Mastering Korean verb tenses is a major key to speaking naturally and confidently. Whether you're just starting your Korean journey or aiming to level up your grammar, understanding how to express time — present, past, future, and intention — is essential.
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In this complete guide, we’ll walk through the four essential Korean tenses using real-life examples, comparison tables, and grammar breakdowns. You’ll also find advanced sections, practical tips, and 30 FAQ answers to get your questions covered. Let’s make Korean verbs simple and fun! 🇰🇷🗣️
1️⃣ Present Tense – Using ~아요/어요
The present tense in Korean is mostly expressed using the polite endings ~아요 or ~어요. It’s used when describing current actions, general truths, and regular habits. If you want to say “I eat,” “I go,” or “I study,” you’ll use this tense.
Choosing between ~아요 or ~어요 depends on the last vowel of the verb stem. If the final vowel is bright (ㅏ or ㅗ), use ~아요. If it's any other vowel, use ~어요. For example, 가다 → 가요 (I go), 먹다 → 먹어요 (I eat).
Verbs ending in 하다 change to 해요. So 공부하다 becomes 공부해요 (I study). This pattern is consistent and easy to learn once you understand the vowel rule.
This tense is polite and common in everyday conversations. It’s suitable for talking to strangers, acquaintances, or in formal settings. If you want to sound natural and respectful, mastering this tense is a great starting point.
The present tense in Korean is mostly expressed using the polite endings ~아요 or ~어요.
If you're not sure when to use each form or want more examples, you can explore this detailed breakdown in our guide How to Use Present Tense in Korean – 아요/어요.
📗 Present Tense Conjugation Table
| Verb | Type | Conjugated | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | Vowel: ㅏ | 가요 | I go |
| 먹다 | Vowel: ㅓ | 먹어요 | I eat |
| 하다 | 하다 verb | 해요 | I do |
2️⃣ Past Tense – Talking About What Happened
To talk about completed actions in Korean, use the past tense endings ~았어요 or ~었어요. These are added to the verb stem based on the same vowel rules as the present tense.
If the last vowel of the stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, use ~았어요. For example, 가다 becomes 갔어요 (I went). If it’s any other vowel, use ~었어요. For example, 먹다 becomes 먹었어요 (I ate).
하다 verbs follow a special pattern. For example, 공부하다 becomes 공부했어요 (I studied). This form is polite and appropriate for formal and everyday speech.
You can use these forms to describe what happened yesterday, last week, or even just a few minutes ago. They are also used when telling stories or explaining past experiences.
To describe completed actions or past events in Korean, we use endings like ~았어요 or ~었어요.
These follow similar vowel rules as the present tense. For more in-depth explanation and real examples, check our post Korean Past Tense – Talk About the Past Naturally.
🕒 Past Tense Conjugation Table
| Verb | Type | Conjugated | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | Vowel: ㅏ | 갔어요 | I went |
| 먹다 | Vowel: ㅓ | 먹었어요 | I ate |
| 하다 | 하다 verb | 했어요 | I did |
3️⃣ Korean Future Tense – Using ~ㄹ 거예요
The Korean future tense is most commonly expressed using the form ~ㄹ 거예요. This structure is widely used in conversations to indicate future plans or predictions. It’s very similar to saying “will” or “going to” in English, but with a slightly softer tone depending on the context.
To form this tense, you take the verb stem and add ㄹ 거예요 if the stem ends in a vowel, or 을 거예요 if it ends in a consonant. For example, "가다" becomes "갈 거예요" (I will go), and "먹다" becomes "먹을 거예요" (I will eat).
This form is extremely common in both spoken and written Korean. It’s considered polite, but not overly formal, making it perfect for most everyday situations. If you want to express something you're pretty sure about, this form is your go-to.
When using this future tense, be aware of the speaker’s tone. Koreans often soften predictions using expressions like 아마 (maybe), as in “아마 갈 거예요” (I’ll probably go). This reflects the cultural preference for indirectness and humility.
When you want to talk about something that will happen, the future tense ending ~ㄹ 거예요 is the go-to form in Korean.
For a full breakdown and usage patterns, visit our full guide on Expressing the Future in Korean.
🔮 Future Tense Conjugation Table
| Verb | Type | Conjugated | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | Vowel-ending | 갈 거예요 | I will go |
| 먹다 | Consonant-ending | 먹을 거예요 | I will eat |
| 보다 | Vowel-ending | 볼 거예요 | I will watch/see |
4️⃣ Korean Intention – Expressing Plans with ~려고 해요
The grammar form ~려고 해요 is used to express intention or a plan to do something in the near future. It’s similar to saying “I’m planning to” in English. This structure is polite, flexible, and extremely common in both conversation and writing.
To use it, take the action verb stem and add 려고 해요. If the verb ends in a consonant, add 으려고 해요. For example, “가다” becomes “가려고 해요,” and “먹다” becomes “먹으려고 해요.”
Unlike the future tense (~ㄹ 거예요), this form focuses more on intent rather than a fixed plan. It’s often used when you’re expressing your mindset, rather than something scheduled. That nuance is important in Korean culture, where directness is often softened.
In real life, you’ll hear it in phrases like “운동하려고 해요” (I’m planning to work out) or “공부하려고 해요” (I’m about to study). It’s also commonly used in combination with other expressions like “~았어요/었어요” to express what someone intended to do in the past.
If you're planning or intending to do something, Korean uses the structure ~려고 해요. It expresses intention or a soft plan.
You can dive deeper with real conversation examples in our lesson I’m Planning To... – Use ~려고 해요.
📘 Intention Expression Table
| Verb | Type | Conjugated | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | Vowel-ending | 가려고 해요 | I’m planning to go |
| 먹다 | Consonant-ending | 먹으려고 해요 | I’m planning to eat |
| 공부하다 | 하다-verb | 공부하려고 해요 | I’m planning to study |
5️⃣ Tense Comparison – Summary Table
After learning the individual Korean tenses, it's helpful to compare them side by side. This section provides a clear summary of how verbs change across present, past, future, and intention. Understanding these patterns allows you to internalize conjugation rules more naturally.
By seeing how one verb transforms across different tenses, you’ll build a solid mental model of Korean grammar. This comparison also helps you avoid common mistakes, like mixing up future and intention forms — a challenge for many learners.
Keep in mind that each tense has a specific nuance. The present tense is general and polite, the past is about completed actions, the future projects certainty, and intention expresses plans or desires. Knowing the difference improves your fluency and comprehension.
Let’s look at how 3 common verbs — 가다 (to go), 먹다 (to eat), and 하다 (to do) — change across tenses:
📊 Verb Tense Summary Table
| Verb | Present | Past | Future | Intention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가요 | 갔어요 | 갈 거예요 | 가려고 해요 |
| 먹다 | 먹어요 | 먹었어요 | 먹을 거예요 | 먹으려고 해요 |
| 하다 | 해요 | 했어요 | 할 거예요 | 하려고 해요 |
6️⃣ Real-Life Practice – Quiz & Examples
Now that you’ve studied all four major tenses, it’s time to apply what you know in real Korean sentences. Practice helps lock in grammar, and by testing yourself, you’ll catch small mistakes early on. Below are practice examples and a mini quiz!
You’ll see a sentence in English and need to choose the correct Korean tense form. Pay attention to time clues like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” or “I’m planning.” This exercise mirrors real conversations and improves your fluency faster.
Let’s start with a few examples:
- I study every day → 저는 매일 공부해요
- I studied yesterday → 어제 공부했어요
- I will study tomorrow → 내일 공부할 거예요
- I’m planning to study now → 지금 공부하려고 해요
📝 Mini Quiz
- Translate: “I eat lunch”
- Translate: “I will go home”
- Translate: “I studied last night”
- Translate: “I’m planning to meet my friend”
Answers:
- 점심을 먹어요
- 집에 갈 거예요
- 어젯밤에 공부했어요
- 친구를 만나려고 해요
Quiz like this gives you a better feel for when to use which tense. Try creating your own examples next time and say them out loud to build speaking confidence!
❓ FAQ – Korean Tense Questions
Q1. What’s the difference between ~아요/어요 and ~ㅂ니다?
A1. ~아요/어요 is polite and conversational, while ~ㅂ니다 is formal and often used in news, announcements, or speeches.
Q2. Can I use the present tense to talk about the future?
A2. Yes, in casual Korean, context sometimes allows present tense to imply future action, but it’s clearer to use ~ㄹ 거예요.
Q3. Is ~려고 해요 future tense?
A3. No, it expresses intention or plan. It’s different from ~ㄹ 거예요, which implies more certainty.
Q4. How can I conjugate irregular verbs like 듣다 or 걷다?
A4. Irregular verbs change slightly. For example, 듣다 → 들어요, 걷다 → 걸어요. Memorizing patterns helps.
Q5. Are all verb tenses affected by formality?
A5. Yes, every tense has a formal and informal version. This guide focuses on polite speech (~요 form).
Q6. Is ~겠어요 the same as ~ㄹ 거예요?
A6. Not exactly. ~겠어요 is more hypothetical or modest. ~ㄹ 거예요 is more definite for future actions.
Q7. Can I drop the subject in Korean?
A7. Yes! Korean often omits subjects when they’re obvious from context. It's very natural to say just "먹어요."
Q8. Should I always match tense when connecting verbs?
A8. Not always. Korean allows mixing tenses for nuance. Example: 갔는데 지금 와요 (He went but now he's here).
Q9. What’s the difference between 해요 and 하세요?
A9. 해요 is polite. 하세요 is the honorific polite command, often used when speaking to elders.
Q10. How do I say “I’ve done” something in Korean?
A10. Use ~했어요 or perfect context like “이미 했어요” (I’ve already done it).
Q11. Does Korean have a perfect tense?
A11. Not exactly. Korean uses context + adverbs like 이미 or 벌써 to imply perfect actions.
Q12. How do I use “was going to” in Korean?
A12. Use ~려고 했어요. Example: 가려고 했어요 (I was going to go).
Q13. Can I say 공부해 instead of 공부해요?
A13. Yes, 공부해 is casual/informal, used with close friends or younger people.
Q14. Is tense marked on every verb?
A14. Yes. Korean verbs are always conjugated for tense, unless the sentence is a noun clause.
Q15. How do I ask questions with tense?
A15. Simply raise intonation or add question words. Example: 뭐 했어요? (What did you do?)
Q16. What’s the future honorific form?
A16. Add 시 to the verb stem. 갈 거예요 → 가실 거예요.
Q17. Can I mix ~겠어요 and ~려고 해요?
A17. Rarely. They express different levels of certainty and tone. Use one per clause.
Q18. What’s the informal version of ~요 tenses?
A18. Remove 요. Example: 가요 → 가, 먹었어요 → 먹었어.
Q19. Do I need to use subjects like 저는 every time?
A19. No. Once context is clear, subjects are dropped naturally in Korean.
Q20. Can I use future tense with 지금 (now)?
A20. Not really. Use present or intention tense with 지금. Future tense fits better with 나중에, 내일, etc.
Q21. What tense is used for instructions?
A21. Use imperative forms, not tense markers. For example, “먹어요” (Please eat).
Q22. Is “갈 거예요” always about the future?
A22. Mostly yes. But it can express intent too, depending on tone/context.
Q23. Can I say “갈래요” instead of “갈 거예요”?
A23. Yes! 갈래요 means “Do you want to go?” It’s more suggestive/inviting.
Q24. What’s the past intention form?
A24. Add ~려고 했어요. Example: 공부하려고 했어요 (I was going to study).
Q25. Can I use tense with adjectives?
A25. Yes! 예뻐요 (It’s pretty), 예뻤어요 (It was pretty).
Q26. Is ~요 form always polite?
A26. Yes, it's standard polite. But it's not formal. Formal would be ~ㅂ니다.
Q27. When should I learn honorifics?
A27. After basic tenses! They’re crucial in Korean culture but built on tense knowledge.
Q28. Is it okay to only use present tense at first?
A28. Yes, for beginners! But learn past/future early for daily conversation fluency.
Q29. What resources help reinforce Korean tense usage?
A29. Flashcards, daily journaling, and Korean dramas with subtitles are highly effective.
Q30. I’m confused by tense + honorifics. Any tips?
A30. Learn separately first, then combine. Example: 가요 → 가세요 → 가셨어요 (past honorific).
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes and may simplify some grammar concepts. Always consult native speakers or certified materials for accuracy.
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