Polite Present Tense · -아요/어요

5. Summary

• Drop 다 from the dictionary form, then add 아요 or 어요 to the stem. The same form is used for statements and questions.
• Use 아요 when the last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, as in 좋아요 and 살아요. Use 어요 for all other vowels, as in 먹어요 and 있어요.
• 하다 becomes 해요, as in 공부해요. Never write 하어요.
• Stems with no final consonant contract: 가요, 와요, 봐요, 마셔요, 배워요 and 줘요.
• For nouns, use 이에요 after a consonant and 예요 after a vowel: 학생이에요 and 의사예요.
• A question has the same form as a statement. Raise your voice at the end, as in 가요?
• Next lesson: Past Tense (-았어요/었어요).