Dictionary Form and Stem of Verbs and Adjectives

What You Will Learn in This Unit

You will learn the structure of the dictionary form ending in -다 and how to divide the basic form into a stem and an ending. You will understand that adjectives are conjugated in the same way as verbs and function as predicates in a sentence. You will also get an overview of 하다 verbs and the three speech levels. Detailed rules for forming conjugated forms are covered in order starting from Unit 24.

The Form Listed in the Dictionary: The Basic Form

In Korean, verbs and adjectives are both listed in dictionaries in a form that ends in -다. This form is called the basic form (기본형). The basic form is not used as is at the end of a sentence. Its shape changes depending on the words that follow it and on the speech level. Therefore, when you memorize a word, memorize the whole basic form together.

Stem and Ending

The basic form is divided into a stem and an ending. The stem carries the meaning of the word, and the ending is attached to the stem to mark the end of the sentence or the relationship with the next word. The -다 at the very end of the basic form is the ending, and the part before it is the stem. Conjugation is formed by attaching an ending to the stem. An ending that ends a sentence is called a sentence-final ending (종결어미), and -다, -ㅂ니다, and -아요 belong to this group.

The - at the end of a stem in the table indicates that an ending follows it. The stem of 예쁘다 is 예쁘-, not 예-. The rule is to separate the stem by removing the ending -다 and checking that the stem remains.

Adjectives Also Become Predicates

In Korean, adjectives are conjugated in the same way as verbs. Therefore, adjectives also appear in the predicate position at the end of a sentence to describe the quality or state of the subject. This must be distinguished from the method of forming a predicate by attaching -이에요/예요 to a noun.

An adjective expresses a state, so it is used in phrases such as 날씨가 좋다 (the weather is good) and 방이 작다 (the room is small) to tell how the subject is. Verbs and adjectives both become predicates by attaching endings to the stem, so you should learn the conjugation rules together.

하다 Verbs

Many verbs are formed by attaching 하다 to a noun. If you attach 하다 to the noun 공부 (study), you get the verb 공부하다 (to study). A verb formed by attaching 하다 to a noun in this way is called a 하다 verb. The stem of 공부하다 is 공부하-, and its ending is the -다 of the basic form. 일하다 (to work) and 운동하다 (to exercise) are also verbs formed by attaching 하다 to the nouns 일 and 운동, and they are conjugated in the same way.