Bases of Korean verbs are classified into two main types: CONSONANT BASES and VOWEL BASES. In this section we look at the former; vowel bases are discussed in Section 7.5. Consonant-base verbs typically have the infinitive ending -어 and their infinitives consist of the base + this vowel ending. However, if the last vowel of the base is 오 or 아 then the ending is -아 instead of -어. Here is a list of some CONSONANT BASES and INFINITIVES:
Base | Infinitive |
---|---|
앉- sits | 앉아 sits |
작- be little in size | 작아 is little in size |
입- wear; put on | 입어 wears; puts on |
찾- look for; find | 찾아 looks for; finds |
벗- take off (clothes) | 벗어 takes off (clothes) |
좋- be good | 좋아 is good |
없- be nonexistent | 없어 is nonexistent |
읽- read | 읽어 reads |
있- be, exist; stay; have | 있어 is, exists; stays; has |
많- be much/many | 많아 is much; are many |
먹- eat | 먹어 eats |
받- receive, get | 받아 receives, gets |
닫- close it | 닫아 closes it |
들- listen to; hear | 들어 listens to; hears |
더 w- be hot | 더워 is hot |
나(ㅅ)- get/be better | 나아 gets/is better |