haru Korean › Grammar › Level 3A › A/V-대요
A/V-대요 — the short form — passing on news in chat and conversation
The short form — passing on news in chat and conversation. Korean grammar for intermediate learners — Level 3A, lesson 1: 동아리 환영회를 한다고 해요 (They say there is a club welcome party).
What it means
-대요 is -다고 해요 said quickly: 다고 해 shrinks to 대, so 한다고 해요 → 한대요 and 바쁘다고 해요 → 바쁘대요. The meaning does not change — 'they say …', 'apparently …' — and you choose the ending exactly as before: verbs take -는대요 after a consonant (먹는대요) and -ㄴ대요 after a vowel (간대요, 한대요), an ㄹ stem drops the ㄹ (만든대요, 연대요), and adjectives, 있다 and 없다 take -대요 (바쁘대요, 재미있대요, 없대요). The past is -았/었대요 (등록했대요). Use the short form with friends, in chat and in everyday talk; the long form sounds more careful, so it suits a notice, a class announcement or a meeting. Said with a rising voice it checks news: 정말 금요일에 한대요? — 'Is it really on Friday?' Spelling: 대, from 다고 해 — not 데.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -는대요 | 동사 · 받침 O | 먹다 + 는대요 → 먹는대요 |
| -ㄴ대요 | 동사 · 받침 X / ㄹ | 가다 + ㄴ대요 → 간대요 |
| -대요 | 형용사 · 있다/없다 · -았/었- · -겠- | 바쁘다 + 대요 → 바쁘대요 |
Key points
- -다고 해요 said quickly: 다고 해 → 대 — 한다고 해요 → 한대요 · 바쁘다고 해요 → 바쁘대요
- Verb -는대요 after 받침 (먹는대요) · -ㄴ대요 after a vowel or ㄹ (간대요 · 만든대요) · adjective -대요 (바쁘대요 · 없대요)
Examples
- 한다고 해요 → 한대요. 바쁘다고 해요 → 바쁘대요.
- 동사 · 받침 O → -는대요: 먹는대요 · 읽는대요.
- 동사 · 받침 X, ㄹ → -ㄴ대요: 간대요 · 한대요 · 만든대요.
- 형용사 · 있다 · 없다 → -대요: 바쁘대요 · 재미있대요 · 없대요.
- 물어볼 때: 정말 금요일에 한대요? ↗
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 3A, lesson 1; Yonsei University Korean 3-1, lesson 4; Sogang University Korean 3A, lesson 2; Ewha Womans University Korean 3-2, lesson 8; Hongik University Korean 3A, lesson 1; Hanyang University Korean 3-2, lesson 9.