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 |