Irregular verb patterns

Level 1

Certain Korean verbs and adjectives, called 'irregular verbs,' change their stem when they are conjugated with certain endings.

How It Works

In Korean, most verbs conjugate predictably. However, some verbs are 'irregular' and their verb stems change. The change usually happens when the stem is followed by a vowel. Here are the most common irregular patterns for beginners:

1. ㅂ Irregular (ㅂ → 우/오)
When a verb stem ends in ㅂ and is followed by a vowel, the ㅂ changes to 우 or 오.

  • 춥다 (to be cold) → 춥 + -어요 → 추우 + 어요 → 추워요
  • 덥다 (to be hot) → 덥 + -어요 → 더우 + 어요 → 더워요
  • 돕다 (to help) → 돕 + -아요 → 도오 + 아요 → 도와요

2. ㄷ Irregular (ㄷ → ㄹ)
When a verb stem ends in ㄷ and is followed by a vowel, the ㄷ changes to ㄹ.

  • 듣다 (to listen) → 듣 + -어요 → 들 + 어요 → 들어요
  • 걷다 (to walk) → 걷 + -어요 → 걸 + 어요 → 걸어요

Note: Not all ㄷ verbs are irregular. For example, 닫다 (to close) is regular: 닫아요.

3. ㄹ Irregular (ㄹ drops)
When a verb stem ends in ㄹ and is followed by ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ, the ㄹ is dropped.

  • 살다 (to live) + -ㅂ니다 → 사 + ㅂ니다 → 삽니다
  • 알다 (to know) + -세요 → 아 + 세요 → 아세요
  • 만들다 (to make) + -는 → 만드 + 는 → 만드는

When followed by a vowel like in -아/어, the ㄹ does not drop: 살다 → 살아요.

4. ㅅ Irregular (ㅅ drops)
When a verb stem ends in ㅅ and is followed by a vowel, the ㅅ is dropped.

  • 짓다 (to build) → 짓 + -어요 → 지 + 어요 → 지어요
  • 낫다 (to get better) → 낫 + -아요 → 나 + 아요 → 나아요

Note: Not all ㅅ verbs are irregular. For example, 웃다 (to laugh) is regular: 웃어요.

Examples (4)

  1. 날씨가 추워요.

    The weather is cold.

    Word by Word: Weather is cold.

    This is a 'ㅂ' irregular verb. The stem 춥- changes to 추우- before the -어요 ending, becoming 추워요.

  2. 음악을 들어요.

    I listen to music.

    Word by Word: Music listen.

    This is a 'ㄷ' irregular verb. The stem 듣- changes to 들- before the -어요 ending.

  3. 저는 서울에 살아요.

    I live in Seoul.

    Word by Word: I in Seoul live.

    This is an 'ㄹ' irregular verb. While it looks regular with -아요, the irregularity shows with other endings. For example, with the formal ending -ㅂ니다, the ㄹ drops and it becomes 삽니다.

  4. 감기가 다 나았어요.

    My cold is all better.

    Word by Word: Cold all got better.

    This is an 'ㅅ' irregular verb. The stem 낫- loses its ㅅ before the past tense ending -았어요, becoming 나았어요.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to change the stem for ㄷ irregular verbs.

    Not Quite매일 공원에서 걷어요.
    Better매일 공원에서 걸어요.

    For ㄷ irregular verbs like 걷다 (to walk), the ㄷ must change to ㄹ before a vowel ending like -어요.

  • Applying irregular rules to regular verbs.

    Different Meaning문을 달아요.
    Better문을 닫아요.

    Not all verbs ending in ㄷ are irregular. 닫다 (to close) is a regular verb, so its stem does not change → 닫아요. (In '문을 달아요', 달다 means 'to hang/attach/install' — a different transitive verb — not 닫다.)

  • Forgetting to drop ㄹ before certain consonants.

    Not Quite서울에 살세요?
    Better서울에 사세요?

    For ㄹ irregular verbs like 살다, the ㄹ must be dropped before an ending that starts with consonants like ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ. The ending -세요 starts with ㅅ, so 살다 becomes 사세요.

Learn This First

To understand irregular verbs, you first need solid knowledge of regular patterns.

Related Patterns

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