The Present Tense (현재 시제)
In Korean, the present tense is used to describe actions happening now, general truths, or habitual routines. There are two main polite speech levels you'll use: informal polite (해요체) and formal polite (하십시오체).
Informal Polite: -아요/어요
This is the most common ending for everyday conversation. The form depends on the last vowel of the verb or adjective stem.
Stem's Last Vowel · Rule · Example
ㅏ or ㅗ · Add -아요 · 가다 → 가요 (to go)
보다 → 봐요 (to see)
Other Vowels · Add -어요 · 먹다 → 먹어요 (to eat)
읽다 → 읽어요 (to read)
하다 Verbs · Becomes -해요 · 공부하다 → 공부해요 (to study)
Formal Polite: -ㅂ니다/습니다
This ending is used in more formal settings, such as presentations, news broadcasts, or when showing a high level of respect.
Stem Ends In... · Rule · Example
Vowel · Add -ㅂ니다 · 가다 → 갑니다 (to go)
Consonant · Add -습니다 · 먹다 → 먹습니다 (to eat)
The Past Tense (과거 시제)
To talk about completed actions or past states, you add the past tense infix -았/었- between the verb/adjective stem and the final ending. The choice between -았- and -었- follows the same vowel harmony rule as the present tense.
Informal Polite: -았어요/었어요
Stem's Last Vowel · Rule · Example
ㅏ or ㅗ · Add -았어요 · 좋다 → 좋았어요 (was good)
만나다 → 만났어요 (met)
Other Vowels · Add -었어요 · 입다 → 입었어요 (wore)
배우다 → 배웠어요 (learned)
하다 Verbs · Becomes -했어요 · 운동하다 → 운동했어요 (exercised)
Formal Polite: -았습니다/었습니다
The same logic applies to the formal polite ending.
Stem's Last Vowel · Rule · Example
ㅏ or ㅗ · Add -았습니다 · 보다 → 봤습니다 (saw)
Other Vowels · Add -었습니다 · 듣다 → 들었습니다 (listened)
하다 Verbs · Becomes -했습니다 · 요리하다 → 요리했습니다 (cooked)