Overview
The V+(스)ㅂ니다 ending is a highly formal and polite sentence ending used to express actions or states in the present tense. It is one of the two main polite present tense endings in Korean, the other being -아요/어요. While -아요/어요 is generally used in everyday polite conversation, -(스)ㅂ니다 is reserved for more formal settings, public speaking, or when a higher degree of respect is required.
Usage
This ending is primarily used in formal and public settings. You will commonly encounter it in:
- News broadcasts and official announcements
- Presentations, speeches, and lectures
- Business meetings and formal reports
- When addressing strangers, elders, or superiors
- Written materials like textbooks or formal documents
It expresses actions or states happening in the present moment, general truths, or habitual actions.
Conjugation Rules
The conjugation rules for V+(스)ㅂ니다 depend on the final sound of the verb or adjective stem:
- If the verb/adjective stem ends in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ (l), attach -ㅂ니다.
- Example: 가다 (to go) -> 갑니다
- Example: 만들다 (to make) -> 만듭니다 (ㄹ drops, then ㅂ니다 attaches)
- If the verb/adjective stem ends in a consonant (other than ㄹ), attach -습니다.
- Example: 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹습니다
- Example: 좋다 (to be good) -> 좋습니다
Knowledge Plus
- Formality Level: The -(스)ㅂ니다 form is considered the highest level of politeness in standard Korean speech (하십시오체 - hasipsioche). It is more formal than the -아요/어요 form (해요체 - haeyoche).
- Question Form: The interrogative (question) form of -(스)ㅂ니다 is -(스)ㅂ니까?. For example, '갑니까?' (Are you going?) or '먹습니까?' (Are you eating?).
- Adjectives: This ending can also be attached to adjectives to describe a state or quality in the present tense formally, e.g., '날씨가 좋습니다' (The weather is good).