🎭 Korean Verb Tenses: Your Time Machine for Words!
Imagine verbs are like magical chameleons. They change their tail to tell you WHEN something happens!
🌟 The Big Idea
In Korean, verbs wear different “endings” like hats. Each hat tells you:
- Is it happening NOW? 🎯
- Did it happen BEFORE? ⏮️
- Will it happen LATER? ⏭️
- Is it happening RIGHT NOW this second? 🔄
The Chameleon Analogy: Think of the verb stem as a chameleon’s body. The ending is its colorful tail. Same body, different tails = different times!
1️⃣ Present Tense Formation
What Is It?
The present tense tells us what happens regularly or what is true right now.
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 아/어요
How to Pick 아 or 어?
| Last vowel in stem | You add… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㅏ or ㅗ (bright vowels) | 아요 | 가다 → 가요 |
| Everything else | 어요 | 먹다 → 먹어요 |
| 하다 verbs | 해요 | 공부하다 → 공부해요 |
🎨 Visual Examples
가다 (to go)
↓ Remove 다
가 (stem ends in ㅏ - bright!)
↓ Add 아요 (but ㅏ+아 = 아)
가요 ✅ "I go / You go"
먹다 (to eat)
↓ Remove 다
먹 (stem ends in ㅓ - not bright)
↓ Add 어요
먹어요 ✅ "I eat / You eat"
공부하다 (to study)
↓ 하다 verb = special!
↓ 하 becomes 해
공부해요 ✅ "I study"
🎯 Quick Practice
| Verb | Stem | Present Tense |
|---|---|---|
| 보다 (see) | 보 | 봐요 |
| 읽다 (read) | 읽 | 읽어요 |
| 마시다 (drink) | 마시 | 마셔요 |
2️⃣ Past Tense Formation
What Is It?
The past tense tells us something already happened. It’s DONE! ✅
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 았/었어요
Same Bright/Dark Rule!
| Last vowel | You add… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㅏ or ㅗ | 았어요 | 가다 → 갔어요 |
| Others | 었어요 | 먹다 → 먹었어요 |
| 하다 verbs | 했어요 | 공부하다 → 공부했어요 |
🎨 Visual Examples
가다 (to go)
↓ Stem: 가
↓ ㅏ + 았 = ㅏㅆ (combines!)
갔어요 ✅ "I went"
먹다 (to eat)
↓ Stem: 먹
↓ Add 었어요
먹었어요 ✅ "I ate"
공부하다 (to study)
↓ 하 becomes 했
공부했어요 ✅ "I studied"
🧠 Remember This!
Present has ONE syllable ending (아/어요) Past has TWO syllable ending (았/었어요)
3️⃣ Future Tense with 겠
What Is It?
겠 expresses intention, will, or strong determination. It’s personal and certain!
“I WILL do this!” or “I’m SURE this will happen!”
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 겠어요
🎨 Examples
가다 → 가겠어요
"I will go" (I've decided!)
먹다 → 먹겠어요
"I will eat" (I intend to!)
알다 → 알겠어요
"I understand" (I've got it!)
💡 Special Uses of 겠
| Situation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Strong will | 하겠어요 | “I WILL do it” |
| Understanding | 알겠어요 | “I understand” |
| Guess | 맛있겠어요 | “It must be delicious” |
4️⃣ Future Tense with 을/ㄹ 거예요
What Is It?
This is for plans and predictions. More about “what will happen” than personal will.
“This is going to happen” or “I’m planning to do this”
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 을 거예요 (if stem ends in consonant)
Verb Stem + ㄹ 거예요 (if stem ends in vowel)
🎨 Visual Examples
먹다 (to eat)
↓ Stem: 먹 (ends in ㄱ consonant)
↓ Add 을 거예요
먹을 거예요 ✅ "I'm going to eat"
가다 (to go)
↓ Stem: 가 (ends in ㅏ vowel)
↓ Add ㄹ 거예요
갈 거예요 ✅ "I'm going to go"
공부하다 (to study)
↓ Stem: 공부하 (ends in ㅏ vowel)
↓ Add ㄹ 거예요
공부할 거예요 ✅ "I'm going to study"
🆚 겠 vs 을/ㄹ 거예요
| 겠 | 을/ㄹ 거예요 |
|---|---|
| Strong personal will | Plans/predictions |
| “I WILL!” | “I’m going to…” |
| More certain | More casual |
| 가겠어요 | 갈 거예요 |
5️⃣ Progressive Form: 고 있다
What Is It?
Shows an action happening RIGHT NOW, this very moment! 🔴 LIVE!
Like adding “-ing” in English: eating, running, sleeping
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 고 있어요
🎨 Examples
먹다 → 먹고 있어요
"I am eating" (right now!)
공부하다 → 공부하고 있어요
"I am studying" (at this moment!)
가다 → 가고 있어요
"I am going" (on my way!)
💡 Picture This!
graph TD A[Action Started] --> B[Still Happening NOW] B --> C[Not Finished Yet] style B fill:#90EE90
6️⃣ Past Progressive
What Is It?
Shows an action that WAS happening at a past moment. Like a movie flashback! 🎬
“While I was eating…” or “I was sleeping when…”
The Magic Formula
Verb Stem + 고 있었어요
🎨 Examples
먹다 → 먹고 있었어요
"I was eating" (at that time)
자다 → 자고 있었어요
"I was sleeping" (when something happened)
공부하다 → 공부하고 있었어요
"I was studying" (in the past)
🆚 Present vs Past Progressive
| Present Progressive | Past Progressive |
|---|---|
| 먹고 있어요 | 먹고 있었어요 |
| “I am eating” | “I was eating” |
| Happening NOW | Was happening THEN |
7️⃣ Completed Action Forms
What Is It?
Shows an action that is completely finished and the result continues!
“I have done…” with lasting effect
The Magic Formulas
Pattern 1: 아/어 있다 (State after action)
Verb Stem + 아/어 있어요
Pattern 2: 아/어 놓다/두다 (Done for later)
Verb Stem + 아/어 놨어요/뒀어요
🎨 Examples
아/어 있다 (Result state continues):
앉다 → 앉아 있어요
"I am seated" (I sat and I'm still sitting)
서다 → 서 있어요
"I am standing" (I stood and still standing)
문이 열리다 → 문이 열려 있어요
"The door is open" (it opened and stays open)
아/어 놓다 (Done in preparation):
문을 열다 → 문을 열어 놨어요
"I've opened the door" (it's ready/done)
준비하다 → 준비해 놨어요
"I've prepared it" (it's all ready!)
💡 Key Difference
graph TD A[Action Completed] --> B{Which pattern?} B --> C[아/어 있다] B --> D[아/어 놓다] C --> E[State continues] D --> F[Done for purpose] style C fill:#87CEEB style D fill:#FFB6C1
🎯 The Complete Picture
| Tense | Formula | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | 아/어요 | 먹어요 | I eat |
| Past | 았/었어요 | 먹었어요 | I ate |
| Future (will) | 겠어요 | 먹겠어요 | I will eat |
| Future (plan) | 을 거예요 | 먹을 거예요 | I’m going to eat |
| Progressive | 고 있어요 | 먹고 있어요 | I am eating |
| Past progressive | 고 있었어요 | 먹고 있었어요 | I was eating |
| Completed | 아/어 있어요 | 앉아 있어요 | I am seated |
🚀 You Did It!
You now understand Korean verb tenses! Remember:
- Present = happening regularly
- Past = already done
- Future 겠 = strong will/intention
- Future 을 거예요 = plans/predictions
- Progressive 고 있다 = happening right now
- Past progressive = was happening then
- Completed forms = done with lasting result
Keep practicing, and soon these endings will feel as natural as changing your clothes! 👕→👔→🎽
“Every expert was once a beginner. Every Korean speaker learned these tenses one by one. You’re on that same journey now!” 🌟