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Future and Past Tense

In this lesson we’re going to learn how to conjugate verbs into the most common future and past tenses in Korean!


-(으)ᄅ 거예요

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Used for the probable future tense (when it is probable that something will happen)

Used for the conditional future tense (if A happens, B will happen)

Conjugation

1. Take the infinitive form of the verb

2. Drop -다

3. No 받침: attach ᄅ

Yes 받침: attach 을

*Note: 받침 is the bottom consonant of a word

Examples (probable future tense)

1. 비가 올 거예요.

It is (probably) going to rain.

2. 치마가 너무 짧을 거예요.

The skirt is (probably) going to be too short.

Examples (conditional future tense)

1. 민수가 라면을 먹으면 배가 부를 거예요

If Minsu eats Ramen, he will be full.

2. 해가 뜨면 세상이 밝을 거예요.

If the sun rises, the world will be bright.

*Note: Very formal -(으)ᄅ 겁니다

Informal -(으)ᄅ 거야


-아/어요

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Used for definite future tense (when something will happen)

Conjugation

1. Same as present tense

2. Add signal words to indicate the future (내일, 모레, 다음주, 오늘 밤, etc.)

Examples

1. 다음주 언니가 한국에 가요.

My sister is going to Korea next week.

2. 내일 유리가 메달을 받아요.

Yuri will get a medal tomorrow.

3. 화요일에 시험이 있어요.

There is a test on Tuesday.

*Note: Very formal -습/ᄇ니다

Informal -아/어


-(으)ᄅ게요

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Used for immediate/promised future tense (volunteering/promising to do something)

Only used in first person!

Subject uses the particle 가 (제가, 내가, 저희가, 우리가)

Conjugation

1. Take the infinitive form of the verb

2. Drop -다

3. No 받침: ᄅ

Yes 받침: 을

*Note: for the 습니다 form, you replace -다 with-겠습니다, regardless of whether or not

there is a 받침

Informal -ᄅ게


Examples

1. 제가 바퀴벌레를 밟을게요.

I will step on the cockroach.

2. 내가 슈퍼에 갈게!

I’ll go to the supermarket!

3. 저희가 운전하겠습니다.

We will drive.


-았/었어요

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Used for the basic past tense

Conjugation

1. Take the infinitive form of the verb

2. Drop the -다 to end up with the verb stem

3. Conjugate the same way as the present tense informal casual form

4. Add ᄊ어요

Examples

1. 밥 먹었어요?

Did you eat food?

(Common greeting)

2. 슈퍼마켓에 갔어요

I went to the supermarket

3. 저는 숙제를 다 끝냈어요

I finished all of my homework

*Note: Very formal -았/었습니다

Informal -았/었어


-았/었었어요

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Used for the past perfect tense

This is not as commonly used as the form is in English. It is rather rarely used, but when

it is used it is used to add emphasis on the fact that it was way in the past and already

finished.

Conjugation

5. Take the infinitive form of the verb

6. Drop the -다 to end up with the verb stem

7. Conjugate the same way as the present tense informal casual form

8. Add ᄊ었어요

Examples

1. 예전에는 한국어 어학당을 다녔었어요

I did attend a Korean language institute in the past

2. 어렸을 때는 아주 뚱뚱했었어요

I used to be very chubby when I was young

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