The Seven Shape-Shifters: Korean Irregular Verbs
Once Upon a Time in Verb Village…
Imagine a peaceful village where verbs live happily. Most verbs follow the rules—they add endings the same way every time. But seven special verb families are rebels. When certain endings come knocking, these verbs change their shape before opening the door!
Think of it like this: Most people keep their name the same everywhere. But these seven families? They have secret nicknames they use only with certain friends.
Let’s meet these Seven Shape-Shifters!
🎭 The Shape-Shifter Metaphor
Regular verbs = People who always wear the same outfit Irregular verbs = Superheroes who change costumes for different missions!
When a vowel ending (like -아/어) comes to visit:
- Regular verbs: “Come in! I look the same!”
- Irregular verbs: “Wait! Let me change first!”
1. ㅂ-Irregular Verbs: The “ㅂ → 우” Transformers
The Story
The ㅂ family has a special trick. When a vowel ending comes, ㅂ gets shy and transforms into 우 (or 오).
The Rule
Stem ending in ㅂ + vowel → ㅂ disappears, 우 appears
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 덥다 | to be hot | 덥 + 어요 | 더워요 |
| 춥다 | to be cold | 춥 + 어요 | 추워요 |
| 쉽다 | to be easy | 쉽 + 어요 | 쉬워요 |
| 어렵다 | to be difficult | 어렵 + 어요 | 어려워요 |
| 돕다 | to help | 돕 + 아요 | 도와요 |
Think of It Like…
ㅂ is a caterpillar 🐛 that becomes a butterfly 🦋 (우) when warmth (vowels) arrives!
⚠️ Exceptions (Stay Regular!)
- 입다 (to wear) → 입어요 ✓
- 잡다 (to catch) → 잡아요 ✓
- 좁다 (to be narrow) → 좁아요 ✓
2. ㄷ-Irregular Verbs: The “ㄷ → ㄹ” Switchers
The Story
The ㄷ family loves the letter ㄹ. When a vowel ending visits, ㄷ says “I want to be ㄹ today!”
The Rule
Stem ending in ㄷ + vowel → ㄷ becomes ㄹ
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 듣다 | to listen | 듣 + 어요 | 들어요 |
| 걷다 | to walk | 걷 + 어요 | 걸어요 |
| 묻다 | to ask | 묻 + 어요 | 물어요 |
| 싣다 | to load | 싣 + 어요 | 실어요 |
Think of It Like…
ㄷ is playing dress-up! When vowels arrive, ㄷ puts on an ㄹ costume!
⚠️ Exceptions (Stay Regular!)
- 닫다 (to close) → 닫아요 ✓
- 믿다 (to believe) → 믿어요 ✓
- 받다 (to receive) → 받아요 ✓
3. ㅅ-Irregular Verbs: The Disappearing Act
The Story
The ㅅ family are magicians! When a vowel ending appears, ㅅ does a vanishing trick—poof! Gone!
The Rule
Stem ending in ㅅ + vowel → ㅅ disappears completely
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 짓다 | to build | 짓 + 어요 | 지어요 |
| 낫다 | to be better | 낫 + 아요 | 나아요 |
| 붓다 | to pour | 붓 + 어요 | 부어요 |
| 잇다 | to connect | 잇 + 어요 | 이어요 |
Think of It Like…
ㅅ is a ninja! When vowels come, it hides completely! 🥷
⚠️ Exceptions (Stay Regular!)
- 웃다 (to laugh) → 웃어요 ✓
- 씻다 (to wash) → 씻어요 ✓
- 벗다 (to take off) → 벗어요 ✓
4. ㅎ-Irregular Verbs: The Color Changers
The Story
The ㅎ family are mostly color/description words. When vowels come, ㅎ disappears AND the vowel changes too!
The Rule
Stem ending in ㅎ + 아/어 → ㅎ disappears, vowel becomes 애
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 노랗다 | to be yellow | 노랗 + 아요 | 노래요 |
| 파랗다 | to be blue | 파랗 + 아요 | 파래요 |
| 빨갛다 | to be red | 빨갛 + 아요 | 빨개요 |
| 하얗다 | to be white | 하얗 + 아요 | 하얘요 |
| 그렇다 | to be so | 그렇 + 아요 | 그래요 |
| 어떻다 | to be how | 어떻 + 아요 | 어때요 |
Think of It Like…
ㅎ is a chameleon! It blends in and changes everything around it! 🦎
5. ㄹ-Irregular Verbs: The “ㄹ” Droppers
The Story
The ㄹ family has a rule: “No double ㄴ, ㅂ, or ㅅ next to me!” When these consonants come, ㄹ steps aside.
The Rule
Stem ending in ㄹ + ㄴ/ㅂ/ㅅ → ㄹ disappears
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | + ㄴ | + ㅂ | + ㅅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 살다 | to live | 사는 | 삽니다 | 사세요 |
| 알다 | to know | 아는 | 압니다 | 아세요 |
| 만들다 | to make | 만드는 | 만듭니다 | 만드세요 |
| 열다 | to open | 여는 | 엽니다 | 여세요 |
| 팔다 | to sell | 파는 | 팝니다 | 파세요 |
Think of It Like…
ㄹ is polite! It moves out of the way for ㄴ, ㅂ, and ㅅ guests!
6. 르-Irregular Verbs: The Double Trouble
The Story
The 르 family loves to split! When -아/어 comes, 르 breaks into two parts and an extra ㄹ appears!
The Rule
으 + 르 + 아/어 → ㄹ + 라/러
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 모르다 | to not know | 모르 + 아요 | 몰라요 |
| 다르다 | to be different | 다르 + 아요 | 달라요 |
| 빠르다 | to be fast | 빠르 + 아요 | 빨라요 |
| 부르다 | to call | 부르 + 어요 | 불러요 |
| 자르다 | to cut | 자르 + 아요 | 잘라요 |
| 고르다 | to choose | 고르 + 아요 | 골라요 |
Think of It Like…
르 is like a cell that divides! One becomes two! 🧬
Visual Flow
graph TD A[모르다] --> B[모르 + 아요] B --> C[으 disappears] C --> D[ㄹ joins previous syllable] D --> E[몰라요]
7. 으-Irregular Verbs: The Vowel Absorbers
The Story
The 으 family is very shy. When -아/어 comes, 으 melts away and lets the vowel take over!
The Rule
Stem ending in 으 + 아/어 → 으 disappears
Real Examples
| Verb | Meaning | Before Change | After Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 쓰다 | to write | 쓰 + 어요 | 써요 |
| 끄다 | to turn off | 끄 + 어요 | 꺼요 |
| 크다 | to be big | 크 + 어요 | 커요 |
| 바쁘다 | to be busy | 바쁘 + 아요 | 바빠요 |
| 예쁘다 | to be pretty | 예쁘 + 어요 | 예뻐요 |
| 아프다 | to be sick | 아프 + 아요 | 아파요 |
Think of It Like…
으 is like ice that melts when warmth (vowels) arrives! ❄️→💧
🎯 Quick Summary: All Seven Shape-Shifters
| Type | What Happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ㅂ | ㅂ → 우 | 덥다 → 더워요 |
| ㄷ | ㄷ → ㄹ | 듣다 → 들어요 |
| ㅅ | ㅅ → ∅ (disappears) | 짓다 → 지어요 |
| ㅎ | ㅎ → ∅, vowel → 애 | 노랗다 → 노래요 |
| ㄹ | ㄹ drops before ㄴ/ㅂ/ㅅ | 살다 → 삽니다 |
| 르 | 르 → ㄹ + 라/러 | 모르다 → 몰라요 |
| 으 | 으 → ∅ (disappears) | 쓰다 → 써요 |
🌟 Why Do These Irregularities Exist?
Great question! These aren’t random—they make Korean easier to pronounce!
- ㅂ → 우: “덥어요” is hard to say. “더워요” flows better!
- ㄷ → ㄹ: “듣어요” is awkward. “들어요” is smooth!
The language evolved to be friendlier to your mouth. These irregulars are actually gifts from Korean speakers of the past!
💪 You’ve Got This!
Remember:
- Most verbs are regular (yay!)
- Irregulars follow patterns (you just learned them!)
- Practice makes permanent (use them daily!)
These seven shape-shifters might seem tricky at first, but once you recognize their patterns, they become your friends. Each one has a personality:
- ㅂ the Transformer 🦋
- ㄷ the Costume Lover 🎭
- ㅅ the Ninja 🥷
- ㅎ the Chameleon 🦎
- ㄹ the Polite One 🙇
- 르 the Cell Divider 🧬
- 으 the Ice Cube ❄️
Now go practice with confidence! You’re no longer a stranger to Korean irregular verbs—you’re a Shape-Shifter Spotter! 🎉