Present Tense (Informal) A/V-어/아요
The most common conversational tense used with friends, family, or people you know. It's polite but sounds softer and friendlier than the formal -(스)ㅂ니다 form.
Summary
Equivalent
Present Tense (Informal Polite Style)
Example
I work out at the gym every day.
저는 매일 체육관에서 운동해요.
Grammar rules
- If the verb/adjective stem's last vowel is 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', add '-아요'.
- Otherwise, add '-어요'.
- Verbs ending in '하다' become '해요'.
- Questions are made simply by raising the intonation at the end.
- For nouns with '이다' (to be), use '이에요' if the noun ends in a consonant, and '예요' if it ends in a vowel.
책상이에요. (It is a desk.) / 의사예요. (I am a doctor.)
Patterns
V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) stem containing ㅏ or ㅗ
현재 (Present) · -아요
V/A (Verbs/Adjectives) stem containing other vowels
현재 (Present) · -어요
하다 verbs
현재 (Present) · 해요
Example sentences
I work out at the gym every day.
저는 매일 체육관에서 운동해요.
The weather is really hot these days.
요즘 날씨가 정말 더워요.
I'm drinking coffee with a friend at a cafe.
친구하고 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.
Conversation
A: What do you usually eat for lunch?
점심시간에 주로 뭐 먹어요?
B: I eat kimchi stew near the office.
회사 근처에서 김치찌개를 먹어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct informal polite present tense.
Greeting.
Eating.