Korean: Past tense 「-았다/-었다」
In this article, we are going to introduce Korean tense grammar: Past Tense. The past tense is be expressed by changing the word ending of Korean verbs and adjectives. There are some basic rules for this changs, which can be used to transfer a sentence from present tense to past tense.
Table of Contents
In this article, we are going to introduce Korean tense grammar: Past Tense. The past tense is be expressed by changing the word ending of Korean verbs and adjectives.
There are some basic rules for this changs, which can be used to transfer a sentence from present tense to past tense.
Adjectives, Verbs in the Past tTense
Two basic rules for change.
1. If vowel is one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem ＋ 았다
For example，좋다 -> past tense：좋았다
2. Is vowel is not one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem ＋ 었다
For example，먹다 -> past tense：먹었다
Special Note.
Abbreviations, Omitted Changes：In the above two basic rules, if an adjective or verb does not end with a consonant, the 어/아 in the 았/었 will be simplified as ㅆ , so it becomes a stem + ㅆ다.
For example, 사다 -> Past tense: 샀다
요-type（honorific）
The past tense can also be used as a honorific, such as the common usage of 요 in daily life.
If the vowel is one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem ＋ 았어요
For example, 좋다 -> past tense: 좋았어요
If the vowel is not one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem ＋ 었어요
For example，먹다 -> past tense: 먹었어요
In the past tense, "요-type" is always followed by 어요.
습니다（formal, honorific）
In the past tense, there was also a more advanced form of honorific expression such as "습니다".
If the vowel is one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem + 았습니다
For example，좋다 -> past tense: 좋았습니다
If the vowel is not one of "ㅏ,ㅑ,ㅗ,ㅛ", then word's stem + 었습니다
For example, 먹다 -> past tense: 먹었습니다
Particular attention is paid to the past tense of 하다.
하다 -> past tense: 헸다, 요-type: 헸어요, 습니다-type: 헸습니다。
More Examples
Below are some examples of common verbs and adjectives in the past tense.
The Word Ends with Consonant
- eat
먹다 -> past tense: 먹었다, 요-type: 먹었어요, 습니다-type: 먹었습니다
- play
놀다 -> past tense: 놀았다, 요-type: 놀았요, 습니다-type: 놀았습니다
- see
만나다 -> past tense: 만났다, 요-type: 만났어요, 습니다-type: 만났습니다
- good
좋다 -> past tense: 좋았다, 요-type: 좋았어요, 습니다-type: 좋았습니다
The Word Ends with Vowel
- buy
사다 -> past tense: 샀다, 요-type: 샀어요, 습니다-type: 샀습니다
- cheap
싸다 -> past tense: 쌌다, 요-type: 쌌어요, 습니다-type: 쌌습니다
| English | present tense | past tense | past tense 요-type |
|---|---|---|---|
| come | 오다 | 왔다 | 왔어요 |
| go | 가다 | 갔다 | 갔어요 |
| write | 쓰다 | 썼다 | 썼어요 |
| know | 알다 | 알았다 | 알았어요 |
| small | 작다 | 작았다 | 작았어요 |
| fast | 빠르다 | 빨랐다 | 빨랐어요 |
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