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Lesson 5

Irregular Verbs

Master the most common irregular verb patterns in Korean.

ㄷ Irregular & ㅂ Irregular

ㄷ irregular: ㄷ changes to ㄹ before a vowel ending. 듣다→들어요, 걷다→걸어요. ㅂ irregular: ㅂ changes to 우/오 before a vowel. 돕다→도와요, 덥다→더워요, 어렵다→어려워요.

묻다 → 물어요 (ㄷ불규칙: to ask)mutda → mureoyoask → [I] ask (ㄷ→ㄹ)
춥다 → 추워요 (ㅂ불규칙: to be cold)chupda → chuwoyocold → [it's] cold (ㅂ→워)

ㅡ Drop & 르 Irregular

ㅡ drop: When ㅡ is the last vowel and 아/어 follows, ㅡ drops. 쓰다→써요, 크다→커요. 르 irregular: 르 becomes ㄹㄹ. 모르다→몰라요, 빠르다→빨라요.

예쁘다 → 예뻐요 (ㅡ탈락: to be pretty)yeppeuda → yeppeoyopretty → [it's] pretty (ㅡ drops)
빠르다 → 빨라요 (르불규칙: to be fast)ppareuda → ppallayofast → [it's] fast (르→ㄹㄹ)
듣다deutdato listen / to hear
Examples음악을 들어요. (ㄷ → ㄹ)eumageul deuleoyoI listen to music. (ㄷ irregular)
돕다dopdato help
Examples친구를 도와요. (ㅂ → 와)chingureul dowayoI help my friend. (ㅂ irregular)
덥다deopdato be hot (weather)
Examples오늘은 정말 더워요. (ㅂ → 워)oneureun jeongmal deowoyoIt's really hot today. (ㅂ irregular)
걷다geotdato walk
Examples공원에서 걸어요. (ㄷ → ㄹ)gongwoneseo georeoyoI walk in the park. (ㄷ irregular)
쓰다sseudato write / to use
Examples일기를 써요. (ㅡ탈락)ilgireul sseoyoI write a diary. (ㅡ drop)
모르다moreudato not know
Examples저는 그 사람을 몰라요. (르 → ㄹㄹ)jeoneun geu sarameul mollayoI don't know that person. (르 irregular)