Imperative sentences in the Korean language are used to give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions. They are a crucial part of communication, allowing speakers to express their desires and influence the actions of others. In this guide, we will explore the basic structure of Korean imperative sentences, provide examples, and offer insights into the nuances of their usage.
Structure of Korean Imperative Sentences
Korean imperative sentences are typically formed using the verb stem followed by the suffix “-으세요” (-euseyo) or “-아/어” (-a/eo). The choice between these two forms depends on the verb stem’s last vowel. If the last vowel is a vowel other than “ㅏ” (a) or “ㅗ” (o), “-아/어” (-a/eo) is used. Otherwise, “-으세요” (-euseyo) is used. It is important to note that the formal form “-으세요” (-euseyo) is considered more polite and respectful, while “-아/어” (-a/eo) is less formal.
Examples of Korean Imperative Sentences
To illustrate the formation and usage of Korean imperative sentences, let’s consider some examples:
a) Basic Commands:
먹어요 (meogeoyo) or 먹으세요 (meogeuseyo) – Eat.
가요 (gayo) or 가세요 (gaseyo) – Go.
일어나요 (ireonayo) or 일어나세요 (ireonaseyo) – Get up.
b) Requests:
도와주세요 (dowajuseyo) – Please help.
좀 기다려주세요 (jom gidaryeojuseyo) – Please wait a moment.
주세요 (juseyo) – Please give.
c) Suggestions:
한 번 가보세요 (han beon gaboseyo) – Why don’t you try going once?
좀 쉬세요 (jom swiseyo) – Why don’t you take a rest?
가자 (gaja) – Let’s go.
Additional Considerations for Korean Imperative Sentences
a) Honorific Language:
Korean has a complex honorific system, which means that the choice of vocabulary and grammar can change depending on the speaker’s relationship to the listener. When using imperative sentences, it is important to consider the appropriate level of politeness based on the context and the people involved.
b) Sentence Endings:
Imperative sentences can also be formed by adding sentence endings such as “-거라” (-geora) or “-세” (-se) to the verb stem. These endings convey a sense of strong command or instruction. However, they are less commonly used in modern Korean and are often found in formal or written language.
c) Polite Commands:
In certain situations, you may want to express commands in a more polite manner. To achieve this, you can use the polite form of the verb stem followed by the suffix “-십시오” (-sipshio) or “-십시다” (-sipshida). For example, “먹으십시오” (meogeusipshio) means “Please eat.”
d) Negation:
To form negative imperative sentences, you can add the negation particle “-지 마세요” (-ji maseyo) or “-지 말아요” (-ji marayo) after the verb stem. For example, “가지 마세요” (gaji maseyo) means “Don’t go.”
Romanization in Korean Imperative Sentences
Romanization is the process of representing Korean characters using the Latin alphabet. While it can be helpful for beginners, it is important to note that the romanization of Korean words does not always accurately represent their pronunciation. The romanization used in this guide follows the Revised Romanization of Korean.
Conclusion
In summary, Korean imperative sentences are an essential aspect of communication for giving commands, making requests, and offering suggestions. By understanding the basic structure and nuances of Korean imperative sentences, beginners can begin to express their intentions and engage in meaningful conversations. Remember to consider the appropriate level of politeness and take into account the context and relationship between the speaker and the listener. With practice, you will become more confident in using imperative sentences and further enhance your Korean language skills.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct form of the imperative sentence.
Please eat.
a) 먹어 (meogeo)
b) 먹으세요 (meogeuseyo)
c) 먹어요 (meogeo yo)
Answer: b) 먹으세요 (meogeuseyo)
Explanation: The correct form for a polite imperative sentence is “-으세요” (-euseyo).
Example sentence: “Please eat.” (Formal)
Korean: 먹으세요. (Meogeuseyo.)
Exercise 2:
Form a polite command using the given verb stem.
Verb stem: 가 (ga)
a) 가요 (gayo)
b) 가세요 (gaseyo)
c) 가자 (gaja)
Answer: b) 가세요 (gaseyo)
Explanation: When forming a polite command, we add the suffix “-세요” (-seyo) to the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Please go.” (Formal)
Korean: 가세요. (Gaseyo.)
Exercise 3:
Form a suggestion using the given verb stem.
Verb stem: 쉬 (swi)
a) 좀 쉬세요 (jom swiseyo)
b) 좀 쉬어 (jom swieo)
c) 좀 쉬어요 (jom swieoyo)
Answer: a) 좀 쉬세요 (jom swiseyo)
Explanation: To form a suggestion, we add the suffix “-세요” (-seyo) to the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Why don’t you take a rest?” (Formal)
Korean: 좀 쉬세요. (Jom swiseyo.)
Exercise 4:
Choose the appropriate polite command form.
Please help.
a) 도와 (dowa)
b) 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo)
c) 도와요 (dowayo)
Answer: b) 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo)
Explanation: To form a polite command, we add the suffix “-주세요” (-juseyo) to the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Please help.” (Formal)
Korean: 도와주세요. (Dowajuseyo.)
Exercise 5:
Choose the negative imperative form.
Don’t go.
a) 가지 (gaji)
b) 가지 마세요 (gaji maseyo)
c) 가요 (gayo)
Answer: b) 가지 마세요 (gaji maseyo)
Explanation: To form a negative imperative sentence, we add the negation particle “-지 마세요” (-ji maseyo) after the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Don’t go.” (Formal)
Korean: 가지 마세요. (Gaji maseyo.)
Exercise 6:
Form a polite command using the given verb stem.
Verb stem: 먹 (meok)
a) 먹으십시오 (meogeusipsio)
b) 먹어 (meogeo)
c) 먹으세요 (meogeuseyo)
Answer: a) 먹으십시오 (meogeusipsio)
Explanation: To form a polite command, we use the polite verb stem and add the suffix “-십시오” (-sipsio).
Example sentence: “Please eat.” (Polite)
Korean: 먹으십시오. (Meogeusipsio.)
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct form for a polite command.
Please give.
a) 주세요 (juseyo)
b) 줘요 (jwoyo)
c) 주세요요 (juseyoyo)
Answer: a) 주세요 (juseyo)
Explanation: The correct form for a polite command is “-주세요” (-juseyo).
Example sentence: “Please give.” (Formal)
Korean: 주세요. (Juseyo.)
Exercise 8:
Choose the appropriate form for a suggestion.
Why don’t you try going once?
a) 한 번 가보세요 (han beon gaboseyo)
b) 한 번 가세요 (han beon gaseyo)
c) 한 번 가요 (han beon gayo)
Answer: a) 한 번 가보세요 (han beon gaboseyo)
Explanation: To form a suggestion, we add the suffix “-보세요” (-boseyo) to the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Why don’t you try going once?” (Formal)
Korean: 한 번 가보세요. (Han beon gaboseyo.)
Exercise 9:
Choose the correct form for a polite command.
Please wait a moment.
a) 좀 기다려요 (jom gidaryeo yo)
b) 좀 기다려주세요 (jom gidaryeojuseyo)
c) 좀 기다려 (jom gidaryeo)
Answer: b) 좀 기다려주세요 (jom gidaryeojuseyo)
Explanation: The correct form for a polite command is “-기다려주세요” (-gidaryeojuseyo).
Example sentence: “Please wait a moment.” (Formal)
Korean: 좀 기다려주세요. (Jom gidaryeojuseyo.)
Exercise 10:
Choose the negative imperative form.
Don’t eat.
a) 먹지 (meokji)
b) 먹으세요 (meogeuseyo)
c) 먹지 마세요 (meokji maseyo)
Answer: c) 먹지 마세요 (meokji maseyo)
Explanation: To form a negative imperative sentence, we add the negation particle “-지 마세요” (-ji maseyo) after the verb stem.
Example sentence: “Don’t eat.” (Formal)
Korean: 먹지 마세요. (Meokji maseyo.)
Originally posted 2023-07-19 16:45:08.