14.6. Basic Korean Grammar: Adjectives and Descriptive Adjectives

Adjectives are a fundamental part of basic Korean grammar, as they are responsible for describing or qualifying a noun. In Korean, the grammatical structure of adjectives is a little different than in other languages, which is why understanding how they work is essential to mastering the language.

Adjectives in Korean

Korean adjectives usually end in '-다' when they are in their basic form, also known as dictionary form. For example, '빠르다' (fast), '맛있다' (delicious), '작다' (small), etc. However, when we use these adjectives in a sentence, the '-다' ending is removed and replaced with other endings according to the tense and level of formality.

Adjective Conjugation

The conjugation of adjectives in Korean is a little different from that of verbs. To conjugate an adjective in the informal present tense, we remove the ending '-다' and add '-아/어요'. For example, '빠르다' (fast) becomes '빠르아요' (it's fast). The choice between '-아요' and '-어요' depends on the final vowel of the adjective stem.

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives, also known as descriptive verbs, are a unique feature of Korean grammar. They work like adjectives in English but are conjugated like verbs in Korean. For example, '예쁘다' (be handsome), '잘생기다' (be attractive), etc. These descriptive adjectives can be used directly before a noun to describe it, or they can be used in a sentence with an auxiliary verb.

Use of Descriptive Adjectives

To use a descriptive adjective directly before a noun, we remove the '-다' ending and add '-ㄴ/은' for adjectives with a final vowel and '-는' for adjectives with a final consonant. For example, '예쁘다' (be beautiful) becomes '예쁜' (beautiful) before a noun, as in '예쁜 꽃' (a beautiful flower).

Conjugation of Descriptive Adjectives

To conjugate a descriptive adjective in the informal present tense, we remove the '-다' ending and add '-아/어요', just like with regular adjectives. For example, '예쁘다' (be beautiful) becomes '예쁘아요' (is beautiful). However, when we use a descriptive adjective with an auxiliary verb, the conjugation can be a little different.

Conclusion

Understanding adjectives and descriptive adjectives is an important step in mastering basic Korean grammar. They are used frequently in everyday conversations and are essential for expressing ideas and emotions. Therefore, it is important to practice using and conjugating these adjectives to improve your Korean language skills.

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How are adjectives conjugated in the informal present tense in basic Korean grammar?

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