'ㅅ' 불규칙 (Irregular Conjugation)
When an irregular verb stem ending in 'ㅅ' is followed by a suffix that starts with a vowel, the 'ㅅ' is dropped. However, the vowel suffix itself remains as if the 'ㅅ' was still there.
Summary
Equivalent
'ㅅ' Irregular
Example
Please get well from your cold quickly.
빨리 감기가 나으세요. (낫다 + 으세요)
Grammar rules
- Example: 낫다 (to heal/better) + 아요 -> 나아요 (NOT 나요).
- 짓다 (to build) + 었어요 -> 지었어요.
- Before consonants, it is regular (낫고, 짓지만). Also, there are regular verbs ending in 'ㅅ' that do NOT drop the 'ㅅ' (웃다 -> 웃어요, 씻다 -> 씻어요, 벗다 -> 벗어요).
감기가 다 나았어요. (My cold is all healed.)
Patterns
Some Verbs ending in 'ㅅ'
Meeting a Vowel · Stem (drop ㅅ) + Vowel Endings
Example sentences
Please get well from your cold quickly.
빨리 감기가 나으세요. (낫다 + 으세요)
The subway is better than the bus.
지하철이 버스보다 나아요. (낫다 + 아요)
I built a house in Korea.
한국에서 집을 지었어요. (짓다 + 었어요)
Conversation
A: Are you a bit better after taking medicine?
약을 먹고 좀 괜찮아요?
B: Yes, I am much better than yesterday. (낫다)
네, 어제보다 많이 나았어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct conjugated form for the 'ㅅ' irregular.
Pouring/Swelling.
Laughing (Regular).