The Six-Step Algorithm
You have learned how regular Korean verbs and adjectives change when they combine with the endings introduced in this course. Use the following sequence instead of checking vowels and batchim without a reason.
The 6 Steps
Find the stem from the dictionary form.
Identify the ending you want to attach.
Check what selection rule that ending requires.
Inspect only the stem feature required by that rule.
Combine the stem and the selected ending form.
Check whether a learned contraction or deletion applies.
Steps 1 & 2: Stem and Ending
Step 1: Find the Stem
The verb and adjective dictionary forms used in this course are shown with -다 . Remove -다 to identify the stem.
오다 → 오-
먹다 → 먹-
Step 2: Identify the Ending
Decide which form you are trying to build before inspecting the stem. For a basic 해요-style form in a present context, the target is -아요/-어요 . For the basic future-context expression practiced here, the target is -(으)ㄹ 거예요 .
Steps 3 & 4: Check Only What the Ending Requires
Step 3: Check the Ending's Rule
Different endings require different checks.
Direct-attachment endings such as -고 and -지만 do not require a vowel or batchim choice.
-아요/-어요 requires a check of the stem's last vowel.
Endings such as -(으)면 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 require a check of how the stem ends.
Step 4: Inspect the Relevant Stem Feature
For 오- , check the last vowel ㅗ because -아요/-어요 requires a vowel choice. For 먹- , check the final consonant ㄱ because -(으)면 requires a batchim-based choice. In the regular example taught here, 먹- selects -으면 . Do not check every stem feature for every ending.