Korean grammar - Present tense verbs - Part I - 아요

Present tense verbs - Part I - 아요

Pattern: Verb stem + 아요

We have already seen the present tense form of several Korean verbs. Recall that 있다 (to exist, to have) ⇒ 있어요 and 없다 (to not exist, to not have) ⇒ 없어요.

To form the present tense of a Korean verb we add a suffix to the verb's stem. One such suffix is 아요 for the present tense.

Here are the cases in which we use 아요:

-- If the final letter of the verb stem is ㅏ then adding 아요 leaves just 요 to add to the verb stem.

-- If the final letter of the verb stem is ㅗ then when 아요 is added there is a 'vowel combination': ㅗ + 아 = ㅘ. So replace ㅗ in the verb stem with ㅘ and add 요.

-- If the final letter in the stem is a consonant (other than ㅂ) just add 아요.

-- If the final letter of the stem is ㅂ then remove the ㅂ and add 워요.

Examples:
	남동생은 자요? Is (your) younger brother sleeping? 자다 (to sleep) [the final letter and final vowel of the verb stem are both the ㅏ] ⇒ 자요 the final letter of the stem isㅏ so just add 요
	기차가 가요. The train is going. 가다 (to go) ⇒ 가요 the final letter of the verb stem isㅏ so just add 요
	아기가 지금 일어나요. The baby is getting up now. 일어나다 (to get up) ⇒ 일어나요 the final letter of the stem isㅏ so just add 요 아기 means 'baby' or 'unweaned child'
	고양이는 봐요. The cat looks. 보다 (to see) ⇒ 봐요 the final letter of the stem is ㅗ so combine the vowels ㅗ + 아 = ㅘ
	부모님이 와요. (My) parents are coming. 오다 (to come) ⇒ 와요 the final letter of the stem is ㅗ so combine the vowels ㅗ + 아 = ㅘ
	엄마가 편찮아요. Mom is ill. 편찮다 (to be ill) [the final vowel is ㅏ and the final letter is the consonant ㅎ] ⇒ 편찮아요 the final letter of the stem is a consonant so just add 아요
	개가 의자에 앉아요. The dog sits on the chair. 앉다 (to sit) ⇒ 앉아요 the final letter of the stem is a consonant so just add 아요
	날씨가 좋아요. The weather is good. 좋다 (to be good) ⇒ 좋아요;the final letter of the stem is a consonant so just add 아요
	그 수박이 차가워요. That watermelon is cold. 차갑다 (to be cold) [the final vowel is ㅏ and the final letter is the consonant ㅂ] ⇒ 차가워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요
	이 인형은 귀여워요. This doll is cute. 귀엽다 (to be cute) ⇒ 귀여워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요
	장미꽃이 아름다워요. The rose is beautiful. 아름답다 (to be beautiful) ⇒ 아름다워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요
	가방이 왜 무거워요? Why is the bag heavy? 무겁다 (to be heavy) ⇒ 무거워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요
	그 셔츠가 더러워요? Is that shirt dirty? 더럽다 (to be dirty) ⇒ 더러워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요
	그 책은 싸요. That book is cheap. 싸다 (to be cheap) ⇒ 싸요 the final letter of the stem isㅏ so just add 요
	이 책은 비싸요. This book is expensive. 비싸다 (to be expensive) ⇒ 비싸요 the final letter of the stem isㅏ so just add 요
	그 치마는 귀여워요. That skirt is cute. 귀엽다 (to be cute) ⇒ 귀여워요 the final letter of the stem is ㅂ so remove the ㅂ and add 워요 치마 means 'shirt';