‘ㄷ’ irregular conjugation in Korean grammar
Dec 30, 2022
- Author: Niya (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Editor: Good Job Korean team
Conjugation Rule
When a verb stem ending in ‘ㄷ’ is followed by an ending beginning with a vowel, ‘ㄷ’ changes to ‘ㄹ’.
Example 1: The suffix ‘어요’ which is used for present tense conjugation
듣다 – 듣 + 어요 – 들어요
*듣다: to listen
->As the suffix ‘어요’ starts with a vowel ‘어[eo]’, 듣 becomes 들. It is WRONG to say ‘듣어요’.
Example 2: The suffix ‘고 싶어요’ which is used for the conjugation meaning “I want to”
듣다 – 듣 + 고 싶어요 – 듣고 싶어요
->As the suffix ‘고 싶어요’ starts with a consonant ‘고[go]’, 듣 stays as it is. It is WRONG to say ‘들고 싶어요’.
Let’s check how ‘ㄷ’ irregular verbs conjugate in many different forms.
Present tense
듣다(to listen) -> 들어요 (I listen)
걷다(to walk) -> 걸어요 (I walk)
묻다(to ask) -> 물어요 (I ask)
Past tense
듣다(to listen) -> 들었어요 (I listened)
걷다 (to walk) -> 걸었어요 (I walked)
묻다 (to ask) -> 물었어요 (I asked)
Future tense
듣다 (to listen) -> 들을 거예요 (I will listen)
걷다 (to walk) -> 걸을 거예요 (I will walk)
묻다 (to ask) -> 물을 거예요 (I will ask)
Noun form
듣다 (to listen) -> 듣는 것 (listening)
걷다 (to walk) -> 걷는 것 (walking)
묻다 (to ask) -> 묻는 것 (asking)
Present progressive tense form
듣다 (to listen) -> 듣고 있어요 (I’m listening)
걷다 (to walk) -> 걷고 있어요 (I‘m walking)
묻다 (to ask) -> 묻고 있어요 (I’m asking)
List of ‘ㄷ’ irregular verbs
-걷다: to walk
걸어요 – 걸었어요 – 걸을 거예요
-듣다: to listen
들어요 – 들었어요 – 들을 거예요
-묻다: to ask
물어요 – 물었어요 – 물을 거예요
-싣다: to load (cargo)
실어요 – 실었어요 – 실을 거예요
-깨닫다: to realize
깨달아요 – 깨달았어요 – 깨달을 거예요
*NOTE:
Not all of the ‘ㄷ’ ending verbs change their shape, some of them don’t change. Hence, they carry the normal conjugation form.
List of verbs following regular conjugation rules
-닫다: to close
닫아요 – 닫았어요 – 닫을 거예요
-믿다: to trust, to believe
믿어요 – 믿었어요 -믿을 거예요
-받다: to receive
받아요 – 받았어요 – 받을 거예요
-얻다: to get
얻어요 – 얻었어요 – 얻을 거예요
-쏟다: to pour
쏟아요 – 쏟았어요 – 쏟을 거예요
-묻다: to bury
묻어요 – 묻었어요 – 묻을 거예요
Example
‘ㄷ’ irregular verb example sentences
음악을 다섯 시까지 들었어요.
I listened to music until 5 O’ clock.
*다섯 시: 5 O’ clock *음악: music *듣다: to listen
그 학생들은 걸어서 학교에 가요.
The students go to school by walking.
*친구: friend *학교: school *걷다: to walk
어제 선생님께 물었어요.
I asked my teacher yesterday.
*어제: yesterday *선생님: teacher *묻다: to ask
아직 차에 가방을 싣지 않았어요.
I haven’t loaded my bag in the car yet.
*아직: yet, still *차: car *가방: bag *싣다: to load
제 몸무게를 묻지 마세요.
Please don't ask my weight.
*몸무게: weight *묻다: to ask *-지 마세요: don't do -
‘ㄷ’ regular verb example sentences
제 할아버지께서 문을 닫으셨어요.
My grandfather closed the door.
*제: my *할아버지: grandfather *-께서: subject marker (honorific) *문: door *닫다: to close
*닫으셨어요: (he) closed (honorific)
저는 보물을 땅에 묻었어요.
I buried the treasure in the ground.
*보물: treasure *땅: ground *묻다: to bury
부모님에게 선물을 받을 거예요.
I will receive a present from my parents.
*부모님: parent *에게: to (person) *선물: present *받다: to receive
나는 당신을 믿어요.
I trust you.
*당신: you (polite) *믿다: to trust
- Author: Niya (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Editor: Good Job Korean team
