Korean Grammar: 'ㅡ' Irregular Verbs (ㅡ 불규칙) Irregular Verbs Explained | Soona Study Lab
- Lee Serene
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The Shape-Shifters: Korean 'ㅡ' Irregular Verbs (ㅡ 불규칙)
Korean 'ㅡ' irregular verbs are incredibly common. Words like Busy (바쁘다), Pretty (예쁘다), To write (쓰다), and To be sick (아프다) all fall into this category.
Here is the tricky part: when these verbs meet a grammar pattern that starts with '-아/어요', the 'ㅡ' completely drops out! But wait, there's a second step. You have to look at the vowel in the previous syllable to decide whether to add '아요' or '어요'.
Don't worry! Because these words describe basic states and actions, you will use them constantly. We will also talk about the infamous '르' (Reu) Trap, which confuses many beginners!
Click the play buttons in the interactive module below to listen to the native pronunciation and practice reading out loud! (The full text and discussion questions are provided at the bottom of the page.)
Practice Makes Perfect
Memorizing the rule of the 'ㅡ' irregular verb is just the first step. To truly speak Korean with confidence, you need to practice saying words like "바빠요" and "예뻐요" out loud until they become muscle memory. Stop calculating the grammar in your head and start speaking!
If you found this grammar breakdown helpful and want to practice building complex sentences in real-time, join my 1:1 conversation classes. Let's conquer your Korean goals together!
Full Grammar Breakdown, Conjugation Tables & Discussion (Free Study Materials)
Korean Grammar: 'ㅡ' Irregular Verbs (ㅡ 불규칙) Irregular Verbs Explained | Soona Study Lab
The Rule: Drop the ㅡ, Check the Vowel! If a verb or adjective stem ends with the vowel 'ㅡ', and the next grammar pattern starts with -아/어요:
The 'ㅡ' drops.
Look at the vowel in the previous syllable.
If the previous vowel is 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ', add 아요.
If it is anything else (or there is no previous vowel), add 어요.
[Dictionary Form -> Meaning -> Conjugation]
바쁘다 (Busy) -> 바 (ㅏ) -> 바ㅃ + 아요 = 바빠요
아프다 (Sick) -> 아 (ㅏ) -> 아ㅍ + 아요 = 아파요
예쁘다 (Pretty) -> 예 (ㅖ) -> 예ㅃ + 어요 = 예뻐요
슬프다 (Sad) -> 슬 (ㅡ) -> 슬ㅍ + 어요 = 슬퍼요
쓰다 (Write) -> (None) -> ㅆ + 어요 = 써요
When does 'ㅡ' NOT drop?
Unlike other irregulars, the 'ㅡ' irregular ONLY drops when it meets -아/어. If the grammar starts with a consonant OR starts with 'ㅡ' (like -면, -니까), the 'ㅡ'
stays perfectly safe!
바쁘다 + 고 = 바쁘고 (And)
바쁘다 + 면 = 바쁘면 (If)
바쁘다 + 니까 = 바쁘니까 (Because)
10 Sentences Practice (Present & Past Tense)
오늘 일이 많아서 너무 바빠요. (바쁘다 - Present)
[O-neul i-ri ma-na-seo neo-mu ba-ppa-yo.]
I'm too busy today because there is a lot of work.
어제 산 꽃이 정말 예뻐요. (예쁘다 - Present)
[Eo-je san kko-chi jeong-mal ye-ppeo-yo.]
The flowers I bought yesterday are really pretty.
친구에게 생일 편지를 썼어요. (쓰다 - Past)
[Chin-gu-e-ge saeng-il pyeon-ji-reul sseo-sseo-yo.]
I wrote a birthday letter to my friend.
머리가 너무 아파서 병원에 갔어요. (아프다 - Past)
[Meo-ri-ga neo-mu a-pa-seo byeong-wo-ne ga-sseo-yo.]
I went to the hospital because my head hurt too much.
자기 전에 항상 방 불을 꺼요. (끄다 - Present)
[Ja-gi jeo-ne hang-sang bang bu-reul kkeo-yo.]
I always turn off the room light before going to sleep.
슬픈 영화를 보고 많이 슬펐어요. (슬프다 - Past)
[Seul-peun yeong-hwa-reul bo-go ma-ni seul-peo-sseo-yo.]
I was very sad after watching a sad movie.
아침을 안 먹어서 지금 배고파요. (배고프다 - Present)
[A-chi-meul an meo-geo-seo ji-geum bae-go-pa-yo.]
I am hungry now because I didn't eat breakfast.
이 옷은 저에게 너무 커요. (크다 - Present)
[I o-seun jeo-e-ge neo-mu keo-yo.]
These clothes are too big for me.
외출할 때 문을 꼭 잠가요. (잠그다 - Present)
[Oe-chul-hal ttae mu-neul kkok jam-ga-yo.]
Lock the door tightly when you go out.
건강에 나쁜 습관을 고쳤어요. (나쁘다 - Past)
[Geon-gang-e na-ppeun seup-ggwa-neul go-chyeo-sseo-yo.]
I fixed a habit that is bad for my health.
Watch out for '르' Verbs!
Many students get confused because verbs like 빠르다 (To be fast) and 부르다 (To call) end in 'ㅡ'.
However, they belong to the special '르' Irregular family. They do NOT follow the simple 'ㅡ' drop rule. Instead, they add an extra 'ㄹ'!
빠르다 -> 빨라요 (NOT 빠라요)
부르다 -> 불러요 (NOT 부러요)
다르다 -> 달라요 (NOT 다라요)
모르다 -> 몰라요 (NOT 모라요)
Free Talking & Discussion Questions
요즘 하루하루가 바빠요, 아니면 한가해요?
[Yo-jeum ha-ru-ha-ru-ga ba-ppa-yo, a-ni-myeon han-ga-hae-yo?]
Are you busy these days, or do you have free time?
여러분의 나라에서 가장 예쁜 도시는 어디인가요?
[Yeo-reo-bu-ne na-ra-e-seo ga-jang ye-ppeun do-si-neun eo-di-in-ga-yo?]
Where is the prettiest city in your country?
머리나 배가 아플 때 보통 어떤 약을 먹나요?
[Meo-ri-na bae-ga a-peul ttae bo-tong eo-tteon ya-geul meong-na-yo?]
What kind of medicine do you usually take when your head or stomach hurts?
슬픈 영화를 볼 때 눈물을 흘리는 편인가요?
[Seul-peun yeong-hwa-reul bol ttae nun-mu-reul heul-li-neun pyeo-nin-ga-yo?]
Do you tend to shed tears when watching a sad movie?
한국어로 일기나 편지를 써 본 적이 있나요?
[Han-gu-geo-ro il-gi-na pyeon-ji-reul sseo bon jeo-gi in-na-yo?]
Have you ever written a diary or letter in Korean?
외출할 때 항상 방 불을 끄나요?
[Oe-chul-hal ttae hang-sang bang bu-reul kkeu-na-yo?]
Do you always turn off the room light when going out?
배고플 때 가장 먼저 생각나는 음식은 무엇인가요?
[Bae-go-peul ttae ga-jang meon-jeo saeng-gang-na-neun eum-si-geun mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?]
What is the food that comes to mind first when you are hungry?
너무 큰 옷을 입는 것을 좋아하나요?
[Neo-mu keun o-seul im-neun geo-seul jo-a-ha-na-yo?]
Do you like wearing oversized (too big) clothes?
집에서 외출할 때 문을 잘 잠갔는지 다시 확인하나요?
[Ji-be-seo oe-chul-hal ttae mu-neul jal jam-gat-neun-ji da-si hwa-gin-ha-na-yo?]
When going out from home, do you double-check if you locked the door well?
건강에 나쁜 습관이 있다면 무엇인가요?
[Geon-gang-e na-ppeun seup-ggwa-ni it-tta-myeon mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?]
If you have any bad habits for your health, what are they?
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