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먹어요, 가요, 해요: polite everyday verbs

Recognize a small set of present polite action forms.

Quick phrase

밥을 먹어요.

I eat a meal. / I am eating a meal, in context.

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Dictionary verbs end in 다. In everyday polite speech, remove 다 and use the appropriate ending. Start with a small set: 먹다 → 먹어요 (eat), 가다 → 가요 (go), 하다 → 해요 (do). 공부하다 becomes 공부해요 (study).

Listen and choose

Listen first. Choose what you hear. This optional practice does not change your saved quiz score.

밥을 먹어요.

I eat a meal. / I am eating a meal, in context.

학교에 가요.

I go to school.

한국어를 공부해요.

I study Korean.

Useful basics on this page

에 있어요: say where something is →책이 책상 위에 있어요.

The book is on the desk.

Notice the pattern

A final ㅏ or ㅗ in the stem generally leads to 아요; other vowels generally lead to 어요, with contractions and irregular forms to learn. 하다 uses 해요. These forms are present nonpast: context can express habits, current actions or plans. This lesson does not cover all conjugations.

Try it yourself

Choose the polite form of 먹다.

Choose the polite form of 하다.

Which means “study Korean”?

Build “I go to school.” (topic omitted)

…

RETRIEVE BEFORE YOU REVEAL

Say it in your own time.

Say you eat, go to school and study Korean using the examples.

Resolve each question and make a recall self-check to save completion. Unit menus remain available for browsing.

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