The 6-Step Conjugation Process
When you meet a new regular verb or adjective, don't guess how it changes. Follow this six-step process to build the forms taught in this course:
Find the stem from the dictionary form.
Check the ending you want to attach.
Check the ending's selection rule.
Check the relevant part of the stem, such as its final vowel or consonant.
Combine the forms.
Check whether contraction or deletion applies.
Steps 1 & 2: Stem and Ending
Step 1: Find the Stem
Remove -다 from the dictionary form. The part that remains is the stem. For example, 먹다 becomes 먹 , and 가다 becomes 가 .
Step 2: Check the Ending
Decide which ending you need for the form you are building. Do you want to connect actions with -고 , express a condition with -(으)면 , or build a basic 해요-style form with -아요/-어요 ?
Steps 3 & 4: Check What the Ending Requires
First, identify the selection rule of the ending. Then inspect only the part of the stem that the rule requires.
-고 attaches directly to the regular stems shown here, so you do not choose its form according to the stem's vowel or batchim.
-(으)면 requires you to check whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. The special pattern for ㄹ-final stems is outside this course.
-아요/-어요 requires you to check the stem's final vowel.
Steps 5 & 6: Combine and Check the Result
Step 5: Combine
Attach the selected ending to the stem. For example, 먹 + 어요 becomes 먹어요 .
Step 6: Check for Contraction or Deletion
After combining, check whether a contraction or deletion rule applies. A vowel-final stem meeting a vowel-initial ending may contract, but not every combination changes in the same way. For example, 가 + 아요 becomes 가요 , and 보 + 아요 becomes 봐요 . The detailed patterns are introduced in later lessons.