Polite Present Tense · -아요/어요

2. How it works

2.1 The basic formula

Take the dictionary form and drop 다 to get the stem. Then add 아요 or 어요. Nouns use a different ending, which you will see in 2.5.

Verb/Adjective stem + 아요/어요
Noun + 이에요/예요

가다 → 가 → 가요        (go)
먹다 → 먹 → 먹어요       (eat)

This is the polite style, called 해요체. It is the standard choice in daily life, and it is the style used in all the examples on this site.

2.2 Choosing 아요 or 어요

Look at the last vowel of the stem. If it is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아요. For every other vowel, add 어요.

last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ   →  stem + 아요
any other vowel       →  stem + 어요

Remember this as a short rule. The two "bright" vowels ㅏ and ㅗ go with 아요, and everything else goes with 어요.

2.3 하다 verbs become 해요

The verb 하다 means "do". Its polite form is 해요, and it is one of the most useful forms in Korean. Many verbs are a noun plus 하다, and they all follow the same pattern.

하다       → 해요
공부하다   → 공부해요     (study)
좋아하다   → 좋아해요     (like)

Do not write 하어요. It is a real rule with no exceptions, so you can trust it for every 하다 verb.

2.4 Contractions for stems with no final consonant

When the stem ends in a vowel, the stem vowel and the ending vowel often join into one syllable. This makes the word shorter and more natural. You can learn the common ones as a list.

가 + 아요 → 가요        (no change in spelling)
오 + 아요 → 와요        (ㅗ + ㅏ becomes ㅘ)
마시 + 어요 → 마셔요    (ㅣ + ㅓ becomes ㅕ)
배우 + 어요 → 배워요    (ㅜ + ㅓ becomes ㅝ)

For the verb 가다, the stem 가 already ends in ㅏ, so 가 + 아요 is just 가요. Do the same for 서다 and 자다, which become 서요 and 자요.

Here is a table of common verbs. Use it for practice, and cover the second column to test yourself.

2.5 The noun ending 이에요/예요

To say "A is B", you attach 이에요 or 예요 to the noun B. Use 이에요 after a consonant, and use 예요 after a vowel. This ending is the polite present form of the verb 이다, which means "to be".

noun ending in a consonant + 이에요
noun ending in a vowel     + 예요

학생 + 이에요 → 학생이에요    (a student)
의사 + 예요   → 의사예요      (a doctor)

2.6 Statements and questions

Statements and questions look the same in Korean. There is no change in the word, so you only change your voice. Say it with a falling tone for a statement and a rising tone for a question.

가요.    ga-yo.     I go.
가요?    ga-yo?     Do you go?