A/V-아/어요

Present tense in informal polite style. Most commonly used speech level in daily conversation with friends, family, and acquaintances.

Beginner Tenses

Formation

Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 아요. Stem ending in other vowels + 어요. 하다 verbs: 하 + 어요 → 해요. Contractions: 가아요 → 가요, 서어요 → 서요. 가다 (stem: 가, vowel: ㅏ) + 아요 → 가요. 먹다 (stem: 먹, vowel: other) + 어요 → 먹어요. 공부하다 (하다 verb) → 공부해요.

Examples

오늘 집에 일찍 가요.

oneul jibe iljjik gayo

I'm going home early today.

Daily conversation

한국어 공부해요.

hangugeo gongbuhaeyo

I study Korean.

Daily conversation

Usage

Most commonly used speech level in daily conversation. Used with friends, family, and acquaintances. Contractions are common (가아요 → 가요). Same form for statements and questions (distinguished by intonation).

Notes

Stem with ㅏ/ㅗ + 아요. Other vowel stems + 어요. 하다 verbs become 해요. Contractions: 가 + 아요 → 가요, 서 + 어요 → 서요.

Formation

Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 아요
Stem ending in other vowels + 어요
Examples
하다 verbs: 하 + 어요해요
Contractions: 가아요가요, 서어요 → 서요
가다 (stem: 가, vowel: ㅏ) + 아요가요
먹다 (stem: 먹, vowel: other) + 어요먹어요
공부하다 (하다 verb)공부해요

Examples

오늘 집에 일찍 가요.
oneul jibe iljjik gayo
// Expected output:
I'm going home early today.
Context: Daily conversation

Notes

  • Stem with ㅏ/ㅗ + 아요.
  • Other vowel stems + 어요.
  • 하다 verbs become 해요.
  • Contractions: 가 + 아요 → 가요, 서 + 어요 → 서요.

Usage

  • Most commonly used speech level in daily conversation.
  • Used with friends, family, and acquaintances.
  • Contractions are common (가아요 → 가요).
  • Same form for statements and questions (distinguished by intonation).

See Also

No cross-references available.

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