Middle School - Grade 8
Lesson 1: Describing Nouns
Modifying with Adjectives (-(으)ㄴ)
What's a "Descriptive Verb"?
In Korean, words that we call "adjectives" (like *pretty*, *big*, *small*) actually act like verbs. They are called **descriptive verbs** or **adjectives**.
You already know how to use them as predicates:
꽃이 예뻐요. (The flower is pretty.)
This lesson teaches you how to turn "is pretty" (`예쁘다`) into just "pretty" so you can say "a pretty flower" (`예쁜 꽃`).
Conjugation Rules: Adjectives
This form is attached to the **adjective stem**.
Rule 1: Stem ends in a VOWEL
Add -ㄴ to the stem.
예쁘다 예쁘 + ㄴ 예쁜 (pretty)
크다 크 + ㄴ 큰 (big)
Rule 2: Stem ends in a CONSONANT
Add -은 to the stem.
작다 작 + 은 작은 (small)
많다 많 + 은 많은 (many)
Rule 3: Special Cases (Irregulars)
`있다 / 없다` (to have/not have): These are special! They always use -는.
재미있는 (fun/interesting), 맛없는 (not delicious)
`ㄹ` Irregular: The `ㄹ` drops and you add -ㄴ.
길다 기 + ㄴ 긴 (long)
Let's Build Sentences!
Adjective: `크다` (to be big)
Rule 1: `크` + `ㄴ` = `큰` (big)
저는 큰 집에서 살고 싶어요.
(I want to live in a big house.)
Adjective: `작다` (to be small)
Rule 2: `작` + `은` = `작은` (small)
작은 문제가 생겼어요.
(A small problem occurred.)
Adjective: `재미있다` (to be fun)
Rule 3: `재미있` + `는` = `재미있는` (fun)
재미있는 영화를 봤어요.
(I watched a fun movie.)
Adjective: `길다` (to be long)
Rule 3 (`ㄹ` irregular): `길` `기` + `ㄴ` = `긴` (long)
저는 긴 머리를 좋아해요.
(I like long hair.)
Coming Up Next...
Great! You can now describe nouns using adjectives.
But what about **action verbs**? How do you change "I am reading" (`읽어요`) into "the person *who is reading*" (`읽는 사람`)?
That's our next lesson!