: The ending you choose depends on who you are talking to. Formal/Polite : Uses endings like -습니다 . Informal/Polite : Uses endings like -아요 / -어요 .
: Describe qualities or states, often functioning like English adjectives (e.g., to be pretty , to be cold ).
Mastering Korean verbs is essential because the verb always comes at the end of the sentence and carries critical information about tense, politeness, and mood. The most authoritative resource for this topic is the 500 Basic Korean Verbs by Kyubyong Park, which provides a comprehensive guide to conjugation and usage. Korean verbs are generally classified into four main types:
If the last vowel of the stem is or ㅗ , add -아요 (e.g., 가다 → 가요). For other vowels, add -어요 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹어요).
verbs always change to -해요 (e.g., 공부하다 → 공부해요).
: Linking verbs like 이다 (to be) and 아니다 (to not be). Essential Verbs for Daily Life
TOPIK Guide's Most Common Verbs : A list specifically curated for the Test of Proficiency in Korean.
1. Everyday Action Verbs * 가다 (ga-da) – to go. * 오다 (o-da) – to come. * 먹다 (meok-da) – to eat. * 마시다 (ma-si-da) – to drink. * 보다 (