Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #40
쓰다 becomes 써요, 크다 becomes 커요, and 바쁘다 becomes 바빠요. These forms follow the predictable ㅡ elision rule.
What Does Regular conjugation 2. ㅡ elision Mean?
When a stem ending in ㅡ meets an ending beginning with 아 or 어, ㅡ drops. The vowel in the preceding syllable usually helps decide whether 아 or 어 follows.
The Rule
Remove ㅡ. If the previous syllable contains ㅏ or ㅗ, use 아: 바쁘다 → 바빠요, 아프다 → 아파요. With another vowel, use 어: 예쁘다 → 예뻐요. One-syllable stems such as 쓰다 and 크다 use 어: 써요, 커요.
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 쓰다 | to write/use |
| 크다 | to be big |
| 바쁘다 | to be busy |
| 아프다 | to be sick/hurt |
| 예쁘다 | to be pretty |
| 나쁘다 | to be bad |
| 기쁘다 | to be glad |
| 슬프다 | to be sad |
Korean Grammar Examples
공책에 이름을 써요.
I write my name in the notebook.
이 방은 아주 커요.
This room is very big.
오늘은 일이 많아서 바빠요.
I am busy today because I have a lot of work.
머리가 아파요.
My head hurts.
공원의 꽃이 예뻐요.
The flowers in the park are pretty.
A Short Dialogue
A: 오늘 바빠요? — Are you busy today?
B: 네, 조금 바빠요. — Yes, I’m a little busy.
A: 어디가 아파요? — Where does it hurt?
B: 머리가 조금 아파요. — My head hurts a little.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not keep ㅡ before 아/어요: 쓰어요 and 크어요 are not the standard forms; use 써요 and 커요. This is different from 르-irregular verbs such as 모르다 → 몰라요, which involve an additional ㄹ. Learn that as a separate pattern.
Quick Quiz 🎯
Change to the polite -아/어요 form: ① 쓰다 ② 크다 ③ 바쁘다 ④ 예쁘다.
Answers and Explanation
① 써요 ② 커요 ③ 바빠요 ④ 예뻐요. In every answer, stem-final ㅡ disappears before the new vowel.
Try It in Your Own Life
Write two original sentences using Regular conjugation 2. ㅡ elision about your experience, schedule, ability, plan, or Korean study. Read them aloud, change one detail, and say them again. Check both the grammar form and the spacing before comparing your work with the model sentences.
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