Korean Verb Conjugation (The ㅎ Case)

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Let’s learn how to conjugate irregular Korean verbs in present tense. They are irregular because significant changes are applied that include removal and replacement, normally in polite/casual speech. This section focuses on verb stems that end the consonant ㅎ.

이렇다 to be like this

그렇다 to be like that

하얗다 to be white

파랗다 to be blue

어떻다 to be how

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. 

이렇다– 이렇

그렇다– 그렇

하얗다– 하얗

파랗다– 파랗

어떻다– 어떻

They all end in ㅎ. We get rid of ㅎ and ㅐ(요) is automatically attached to the last syllable of the verb stem. 

이렇다– 이러– 이래(요)

그렇다– 그러– 그래(요)

하얗다– 하야– 하얘(요)

 *not 애요 (for easy/smooth pronunciation)

파랗다– 파라– 파래(요)

어떻다– 어떠– 어때(요)