Different Situations, Different Endings
In Korean, how you end a sentence is extremely important. The ending changes not only for politeness (존댓말 vs. 반말) but also for the sentence's purpose, like making a statement, asking a question, giving a command, or making a suggestion.
You've already learned the basic statement and question endings like -아요/어요 . Now, we'll focus on the specific endings used for commands and suggestions, which are very common in daily conversation.
Making Commands and Requests
When you want to tell someone to do something, you use a command form. The politeness level you choose is critical.
Formal: -(으)세요
This is the standard polite way to give a command or make a request. It's respectful and safe to use with strangers, elders, and in professional settings.
Verb stem ending in a vowel + -세요 (e.g., 가다 → 가세요)
Verb stem ending in a consonant + -으세요 (e.g., 읽다 → 읽으세요)
Example: 책을 읽으세요. (Please read the book.)
Informal: -아/어
This is the casual command form used with close friends, family members of similar or younger age, or people you have a close relationship with. It's simply the standard -아요/어요 form with the -요 dropped.
Example: 책 읽어. (Read the book.)
Negative Commands
To tell someone not to do something, you add -지 마세요 (formal) or -지 마 (informal) to the verb stem.
Formal: 가지 마세요. (Please don't go.)
Informal: 가지 마. (Don't go.)
Making Suggestions
When you want to propose an activity to do together, you use a suggestion form. Again, there are clear formal and informal options.
Formal: -(으)ㅂ시다 and -(으)실래요?
-(으)ㅂ시다 is a formal "Let's..." It's often used in presentations, meetings, or public announcements. It can sound a bit stiff in casual conversation.
Example: 시작합시다. (Let's begin.)