explanations introduce practical language in context. Romanization is approximate. Consult the dictionary below for meanings and pronunciation.

For word meanings and pronunciation, open the learner dictionary linked above.

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