Posted: 2010-06-19 / Updated: 2018-02-07
To study this grammar point, please make sure you understand the following:
In English, you may simply add -ed to change a verb to its past tense. In Korean, it is done by modifying the suffix of the verb. Note that Similarities and Differences Between Korean Verbs and Adjectives in grammatical constructions, and they Honorific Speech and Speech Levels in Korean just like verbs.
Past Tense of Korean Verbs and Adjectives
In order to conjugate a Korean verb or adjective to its past tense form, Similarities and Differences Between Korean Verbs and Adjectives of its present tense form, and use Korean Verb and Adjective Conjugation to attach 았다 or 었다 to it.
Exception: Use original stems to conjugate ㄹ-irregular verbs and adjectives.*
You then get the plain past tense form, which is always a regular verb.
Examples Common Korean Verbs
| Verbs/Adjectives | Dictionary Form | Meaning | Original Stem | Alternate Stem | Plain Past Tense Form | Vowel Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 먹다 | eat | 먹 | 먹 | 먹었다 | N |
| 하다 | do | 하 | 하 | 했다 | Y | |
| ㅂ-Irregular | 춥다 | cold | 춥 | 추우 | 추웠다 | Y |
| ㅅ-Irregular | 낫다 | better | 낫 | 나 | 나았다 | N |
| ㄷ-Irregular | 듣다 | listen | 듣 | 들 | 들었다 | N |
| ㅎ-Irregular | 그렇다 | to be so | 그렇 | 그러 | 그랬다 | Y |
| ㄹ-Irregular | 달다 | sweet | 달 | 달았다* | N | |
| 으-Irregular | 쓰다 | write | 쓰 | 쓰 | 썼다 | Y |
| 르-Irregular | 고르다 | choose | 고르 | 골르 | 골랐다 | Y |
You can now conjugate the plain past tense form to its Word Stems of Korean Verbs and Adjectives, Informal Polite Form of Korean Verbs and Adjectives, or informal casual form as described in the each of the rules respectively.
| Present Tense | Verb / Adjective | Plain Past Tense | Formal Polite Past | Informal Polite Past | Informal Casual Past |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 먹다 | V | 먹었다 | 먹었습니다 | 먹었어요 | 먹었어 |
| 하다 | V | 했다 | 했습니다 | 했어요 | 했어 |
| 춥다 | A | 추웠다 | 추웠습니다 | 추웠어요 | 추웠어 |
| 낫다 | A | 나았다 | 나았습니다 | 나았어요 | 나았어 |
| 듣다 | V | 들었다 | 들었습니다 | 들었어요 | 들었어 |
| 그렇다 | A | 그랬다 | 그랬습니다 | 그랬어요 | 그랬어 |
| 달다 | A | 달았다 | 달았습니다 | 달았어요 | 달았어 |
| 쓰다 | V | 썼다 | 썼습니다 | 썼어요 | 썼어 |
| 고르다 | V | 골랐다 | 골랐습니다 | 골랐어요 | 골랐어 |
Compare the sentences of using the Word Stems of Korean Verbs and Adjectives and Informal Polite Form of Korean Verbs and Adjectives of saying the same meanings in past tense:
- 점심을 먹었습니다.
- 점심을 먹었어요.
- I ate lunch.
- 음악을 들었습니다.
- 음악을 들었어요.
- I listened to music.
- 편지를 썼습니다.
- 편지를 썼어요.
- I wrote a letter.
Related Grammar Points
- Similarities and Differences Between Korean Verbs and Adjectives
- Word Stems of Korean Verbs and Adjectives
- Formal Polite Form of Korean Verbs and Adjectives
- Informal Polite Form of Korean Verbs and Adjectives
- Common Korean Verbs
- Korean Verb and Adjective Conjugation
- Verb To-Be 이다 in Korean
- Spacing in Written Korean