The -어요 Rule
The previous lesson showed that the basic -아요 / -어요 choice depends on the stem's last vowel.
When the last vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ , -어요 is the default choice.
In this lesson, we focus on regular consonant-final examples such as 먹다 and 읽다 , where the ending remains visible without contraction or deletion.
Conjugating Verbs with -어요
Let's look at the verb 먹다 .
Step 1: Drop -다 to find the stem: 먹 .
Step 2: Check the vowel. The vowel is ㅓ .
Step 3: Since ㅓ is not ㅏ or ㅗ , add -어요 .
먹 + 어요 → 먹어요
The same applies to 읽다 . The stem is 읽 , and the vowel is ㅣ .
읽 + 어요 → 읽어요
Conjugating Adjectives with -어요
The same vowel-selection rule applies to the regular adjectives shown here.
For example, 적다 has the stem 적 , whose last vowel is ㅓ .
적 + 어요 → 적어요
깊다 has the stem 깊 , whose last vowel is ㅣ .
깊 + 어요 → 깊어요
Choosing Between -아요 and -어요
In the basic regular forms introduced in these two lessons, the word's meaning does not decide the ending. Check the last vowel of the stem.
If the last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ , choose -아요 ( 찾다 → 찾아요 ).
Otherwise, -어요 is the default choice ( 잊다 → 잊어요 ).
Later lessons cover forms that also involve contraction, deletion, or the 하다 pattern.
Common Mistake: Which Vowel?
For the basic regular forms in this lesson, check the vowel in the final syllable of the stem.
Take 맛있다 . The stem is 맛있 .
The first syllable has ㅏ , but the final syllable 있 has ㅣ , so the default choice is -어요 .