Lesson 03 · N을/를 V-습니다/ㅂ니다 & N이/가 A-습니다/ㅂ니다
Hello, everyone! I’m Hyeju, your Korean teacher.
Today, we’ll make formal Korean sentences with action verbs and adjectives.
책을 읽습니다. · 책이 많습니다.
chaegeul iksseumnida. · chaegi mansseumnida.
I read a book. · There are many books.
TODAY’S LEARNING GOALS
What will you learn today?
- Understand the role of the object particles 을/를.
- Change verbs and adjectives into the formal -습니다/ㅂ니다 form.
- Distinguish an action sentence from a descriptive sentence.
- Make simple formal Korean sentences of your own.
HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · ENGLISH EXPLANATIONS
Watch Lesson 3 with Hyeju
Learn the vocabulary and grammar with English explanations, then review the examples and try the practice below.
VERBS AND ADJECTIVES
What is the sentence doing?
Before we learn the particles and endings, let’s look at the difference between verbs and adjectives. Both can come at the end of a Korean sentence, but they have different jobs.
What does someone do?
Action verbs express an action such as eating, reading, watching, or studying.
저는 책을 읽습니다.
jeoneun chaegeul iksseumnida.
I read a book.
What is someone or something like?
Adjectives describe an appearance, price, quantity, size, state, or quality.
책상이 큽니다.
chaeksangi keumnida.
The desk is big.
In English, we say “The desk is big.” In Korean, the adjective itself changes form and finishes the sentence: 책상이 큽니다. There is no separate word for “is” here.
Both Korean verbs and adjectives have dictionary forms ending in -다, change their endings, and can appear at the end of a sentence. Their meanings and sentence structures, however, are different.
먹다 · 마시다 · 읽다 · 보다 · 공부하다
to eat · to drink · to read · to watch · to study
예쁘다 · 비싸다 · 많다 · 크다
to be pretty · expensive · many · big
OBJECT PARTICLES
Choose between 을 and 를
The particles 을 and 를 mark the object of an action. The object is the person or thing that receives the action.
N을/를 + V-습니다/ㅂ니다
object + action verb
Use this pattern to say what someone does to an object.
Look at the English sentence: I read a book.
- I = the person performing the action
- read = the action
- a book = the object of the action
책을 읽습니다.
chaegeul iksseumnida.
I read a book.
Here, 책 is the object of the action 읽다. Therefore, we attach 을: 책 + 을 → 책을.
받침 있음 → 을
책 + 을 → 책을
Use 을 after a noun ending in a final consonant.
받침 없음 → 를
영화 + 를 → 영화를
Use 를 after a noun ending in a vowel.
책 + 을 → 책을
밥 + 을 → 밥을
물 + 을 → 물을
영화 + 를 → 영화를
한국어 + 를 → 한국어를
커피 + 를 → 커피를
책을 읽습니다.
chaegeul iksseumnida.
I read a book.
밥을 먹습니다.
babeul meoksseumnida.
I eat a meal.
영화를 봅니다.
yeonghwareul bomnida.
I watch a movie.
한국어를 공부합니다.
hangugeoreul gongbuhamnida.
I study Korean.
| Noun ending | Particle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Final consonant | 을 | 책을 |
| Vowel | 를 | 영화를 |
Remember: The choice between 을 and 를 depends on the final sound of the noun.
FORMAL SENTENCE ENDING
Choose between -습니다 and -ㅂ니다
The ending -습니다/ㅂ니다 makes polite and formal statements. You can hear this style in formal presentations, announcements, news reports, workplaces, and other public or official situations.
Both verbs and adjectives can use this ending.
Remove 다
먹다 → 먹
마시다 → 마시
예쁘다 → 예쁘
크다 → 크
Check the final sound
Use -습니다 after a final consonant.
Use -ㅂ니다 after a vowel.
The part remaining after you remove -다 is called the stem. Look at the final sound of that stem.
받침 있음 → -습니다
먹 + 습니다 → 먹습니다
받침 없음 → -ㅂ니다
보 + ㅂ니다 → 봅니다
Use -습니다 after a final consonant
먹다 → 먹습니다
to eat
읽다 → 읽습니다
to read
듣다 → 듣습니다
to listen
많다 → 많습니다
to be many / much
Use -ㅂ니다 after a vowel
마시다 → 마십니다
to drink
쓰다 → 씁니다
to write
보다 → 봅니다
to see / watch
예쁘다 → 예쁩니다
to be pretty
비싸다 → 비쌉니다
to be expensive
크다 → 큽니다
to be big
Verbs ending in 하다 change to 합니다.
공부하다 → 공부합니다
운동하다 → 운동합니다
For now, remember this useful pattern: 하다 → 합니다.
| Stem ending | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Final consonant | -습니다 | 먹다 → 먹습니다 |
| Vowel | -ㅂ니다 | 보다 → 봅니다 |
| 하다 | 합니다 | 공부하다 → 공부합니다 |
ACTION SENTENCES
Put the object and the verb together
N을/를 + V-습니다/ㅂ니다
object + formal action verb
Use this lesson’s action verbs to say what someone does to an object.
책을 읽습니다.
chaegeul iksseumnida.
I read a book.
The sentence is built like this:
Add the topic
We can also add the person performing the action.
N은/는 + N을/를 + V-습니다/ㅂ니다
topic + object + action verb
You learned 은/는 in Lesson 01.
저는 한국어를 공부합니다.
jeoneun hangugeoreul gongbuhamnida.
I study Korean.
저는 밥을 먹습니다.
I eat a meal.
저는 물을 마십니다.
I drink water.
저는 책을 읽습니다.
I read a book.
저는 이름을 씁니다.
I write my name.
저는 텔레비전을 봅니다.
I watch television.
저는 음악을 듣습니다.
I listen to music.
저는 한국어를 공부합니다.
I study Korean.
저는 운동을 합니다.
I exercise.
In this lesson, we are practicing action verbs that can be used with an object marked by 을/를. However, not every Korean verb uses 을/를. Some verbs do not take an object. We will learn those sentence patterns step by step in later lessons.
For now, remember today’s practice pattern: object + 을/를 + action verb.
DESCRIPTIVE SENTENCES
Describe a person or thing
N이/가 + A-습니다/ㅂ니다
subject + formal adjective
Use this pattern to describe the state or quality of a person or thing.
책상이 큽니다.
chaeksangi keumnida.
The desk is big.
The sentence is built like this:
Review 이 and 가
책 + 이 → 책이
책상 + 이 → 책상이
시계 + 가 → 시계가
컴퓨터 + 가 → 컴퓨터가
You already saw 이/가 in Lesson 02. This time, we will use it before an adjective to mark the person or thing being described.
시계가 예쁩니다.
The clock is pretty.
컴퓨터가 비쌉니다.
The computer is expensive.
책이 많습니다.
There are many books.
책상이 큽니다.
The desk is big.
ACTION OR DESCRIPTION?
Compare the role of the noun
책을 읽습니다.
chaegeul iksseumnida.
I read a book.
- 책 = object of the action
- 을 = object particle
- 읽습니다 = action verb
책이 많습니다.
chaegi mansseumnida.
There are many books.
- 책 = thing being described
- 이 = subject particle
- 많습니다 = adjective
The noun is the same, but its role in the sentence is different. That is why the particle changes.
컴퓨터를 봅니다.
I look at the computer.
The computer is the object of an action: 컴퓨터 + 를.
컴퓨터가 비쌉니다.
The computer is expensive.
The computer is being described: 컴퓨터 + 가.
Is someone doing an action to the noun?
Use today’s 을/를 + verb pattern.
Am I describing the noun?
Use today’s 이/가 + adjective pattern.
PRONUNCIATION TIPS
Listen for the natural sound
Formal Korean endings may sound slightly different from their spelling.
먹습니다
[먹씀니다]
읽습니다
[익씀니다]
많습니다
[만씀니다]
In natural pronunciation, ㅂ니다 sounds close to [ㅁ니다].
봅니다
[봄니다]
마십니다
[마심니다]
예쁩니다
[예쁨니다]
You do not have to memorize every sound rule today. First, listen carefully and repeat each sentence out loud. Your pronunciation will become more natural with practice.
PRACTICE
Build the sentences step by step
Practice 1. Choose 을 or 를
Choose the correct object particle.
- 책___ 읽습니다.
- 영화___ 봅니다.
- 물___ 마십니다.
- 한국어___ 공부합니다.
- 음악___ 듣습니다.
- 이름___ 씁니다.
Practice 2. Choose 이 or 가
Choose the correct subject particle.
- 책___ 많습니다.
- 책상___ 큽니다.
- 시계___ 예쁩니다.
- 컴퓨터___ 비쌉니다.
Practice 3. Change the form
Change each dictionary form into the formal -습니다/ㅂ니다 form.
- 먹다 → __________
- 마시다 → __________
- 읽다 → __________
- 보다 → __________
- 공부하다 → __________
- 예쁘다 → __________
- 많다 → __________
- 크다 → __________
Practice 4. Verb or adjective?
Decide whether the final word is an action verb or an adjective.
- 밥을 먹습니다.
- 시계가 예쁩니다.
- 영화를 봅니다.
- 책이 많습니다.
- 한국어를 공부합니다.
- 책상이 큽니다.
Practice 5. Complete the sentence
Complete each sentence with a word from today’s vocabulary.
- 저는 책을 __________.
- 저는 물을 __________.
- 저는 한국어를 __________.
- 시계가 __________.
- 컴퓨터가 __________.
- 책이 __________.
Check the answers
Practice 1
- 책을 읽습니다.
- 영화를 봅니다.
- 물을 마십니다.
- 한국어를 공부합니다.
- 음악을 듣습니다.
- 이름을 씁니다.
Practice 2
- 책이 많습니다.
- 책상이 큽니다.
- 시계가 예쁩니다.
- 컴퓨터가 비쌉니다.
Practice 3
- 먹습니다
- 마십니다
- 읽습니다
- 봅니다
- 공부합니다
- 예쁩니다
- 많습니다
- 큽니다
Practice 4
- action verb
- adjective
- action verb
- adjective
- action verb
- adjective
Practice 5
- 저는 책을 읽습니다.
- 저는 물을 마십니다.
- 저는 한국어를 공부합니다.
- 시계가 예쁩니다.
- 컴퓨터가 비쌉니다.
- 책이 많습니다.
LESSON 03 SUMMARY
Remember these four choices
- 을after a final consonant: 책을
- 를after a vowel: 영화를
- -습니다after a consonant-ending stem: 먹습니다
- -ㅂ니다after a vowel-ending stem: 봅니다
- 하다 → 합니다공부하다 → 공부합니다
- 이/가 + adjective책이 많습니다
N을/를 + V-습니다/ㅂ니다
책을 읽습니다.
I read a book.
N이/가 + A-습니다/ㅂ니다
책이 많습니다.
There are many books.
The most important difference is the role of the noun: 을/를 marks the object of an action, while 이/가 marks the person or thing being described in today’s adjective pattern.
NEXT LESSON
Make negative sentences
In Lesson 04, we will learn how to say that you do not do something or cannot do something with 안, -지 않다, and 못.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 2
이/가
날씨가 좋습니다.을/를 marks the object of an action (먹다, 보다). The subject — for example with adjectives and 있어요 — takes 이/가.
Review Lesson 2 →LESSON 4
-ㅂ니까/습니까?
무엇을 먹습니까?The question form of -습니다/ㅂ니다, in the same formal style.
Look ahead: Lesson 4 →LESSON 5
-아/어요
빵을 먹어요.Same meaning in the everyday polite style. -습니다 sounds formal: news, presentations, first meetings.
Look ahead: Lesson 5 →LESSON 1
입니다
저는 회사원입니다.The formal style for nouns. Verbs and adjectives use -습니다/ㅂ니다.
Review Lesson 1 →| Pattern | Attaches to | Style | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -습니다 | Stems ending in a consonant | Formal | 먹습니다 |
| -ㅂ니다 | Stems ending in a vowel | Formal | 갑니다 |
| -아/어요 | All stems | Everyday polite | 먹어요, 가요 |
| 입니다 | Nouns | Formal | 학생입니다 |
Common mistakes
먹 ends in a consonant, so add 습니다.
가 ends in a vowel, so ㅂ goes under it: 갑니다.
The thing you eat is the object, so it takes 을/를.
Stems ending in ㄹ drop the ㄹ and take ㅂ니다: 만들다 → 만듭니다.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank저는 매일 아침 신문을 ______. (읽다)
Check answer
저는 매일 아침 신문을 읽습니다.
읽 ends in a consonant → 읽습니다. “I read the newspaper every morning.”
- Fill in the blank · final consonant동생이 영화를 ______. (보다)
Check answer
동생이 영화를 봅니다.
보 ends in a vowel → 봅니다. “My younger sibling watches a movie.”
- Choose the particle저는 음악(을 / 를) 듣습니다.
Check answer
을
음악 ends in ㄱ, a consonant, so the object marker is 을.
- Choose the particle이 가방(이 / 을) 아주 비쌉니다.
Check answer
이
비싸다 is an adjective, so the thing described takes 이/가, not 을/를.
- Find and fix the mistake우리 선생님은 커피를 좋아하습니다.
Check answer
우리 선생님은 커피를 좋아합니다.
좋아하 ends in a vowel, so it becomes 좋아합니다.
- Say it in Korean (formal)My younger brother plays soccer.
Check answer
동생은 축구를 합니다.
축구 + 를, 하다 → 합니다. 동생이 is also fine.
M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher
About the educator →