The -아요 Rule
In the basic 해요-style forms taught here, choose between -아요 and -어요 by checking the last vowel of the stem.
For the regular consonant-final examples in this lesson, use -아요 when that vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ .
Because the stem ends in a consonant, no vowel contraction is needed, so the -아요 pattern remains clearly visible.
Step 1: Find the Stem
Before you can conjugate, you need to find the stem.
Take the dictionary form of the word and remove -다 .
잡다 -> 잡
찾다 -> 찾
좋다 -> 좋
The part that is left is the stem. This is your starting point.
Step 2: Check the Last Vowel
Now, look at the last syllable of the stem you just found. What is the vowel inside it?
In 잡 , the vowel is ㅏ .
In 찾 , the vowel is ㅏ .
In 좋 , the vowel is ㅗ .
Because the vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ , these words take the -아요 ending.
Step 3: Attach -아요
Finally, attach -아요 to the stem.
잡 + 아요 -> 잡아요
찾 + 아요 -> 찾아요
좋 + 아요 -> 좋아요
In these regular consonant-final examples, the written stem remains recognizable and -아요 is added without vowel contraction.
Common Mistake: Looking at the Wrong Syllable
A very common mistake is looking at the wrong part of the word.
Always look at the LAST syllable of the stem, right before -다 .
For example, in a longer word like 괜찮다 , the stem is 괜찮 . The last syllable is 찮 . The vowel in 찮 is ㅏ . Therefore, it becomes 괜찮아요 . Do not look at the first syllable ( 괜 ).