-아/어(요)Imperative

Korean Imperative Grammar: 아/어(요)

Korean imperative grammar is used when giving suggestions, requests, or commands. The 아/어(요) form is one of the ways to express these intentions. This grammar form is more polite than using the plain form (아/어) and is appropriate for conversations with people you're not very close with or those of a similar or higher social status.

Verb Stem

To form the 아/어(요) imperative, you first need to identify the verb stem. Korean verbs usually end in '다' (e.g., 가다, 먹다, 마시다). To find the verb stem, simply remove the '다' For example:

Vowel-ending verb stems

If the verb stem ends in one of the following vowels: ㅏ or ㅗ, you need to add '아요' to the stem. For other vowel endings, you need to add "어요." Here are some examples:

• 가다 (to go) → 가 (stem) → 가아요 → 가요
• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 (stem) → 먹어요
• 마시다 (to drink) → 마시 (stem) → 마시어요 → 마셔요

Consonant-ending verb stems

For verb stems ending in a consonant, you need to apply the same rule as for vowel-ending stems, but with one additional step. First, you need to add the 어요, and then follow the rules for vowel-ending stems:

• 만들다 (to make) → 만들 (stem) → 만들 + 어요 = 만들어요.
• 쓰다 (to write) → 쓰 (stem) → 쓰(irregular verb) + 어요 = 써요.

Examples

Now let's look at some examples of the 아/어(요) imperative form in action:

1. 가다 (to go)

   • 공원에 가요. (Go to the park.)

2. 먹다 (to eat)

   • 점심을 먹어요. (Eat lunch.)

3. 마시다 (to drink)

   • 물을 마셔요. (Drink water.)

4. 만들다 (to make)

   • 케이크를 만들어요. (Make a cake.)

5. 쓰다 (to write)

   • 편지를 써요. (Write a letter.)

6. 오다 (to come)

   • 여기에 와요. (Come here.)

7. 하다 (to do)

   • 청소를 해요. (Do the cleaning.)

8. 읽다 (to read)

   • 책을 읽어요. (Read a book.)

9. 듣다 (to listen)

   • 노래를 들어요. (Listen to the song.)

10. 보다 (to watch)

    • 영화를 봐요. (Watch the movie.)

11. 주다 (to give)

    • 선물을 줘요. (Give a gift.)