Lesson 46 · 반말: -아/어, -(이)야, -았/었어

HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · BEGINNER · 46

Use 반말: -아/어, -(이)야, -았/었어 in the context of everyday conversation with friends. Work through the form, the meaning and the examples before trying the six practice questions.

Goal: choose the correct form for the situation, then make a natural sentence of your own.

How the pattern works

반말

반말 is non-polite speech used in suitable close relationships. First establish that casual speech is welcome; being the same age alone does not make it automatic.

-아/어

The familiar 해요 form loses 요: 가요 → 가, 먹어요 → 먹어, 해요 → 해, 바빠요 → 바빠. A rising question intonation can make 먹어? a question.

-(이)야

Noun with a consonant: 학생이야. Noun with a vowel: 친구야. For negation, use N이/가 아니야: 학생이 아니야. Do not form this by simply dropping 요 from 입니다.

-았/었어

Past polite -았/었어요 loses 요: 먹었어, 갔어, 했어. Contractions remain: 보았어 → 봤어. 나는 and 내 often replace 저는 and 제 in ordinary casual talk.

Examples in context

지금 뭐 해?

jigeum mwo hae

What are you doing now?

오늘은 집에 가.

oneureun jibe ga

I’m going home today.

어제 친구를 만났어.

eoje chingureul mannasseo

I met a friend yesterday.

유키는 내 친구야.

yukineun nae chinguya

Yuki is my friend.

나는 학생이야.

naneun haksaengiya

I’m a student.

오늘 좀 바빠.

oneul jom bappa

I’m a little busy today.

지금은 괜찮아.

jigeumeun gwaenchana

I’m okay now.

영화가 재미있었어.

yeonghwaga jaemiisseosseo

The movie was fun.

The same casual ending can be a statement, question or request depending on context and tone. 집에서 쉬어 can mean “I rest at home” or “Rest at home.” Keep the relationship and the situation clear.

Compare with similar grammar

LESSON 5

-아/어요

지금 집에 가요.

Drop 요 from -아/어요 and you get the casual form: 가요 → 가.

Review Lesson 5 →

LESSON 47

-자 · -니? · -아/어라

같이 가자.

More casual endings: suggestions (-자), questions (-니?) and commands (-아/어라).

Look ahead: Lesson 47 →

LESSON 34

-(으)세요

어디 가세요?

Respectful speech for older people and strangers. Don’t use 반말 with them.

Review Lesson 34 →

LESSON 1

이에요/예요 → 이야/야

저는 학생이에요. → 나는 학생이야.

Noun + 이에요/예요 becomes 이야/야 in casual speech.

Review Lesson 1 →

Pattern	Polite	Casual	Example
-아/어요	가요, 먹어요	가, 먹어	지금 뭐 해?
이에요/예요	학생이에요, 친구예요	학생이야, 친구야	나 학생이야
-았/었어요	갔어요	갔어	어제 뭐 했어?
저 · 제가 · 제	저, 제가, 제	나, 내가, 내	내가 할게

Common mistakes

나는 학생이에.나는 학생이야.

For nouns, the casual form is 이야/야, not 이에.

(친구에게) 저는 배고파.(친구에게) 나는 배고파.

In casual speech, use 나, not 저.

얘는 내 친구이야.얘는 내 친구야.

After a vowel, use 야: 친구야.

(처음 만난 어른에게) 어디 가?(처음 만난 어른에게) 어디 가세요?

Don’t use 반말 with older people or strangers.

Mini practice · six questions

All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.

Fill in the blank(친구에게) 오늘 저녁에 뭐 ______? (먹다)

Check answer

오늘 저녁에 뭐 먹어?

먹다 → 먹어요 → 먹어 (drop 요).
Fill in the blank(친구에게) 이 사람은 내 동생___.

Check answer

이 사람은 내 동생이야.

동생 ends in a consonant → 이야.
Choose the correct form(친구에게) 어제 그 영화 (봤어 / 봤어요)?

Check answer

봤어

Talking to a friend → casual 봤어.
Choose the correct form(친구에게) 오늘은 (제가 / 내가) 살게.

Check answer

내가

In casual speech, 제가 becomes 내가.
Find and fix the mistake(친구에게) 저 지금 집에 있어.

Check answer

나 지금 집에 있어.

Use 나 in casual speech.
Say it in Korean (casual)(to a friend) I’m tired. Did you sleep well?

Check answer

나 피곤해. 잘 잤어?

피곤해요 → 피곤해, 잤어요 → 잤어.

Your turn

Imagine a friend you already use casual speech with. Say what you are doing now, then ask what they did yesterday.

Key point