How to Form Past Tense in Korean

Basics of Korean Verb Conjugation

Korean verbs are unique because they change according to the tense. Mastering these changes is crucial to communicating effectively in Korean. To form the past tense, you need to modify the verb stem and add a specific ending.

Understanding the Verb Stem

The verb stem is the part of the verb that remains after removing the '다' (da) ending from its dictionary form. For example, the verb 하다 (ha-da), meaning 'to do,' has a stem of 하 (ha).

Conjugation for Regular Verbs

Regular Verb Ending with Vowels

For regular verbs ending in a vowel, such as 가다 (ga-da), "to go," the past tense is formed by adding -았어요 (a-sseo-yo)/-었어요 (eo-sseo-yo). The choice between -았어요 and -었어요 depends on the preceding vowel. If the stem ends with ㅏ or ㅗ, use -았어요; otherwise, use -었어요.

Example Sentences

Regular Verb Ending with Consonants

With regular verbs ending in a consonant, such as 먹다 (meok-da), "to eat," the past tense suffix -었어요 is typically used.

Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular verbs don't follow the standard conjugation rules. One common example is 듣다 (deud-da), "to listen." When conjugating into the past tense, the verb becomes 들었어요 (deu-roe-sseo-yo).

EXAMPLES OF IRREGULAR VERB CONJUGATION

Complex Sentences with Past Tense

Using past tense in Korean is not only crucial for simple statements but also for conveying more complex actions and timelines. Consider practicing by forming sentences combining past-tense actions.

Example Sentences