Core Pattern Rule: -아/어지다 (Become/Get)
This pattern attaches to an adjective to show a change of state over time. It's the Korean equivalent of saying something "gets," "becomes," or "has gotten" a certain way.
Meaning & Usage
Meaning: Indicates a transition from one state to another.
When to use: Use it to describe changes you observe in weather, people's appearances, situations, prices, feelings, and more. It emphasizes the process of change, not just the final state.
Formation
It follows the same vowel harmony rules as the -아/어요 conjugation.
Adjective stems with ㅏ or ㅗ: Add -아지다
좋다 (good) → 좋아지다 (to get better)
많다 (many) → 많아지다 (to become many/more)
Adjective stems with other vowels: Add -어지다
춥다 (cold) → 추워지다 (to get cold)
어렵다 (difficult) → 어려워지다 (to get difficult)
Adjectives ending in 하다: Change to -해지다
깨끗하다 (clean) → 깨끗해지다 (to become clean)
유명하다 (famous) → 유명해지다 (to become famous)
This pattern is most commonly used in the past tense (-아/어졌어요) to describe a change that has already happened.
날씨가 추워졌어. / 상황이 안 좋아졌어요. / 길거리가 깨끗해졌어. / 시험 문제가 작년보다 어려워졌어요.
Synonyms & Differences: -아/어지다 vs. Past Tense Adjective
A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between using -아/어지다 and just using the adjective in its simple past tense form. The key difference is change vs. state.
Simple Past Tense (e.g., -았어/-었어)
Focus: Describes a state that existed in the past. It's a simple fact about a past condition.
Example: 날씨가 추웠어. (The weather was cold.)
This just states a fact. Maybe it was cold all day.
Change of State with -아/어지다
Focus: Emphasizes the process of change that led to the current state. It implies a 'before' and 'after'.