Mastering Korean: A Comprehensive Guide for TOPIK Level 6 Students - Mastering Advanced Korean Grammar: Verbs, Adverbs, and Sentence Structure

2.1: Understanding Verb Conjugation (Present Tense)

Korean verb conjugation is the process of adding suffixes to verbs to indicate person, tense, and other grammatical features. In this sub-chapter, we will focus on the present tense, which is used to describe actions that are currently happening or are generally true.

In Korean, the present tense is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb. The suffix indicates the person (first, second, or third) and the level of politeness (formal or informal). For example, the verb "speak" (하다) in the present tense is conjugated as follows:

I speak: 나는 하-nom
You speak (informal): 너는 하-nom
He/She speaks: 그는/그녀는 하-nom
We speak: 우리는 하-nom
You speak (formal): 귀하는 하-nom
They speak: 그들은 하-nom

Here, "nom" is the suffix that indicates the present tense and the person.

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the basics of Korean verb conjugation in the present tense. We learned that the present tense is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb, and that the suffix indicates the person and the level of politeness.

2.2: Present Tense Verb Conjugation: Regular Verbs

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on regular verbs, which are verbs that follow a predictable pattern for conjugation. The present tense of regular verbs is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb.

The stem of a regular verb is obtained by removing the final vowel of the verb. For example, the stem of the verb "to eat" (먹-da) is "먹-". The suffix for the present tense is then added to the stem to indicate the person and the level of politeness.

The suffix for the present tense is "-nom" for the first person singular, "-(se)nikka" for the second person singular informal, "-(u)l" for the third person singular, "-(u)l" for the first person plural, "-(se)nikka" for the second person plural informal, and "-(u)l" for the third person plural.

For example, the verb "to eat" (먹-da) is conjugated as follows in the present tense:

I eat: 나는 먹-nom
You eat (informal): 너는 먹-nikka
He/She eats: 그는/그녀는 먹-l
We eat: 우리는 먹-ul
You eat (formal): 귀하는 먹-nom
They eat: 그들은 먹-ul

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the present tense conjugation of regular verbs. We learned that the stem of a regular verb is obtained by removing the final vowel of the verb, and that the suffix for the present tense is added to the stem to indicate the person and the level of politeness.

2.3: Present Tense Verb Conjugation: Irregular Verbs

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on irregular verbs, which are verbs that do not follow a predictable pattern for conjugation. Irregular verbs are relatively rare in Korean, but they do exist and must be learned individually.

The present tense of irregular verbs is formed by memorizing the conjugated forms, as there is no predictable pattern. Some irregular verbs have only a few irregular forms, while others have many.

For example, the verb "to be" (이다) is an irregular verb that is conjugated as follows in the present tense:

I am: 나는 이-nom
You are (informal): 너는 이-nikka
He/She is: 그는/그녀는 이-da
We are: 우리는 이-da
You are (formal): 귀하는 이-da
They are: 그들은 이-da

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the present tense conjugation of irregular verbs. We learned that the present tense of irregular verbs is formed by memorizing the conjugated forms, as there is no predictable pattern.

2.4: Present Tense Verb Conjugation: Common Verb Patterns

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on common verb patterns in the present tense. Some verbs in Korean have unique patterns for conjugation, and it is important to learn these patterns to be able to use the verbs correctly.

Here are some common verb patterns in the present tense:

하다 (to do): 하- for all persons and levels of politeness
가다 (to go): 가- for the first and second person singular, 가- for the third person singular and plural, 가- for the first person plural, 가- for the second person plural informal, and 가- for the third person plural
쓴다 (to write): 쓴- for the first and second person singular, 쓴- for the third person singular and plural, 쓴- for the first person plural, 쓴- for the second person plural informal, and 쓴- for the third person plural

For example, the verb "to do" (하-da) is conjugated as follows in the present tense:

I do: 나는 하-nom
You do (informal): 너는 하-nikka
He/She does: 그는/그녀는 하-da
We do: 우리는 하-da
You do (formal): 귀하는 하-da
They do: 그들은 하-da

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about common verb patterns in the present tense. We learned that some verbs in Korean have unique patterns for conjugation, and that it is important to learn these patterns to be able to use the verbs correctly.

2.5: Understanding Verb Conjugation (Past Tense)

In this sub-chapter, we will delve deeper into Korean verb conjugation by learning about the past tense. The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened.

In Korean, the past tense is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb. The suffix indicates the person and the level of politeness. For example, the verb "speak" (하다) in the past tense is conjugated as follows:

I spoke: 나는 하-te
You spoke (informal): 너는 하-te
He/She spoke: 그는/그녀는 하-te
We spoke: 우리는 하-te
You spoke (formal): 귀하는 하-te
They spoke: 그들은 하-te

Here, "te" is the suffix that indicates the past tense and the person.

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the basics of Korean verb conjugation in the past tense. We learned that the past tense is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb, and that the suffix indicates the person and the level of politeness.

2.6: Past Tense Verb Conjugation: Regular Verbs

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on regular verbs, which are verbs that follow a predictable pattern for conjugation. The past tense of regular verbs is formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the verb.

The stem of a regular verb is obtained by removing the final vowel of the verb. For example, the stem of the verb "to eat" (먹-da) is "먹-". The suffix for the past tense is then added to the stem to indicate the person and the level of politeness.

The suffix for the past tense is "-te" for the first person singular, "-te" for the second person singular informal, "-da" for the third person singular, "-da" for the first person plural, "-te" for the second person plural informal, and "-da" for the third person plural.

For example, the verb "to eat" (먹-da) is conjugated as follows in the past tense:

I ate: 나는 먹-te
You ate (informal): 너는 먹-te
He/She ate: 그는/그녀는 먹-da
We ate: 우리는 먹-da
You ate (formal): 귀하는 먹-da
They ate: 그들은 먹-da

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the past tense conjugation of regular verbs. We learned that the stem of a regular verb is obtained by removing the final vowel of the verb, and that the suffix for the past tense is added to the stem to indicate the person and the level of politeness.

2.7: Past Tense Verb Conjugation: Irregular Verbs

The past tense of irregular verbs is formed by memorizing the conjugated forms, as there is no predictable pattern. Some irregular verbs have only a few irregular forms, while others have many.

For example, the verb "to be" (이다) is an irregular verb that is conjugated as follows in the past tense:

I was: 나는 이-었-nom
You were (informal): 너는 이-었-nikka
He/She was: 그는/그녀는 이-었-da
We were: 우리는 이-었-da
You were (formal): 귀하는 이-었-da
They were: 그들은 이-었-da

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the past tense conjugation of irregular verbs. We learned that the past tense of irregular verbs is formed by memorizing the conjugated forms, as there is no predictable pattern.

2.8: Using Adverbs to Modify Verbs

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on adverbs and their role in modifying verbs in Korean sentences. Adverbs are words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

In Korean, adverbs are usually formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the adjective. The suffix for the adverb form is "-ki" for most adjectives, and "-kun" for adjectives that end in "-da".

For example, the adjective "hot" (뜨거-u-da) is modified by the adverb "very" (아주) as follows:

The water is very hot: 물이 아주 뜨거-u-da

Here, "아주" is the adverb that modifies the adjective "뜨거-u-da".

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about adverbs and their role in modifying verbs in Korean sentences. We learned that adverbs are words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and that they are usually formed by adding a suffix to the stem of the adjective.

2.9: Constructing Complex Sentences

In this sub-chapter, we will focus on constructing complex sentences in Korean. Complex sentences are sentences that contain multiple clauses, and they are used to express more complex ideas.

In Korean, complex sentences are constructed by using conjunctions to connect multiple clauses. The conjunctions indicate the relationship between the clauses, such as cause and effect, time, or condition.

For example, the following sentence contains two clauses:

I will go to the store, and I will buy some milk: 저는 가게에 가-겠-nom, 그리고 우유를 사-겠-nom

Here, "가게에 가-겠-nom" is the first clause, and "그리고 우유를 사-겠-nom" is the second clause. The conjunction "그리고" (and) connects the two clauses and indicates that the second clause is a continuation of the first clause.

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about constructing complex sentences in Korean. We learned that complex sentences are sentences that contain multiple clauses, and that they are constructed by using conjunctions to connect the clauses.

2.10: Understanding Sentence Structure and Flow

In the final sub-chapter, we will focus on the overall structure and flow of Korean sentences. Understanding sentence structure and flow is important for conveying meaning effectively and accurately.

In Korean, the basic sentence structure is subject-object-verb (SOV). This means that the subject comes first, followed by the object, and then the verb.

For example, the following sentence follows the SOV structure:

I ate an apple: 저는 사과를 먹-da

Here, "저는" is the subject, "사과를" is the object, and "먹-da" is the verb.

Summary: In this sub-chapter, we learned about the overall structure and flow of Korean sentences. We learned that the basic sentence structure in Korean is subject-object-verb (SOV), and that understanding sentence structure and flow is important for conveying meaning effectively and accurately.