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Rule map + practice

Korean Polite Conjugation

A compact working map for the polite informal style: 해요 / 했어요 / 할 거예요.

Accessible study reference

This HTML rule map is available publicly. The companion PDF remains internal pending owner approval for public release.

1. Start here

dictionary form → remove 다 → choose the vowel rule → add 요

2. Core tense map

Use Shift and the mouse wheel, a trackpad, or the arrow keys to move horizontally.
Korean polite conjugation tense map
TensePatternRegular하다
Presentstem + 아/어요먹다 → 먹어요하다 → 해요
Paststem + 았/었어요먹다 → 먹었어요하다 → 했어요
Futurestem + (으)ㄹ 거예요먹다 → 먹을 거예요하다 → 할 거예요

3. Choose 아 / 어

아-family

Last stem vowel ㅏ, ㅑ, or ㅗ → 아요. 가다 → 가요; 오다 → 와요.

어-family

Other vowels → 어요. 먹다 → 먹어요; 예쁘다 → 예뻐요.

Tip: first identify the final vowel in the stem, not the vowel in 다.

4. High-value pattern cards

  • Contractions

    ㅏ/ㅓ reduce; ㅗ + 아 → ㅘ

    • 가다 → 가요
    • 먹다 → 먹어요
    • 오다 → 와요

  • ㅡ drop

    drop ㅡ; prior vowel decides; one syllable → 어

    • 예쁘다 → 예뻐요
    • 바쁘다 → 바빠요
    • 쓰다 → 써요

  • 르 irregular

    add ㄹ to prior syllable + 라/러

    • 오르다 → 올라요
    • 모르다 → 몰라요

  • ㄷ irregular

    ㄷ → ㄹ before a vowel

    • 듣다 → 들어요
    • 걷다 → 걸어요

  • ㅂ irregular

    ㅂ → 우/오 + 아/어요

    • 돕다 → 도와요
    • 눕다 → 누워요

  • ㅅ irregular

    drop ㅅ before a vowel

    • 짓다 → 지어요
    • 낫다 → 나아요

  • ㅎ irregular

    often drop ㅎ; vowel shifts

    • 빨갛다 → 빨개요
    • (learn each adjective family)

  • ㄹ-final

    future uses one ㄹ; drop before ㄴ/ㅂ/ㅅ

    • 열다 → 열어요
    • 열다 → 열 거예요

5. Meaning matters before you attach endings

Semantic caution

Descriptive predicates (adjectival verbs) generally should not receive -고 있다 or -고 싶다 or -아/어 주세요 automatically. Check whether the meaning is an action, a changing state, or a description first.

Action verbs such as 먹다 can support these constructions; descriptive predicates such as 예쁘다 need a meaning check.

6. Practice

Write the polite present form

  1. 먹다
  2. 하다
  3. 바쁘다
  4. 오르다
  5. 듣다
  6. 돕다
  7. 짓다
  8. 빨갛다

Write the polite future form

  1. 먹다
  2. 하다
  3. 열다

Self-check: say the stem out loud before writing the ending.

7. Answer key

Show answer key
  1. 1. 먹어요
  2. 2. 해요
  3. 3. 바빠요
  4. 4. 올라요
  5. 5. 들어요
  6. 6. 도와요
  7. 7. 지어요
  8. 8. 빨개요
  9. 9. 먹을 거예요
  10. 10. 할 거예요
  11. 11. 열 거예요

8. Sources and status

Use the conjugator for a second check

Open chamelingo.com/tools/conjugator to browse a source-checked lookup table. The tool lists cataloged lemmas only: irregular patterns are lexical, and context can change the most natural ending.

Open the conjugator

Catalog-level audit references

These references describe the rules used to audit the catalog; they are not per-entry citations.

Document status: source-checked; not human reviewed. Version 1.0 • 2026-08-14

License status: owner approval required before public release.