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A-아요/어요 · N이/가 A — describing words — the weather is nice
Describing words — the weather is nice. Korean grammar for beginner learners — Level 1A, lesson 11: 덥지만 여름이 좋아요 (It's hot, but I love summer — describing with adjectives).
What it means
Describing words (adjectives) such as 좋다 'good', 크다 'big' and 따뜻하다 'warm' take the same endings as the verbs in Lesson 5: take 다 off, then a last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ takes -아요, any other vowel takes -어요, and every 하다 word becomes 해요. Some forms shrink: 비싸 + 아요 → 비싸요, 흐리 + 어요 → 흐려요. A last vowel ㅡ drops out: 크다 → 커요, and 나쁘다 → 나빠요 (the vowel before it decides — 나 has ㅏ, so 아요). The thing you describe takes 이/가, never 을/를: 날씨가 좋아요 'the weather is nice', 커피가 비싸요 'the coffee is expensive'. When you compare two things, use 은/는: 이 가방은 커요. 저 가방은 작아요. Learn describing words with their opposites: 커요 ↔ 작아요, 비싸요 ↔ 싸요, 맑아요 ↔ 흐려요. One more pair to notice: 저는 여름이 좋아요 (좋다 + 이/가) means the same as 저는 여름을 좋아해요 (좋아하다 + 을/를).
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -아요 | last vowel ㅏ or ㅗ | 좋다 + 아요 → 좋아요 |
| -어요 | any other vowel | 싫다 + 어요 → 싫어요 |
| 해요 | 하다 words | 따뜻하다 → 따뜻해요 |
Key points
- A-아요/어요 — describing words take the verb endings: 좋아요 · 싫어요 · 따뜻해요 · 크다 → 커요
- The thing you describe takes 이/가, never 을/를: 날씨가 좋아요 · 하늘이 맑아요 · 커피가 비싸요
Examples
- 날씨가 좋아요. 하늘이 맑아요. 바람이 시원해요.
- 좋다 → 좋아요 · 작다 → 작아요 · 싫다 → 싫어요 · 따뜻하다 → 따뜻해요
- 크다 → 커요 · 나쁘다 → 나빠요 · 흐리다 → 흐려요
- 커요 ↔ 작아요 · 비싸요 ↔ 싸요 · 맑아요 ↔ 흐려요
- 이 가방은 커요. 저 가방은 작아요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 1A, lesson 6; Yonsei University Korean 1-1, lesson 9; Sogang University Korean 1B, lesson 1; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-2, lesson 10; Hanyang University Korean 1-1, lesson 1.