Your goal
Now describe actions, not just names and objects. Look at a picture and use forms such as 먹어요 and 가요.
Before you start
- 하루
- a day
- 보통
- usually
- 먹다
- to eat
- 가다
- to go
- 일하다
- to work
- 공부하다
- to study
- 자다
- to sleep
저는 학생이에요 describes a status; 저는 공부해요 describes an action. Do not add 이에요 after an action ending.
Explore the situation
Look at the picture, then check the action label. These are learning diagrams for five actions.
Learn the expressions
Remove 다 from a dictionary form: 먹다 → 먹-, 가다 → 가-. This is the stem. A final stem vowel ㅏ or ㅗ normally takes -아요; other vowels normally take -어요. 하다 becomes 해요. Focus on the five forms below; this is not every conjugation rule.
| Dictionary form | Polite statement |
|---|---|
| 먹다 → 먹- + 어요 | 먹어요 |
| 가다 → 가- + 아요 | 가요 |
| 자다 → 자- + 아요 | 자요 |
| 일하다 → 일하- | 일해요 |
| 공부하다 → 공부하- | 공부해요 |
Read the conversation
Daily actions
저는 공부해요.
Show meaning
I study.
저는 일해요.
Show meaning
I work.
Check an action
공부해요?
Show meaning
Do you study?
네. 공부해요.
Show meaning
Yes, I study.
Build a sentence
Choose an action, try saying it, then open the model. Next build a sentence with the pieces.
Examples by condition
1
Example and explanation
먹어요.
2
Example and explanation
가요.
3
Example and explanation
일해요.
4
Example and explanation
공부해요.
5
Example and explanation
자요.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Introduce the action of studying.
Sentence pieces
- 공부해요.
- 저
- 는
2. Introduce the action of working.
Sentence pieces
- 는
- 일해요.
- 저
Practice
Check the situation and the expressions learned in this lesson before answering.
1. Choose the polite action form of 먹다.
- 먹어요.
- 먹아요.
- 먹다예요.
2. Choose the polite action form of 가다.
- 가어요.
- 가다예요.
- 가요.
3. Choose the polite action form of 일하다.
- 일해요이에요.
- 일해요.
- 일하요.
4. Choose the polite action form of 자다.
- 자요.
- 자어요.
- 자다이에요.
Try a new situation
Write an action sentence for each of five pictures in a new order. You do not need to add times or places yet.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. Write a polite sentence for this action.
Show a hint
Use 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 or 자요 to match the action.
2. Write a polite sentence for this action.
Show a hint
Use 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 or 자요 to match the action.
3. Write a polite sentence for this action.
Show a hint
Use 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 or 자요 to match the action.
4. Write a polite sentence for this action.
Show a hint
Use 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 or 자요 to match the action.
5. Write a polite sentence for this action.
Show a hint
Use 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 or 자요 to match the action.
Check your learning
Hide the model and choose an expression for the new details.
1. Yuna is learning her class material at a desk. Which learned action fits?
- 자요.
- 먹어요.
- 공부해요.
2. Which sentence states an action rather than an identity?
- 저는 학생이에요.
- 저는 일해요.
- 저는 회사원이에요.
3. Question: 공부해요? The person does study. Choose the response.
- 네. 공부해요.
- 네. 자요.
- 네. 공부예요.
4. What stem remains after removing 다 from 먹다?
- 먹어-
- 다-
- 먹-
5. Choose the practiced form of 공부하다.
- 공부하어요.
- 공부해요.
- 공부하아요.
6. Scene: Minsu moves to another place. Which learned action fits?
- 가요.
- 먹어요.
- 자요.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Choose the polite action form of 먹다.
Answer: 먹어요.
The form practiced for 먹다 is 먹어요.
- 먹아요. — The stem–ending combination differs from the learned form.
- 먹다예요. — Do not add 이에요/예요 to the dictionary form or an already ended action.
2. Choose the polite action form of 가다.
Answer: 가요.
The form practiced for 가다 is 가요.
- 가어요. — The stem–ending combination differs from the learned form.
- 가다예요. — Do not add 이에요/예요 to the dictionary form or an already ended action.
3. Choose the polite action form of 일하다.
Answer: 일해요.
The form practiced for 일하다 is 일해요.
- 일해요이에요. — Do not add 이에요/예요 to the dictionary form or an already ended action.
- 일하요. — The stem–ending combination differs from the learned form.
4. Choose the polite action form of 자다.
Answer: 자요.
The form practiced for 자다 is 자요.
- 자어요. — The stem–ending combination differs from the learned form.
- 자다이에요. — Do not add 이에요/예요 to the dictionary form or an already ended action.
Learning check
1. Yuna is learning her class material at a desk. Which learned action fits?
Answer: 공부해요.
Learning and practicing material is 공부해요.
- 자요. — 자요 is sleeping.
- 먹어요. — 먹어요 is eating.
2. Which sentence states an action rather than an identity?
Answer: 저는 일해요.
일해요 states an action.
- 저는 학생이에요. — 학생이에요 gives an identity, not the action of studying.
- 저는 회사원이에요. — 회사원이에요 gives an occupation.
3. Question: 공부해요? The person does study. Choose the response.
Answer: 네. 공부해요.
The response agrees with the stated action.
- 네. 자요. — This names sleeping, a different action.
- 네. 공부예요. — For the action, use 공부해요.
4. What stem remains after removing 다 from 먹다?
Answer: 먹-
Removing 다 leaves 먹-.
- 먹어- — 어 belongs to the ending combination; the stem is 먹-.
- 다- — 다 is the dictionary-form ending, not the stem.
5. Choose the practiced form of 공부하다.
Answer: 공부해요.
하다 becomes 해요, giving 공부해요.
- 공부하어요. — 하다 becomes 해요 here, not 하어요.
- 공부하아요. — 하다 becomes 해요 here, not 하아요.
6. Scene: Minsu moves to another place. Which learned action fits?
Answer: 가요.
Moving to another place is 가요.
- 먹어요. — 먹어요 means eating.
- 자요. — 자요 means sleeping.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. Write a polite sentence for this action.
일해요.
저는 일해요.
Use 일해요 for the action 일하다.
2. Write a polite sentence for this action.
먹어요.
저는 먹어요.
Use 먹어요 for the action 먹다.
3. Write a polite sentence for this action.
자요.
저는 자요.
Use 자요 for the action 자다.
4. Write a polite sentence for this action.
가요.
저는 가요.
Use 가요 for the action 가다.
5. Write a polite sentence for this action.
공부해요.
저는 공부해요.
Use 공부해요 for the action 공부하다.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Introduce the action of studying.
저는 공부해요.
저+는 is followed by the action 공부해요.
2. Introduce the action of working.
저는 일해요.
The polite present form of 일하다 is 일해요.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Rebuild without an example
Recall 먹어요, 가요, 일해요, 공부해요 and 자요 without pictures.
Change one detail
Change a time, place or action and make the sentence again. Revisit expressions you marked as difficult.
Review what felt difficult
Review expressions and examplesReview a model and rewrite it with one change. →Written checks and your attempt to speak are recorded separately.