Beginner Estimated read: 3 mins

'ㄷ' 불규칙 (Irregular Conjugation)

When an irregular verb stem ending in 'ㄷ' is followed by a suffix that starts with a vowel, the 'ㄷ' changes to 'ㄹ'.

Summary

Equivalent

'ㄷ' Irregular

Example

I listen to Korean music every day. (듣다)

매일 한국 음악을 들어요.

Grammar rules

  • Example: 듣다 (Listen) + 어요 -> 들어요.
  • 걷다 (Walk) + 었어요 -> 걸었어요.
  • 묻다 (Ask) + (으)면 -> 물으면.
  • Before consonants, it remains regular: 듣고, 걷지만. Also, some verbs are REGULAR and do not change: 받다 -> 받아요, 닫다 -> 닫아요, 믿다 -> 믿어요.

    음악을 들으면서 걸어요. (I walk while listening to music.)

Patterns

1

Some Verbs ending in 'ㄷ'

Meeting a Vowel · Stem (change ㄷ to ㄹ) + Vowel Endings

Example sentences

Some Verbs ending in 'ㄷ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (change ㄷ to ㄹ) + Vowel Endings

I listen to Korean music every day. (듣다)

매일 한국 음악을 들어요.

Some Verbs ending in 'ㄷ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (change ㄷ to ㄹ) + Vowel Endings

I walked in the park for 1 hour. (걷다)

공원에서 1시간 동안 걸었어요.

Some Verbs ending in 'ㄷ' · Meeting a Vowel · Stem (change ㄷ to ㄹ) + Vowel Endings

If there's something you don't know, ask. (묻다)

모르는 것이 있으면 물어보세요.

Conversation

A: How did you get here?

어떻게 오셨어요?

B: It's close to my house, so I walked. (걷다)

집에서 가까워서 걸어왔어요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct conjugated form for the 'ㄷ' irregular.

Listening.

Walking.