Korean verb conjugation does not have to be scary. This guide breaks down present, past and future tenses with simple rules and plenty of examples.
Good news: Korean verbs do not change based on the subject. All Korean verbs end in -da in their dictionary form.
Quick answer: To conjugate a Korean verb, drop -다 to find the stem, then add an ending. If the stem's last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, add -아요 (가다 → 가요); otherwise add -어요 (먹다 → 먹어요); 하다 becomes 해요. Past tense uses -았어요/-었어요/했어요, future -(으)ㄹ 거예요, and negation puts 안 before the verb.
Remove -da from the dictionary form.
Korean conjugation depends on the last vowel in the stem.
The polite present tense uses -ayo/-eoyo endings.
Same vowel rule, just add -ass/-eoss before -eoyo (-았어요/-었어요; 하다 becomes 했어요).
Add -eul/l geoyeyo after the stem.
Use an + Verb for simple negation.
| Dictionary form | Stem | Last vowel | Present (polite) | Past (polite) | Future | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 (to go) | 가 | ㅏ | 가요 | 갔어요 | 갈 거예요 | 안 가요 |
| 보다 (to see, watch) | 보 | ㅗ | 봐요 | 봤어요 | 볼 거예요 | 안 봐요 |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹 | ㅓ | 먹어요 | 먹었어요 | 먹을 거예요 | 안 먹어요 |
| 마시다 (to drink) | 마시 | ㅣ | 마셔요 | 마셨어요 | 마실 거예요 | 안 마셔요 |
| 공부하다 (to study) | 공부하 | 하다 verb | 공부해요 | 공부했어요 | 공부할 거예요 | 공부 안 해요 |
Notice the vowel contractions: 보 + 아요 becomes 봐요, and 마시 + 어요 becomes 마셔요. With noun + 하다 verbs, 안 goes before 하다: 공부 안 해요.
The practice sentences above in Korean:
Keep this mini-cheatsheet for korean verbs. Practice the key phrases aloud for five minutes every morning, and re-read this guide once a week. Consistency beats intensity — short daily reps build lasting fluency faster than weekend marathons.
Many beginners notice progress with regular daily practice. Many learners hit a plateau after a few months, which is where structured courses make the biggest difference.
Combine this article with a live class, a short daily writing habit, and one K-drama scene a day. Together they cover speaking, writing and listening.
Grammar gives you the scaffolding, but speaking forces the brain to retrieve language under pressure. Beginners should do both — 30 minutes of grammar, 15 minutes of shadowing speech — every single day.
Arabic speakers have several advantages when tackling korean verbs. Both languages build meaning by attaching endings to words, and both often leave out the subject when context makes it clear. Korean verb endings and speech levels are still new territory, so learn each form with a full example sentence. Our courses are available in Arabic, so explanations come in your own language.
If this guide helped, take two minutes right now. First, bookmark this page so you can come back to the tables. Second, take the free placement test to see where you stand. Third, practise with other learners — studying with accountability keeps you going. Every fluent Korean speaker started where you are right now.