Korean Verb Conjugation (The ㅔ, ㅐ, ㅚ Case)

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Let’s learn how to conjugate regular Korean verbs in present tense. They are regular because no significant changes are applied apart from contraction. This section focuses on verb stems that end in the vowels ㅔ, ㅐ, and ㅚ.

세다 to count

내다 to pay

되다 to become

The syllable 다 is a dictionary form and it is not used in an actual sentence. We get rid of it so what remains is the verb stem. 

세다– 세

내다– 내

되다– 되

The last (or only) syllable has vowels ㅔ, ㅐ, and ㅚ. We attached 어(요) to them. There are a few of them in this case. The 요 form is used in polite speech.

세– 세어(요)

내– 내어(요)

되– 되어(요)

We can simplify them by completely omitting 어. As for the third one, The vowels ㅚ and ㅓ are fused into ㅙ for easy/smooth pronunciation.

세어(요)– 세(요)

내어(요)– 내(요)

되어(요)– 돼(요)