The Korean Writing SystemSyllablesNounsPredicatesFormal and Informal SpeechPre-Final and Final EndingsSpeech LevelAdding ㅓ or ㅏ to a predicate stemWords with 받침Adding 으 to predicates stemsThe Deferential Speech LevelThe Intimate Speech LevelThe Polite Speech LevelThe Plain Speech LevelThe Honorific Ending 시Irregular PredicatesParticlesThe Subject Particle 가 and 이The object particle 를 and 을The Topic Particle 는 and 은Forming a Sentence이다 and 아니다있다 and 없다NegationPast TensePredicates as ModifiersDeterminersBound NounsExpressing desire with 고 싶다NumbersCountersQuestionsThe Particle 에The Plural Particle 들The Possessive Particle 의The Particle 에서The Particle 도The Particle 부터The Particle 까지The Particle 만

The Plain Speech Level

The plain speech level is conjugated differently for declarative, interrogative, imperative and propositive sentences. Only verbs can be conjugated for propositive or imperative sentences.
For declarative sentences
If the predicate is an adjective or a copular, then 다 is added to the stem or to the past tense marker. If the predicate is a verb, 는다 is add to stems ending in a consonant, otherwise ㄴ다 is added to the stem, ㄴ becomes the 받침. If the predicate is conjugated in the past tense then 다 is added to the past tense ending.
The verb is conjugated as while the verb  is conjugated . In the past tense becomes   while the verb  becomes .
     
Now the children sit together and eat a snack.
   
It has been raining since yesterday.
For interrogative sentences
니 or 냐 is added to predicate stems for spoken communication 으냐 can be added to stems that end in a consonants for written communication. The verb can be conjugated as , , .
The verb can be conjugated as  or .
The adjective can be conjugated as or
민준  ?
Is Minju your older brother?
For imperative sentences
ㅓ or ㅏ is added to the verb stem followed by 라.
     ?
Do not waste water, please save it.
For propositive sentences
자 is added to the verb stem.
    
It is class time so let's please be quiet.
previousnext