Tense (Present, Past, and Future) - SECRETKOREAN

*Important note before learning the present, past, and future tense* 

We will learn how to use the present, past, and future in a basic way. The way we are going to learn is grammatically correct, but it is not used in dialogue.

We can usually find this way in exams, books (not dialogue), articles (research, newspaper, or magazine), and other situations that are not targeted at a specific audience.

This way is not used in spoken language, but it is important when you read some texts (books, newspapers, etc...) to understand vocabulary and grammar in a more complex way.

Since the sentence ends in a verb or an adjective in Korean. We are going to study how to conjugate verbs and adjectives in the present, past, and future tense.

Present Tense

Present (verb): ongoing action, habitual action 

When a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-는다].

듣다 = 듣 + -는다 = 나는 노래를 듣는다 = I listen to music 

걷다 = 걷 + -는다 = 나는 걷는다 = I walk

먹다 = 먹 + -는다 = 사과를 먹는다 = I eat an apple 

*Unlike English, the verbs do not carry the present tense suffix “-s/es”.

When a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-ㄴ/다].

가르치다 = 가르치 + ㄴ/다 = 선생님은 한국어를 가르친다 = The teacher teaches Korean 

끄다 = 끄 + ㄴ/다 = 나는 불을 끈다 = I turn off the light 

가다 = 가 + ㄴ/다 = 태희는 학교에 간다 = Taehee goes to school 

Irregular Verbs

When a verb stem ends with a consonant [ㄹ], it is combined with [-ㄴ/다].

살다 = 사 + ㄴ/다 = 산다 = 나는 한국에 산다 = I live in Korea 

팔다 = 파 = ㄴ/다 = 판다 = (자전거를) 판다 = I sell a bicycle 

Present (adjective): continuing state, absolute truth 

Adjectives are not conjugated in the present tense. Let it be as it is.

짧다 = 팔이 짧다 = Arms are short

맛있다 = 음식이 맛있다 = The food is delicious 

피곤하다 = 나는 피곤하다 = I am tired

둥글다 = 지구는 둥글다 = The earth is round

Past Tense

Past (verb)

When a verb stem ends with a vowel [ㅏ, ㅗ, ㅏ, ㅛ], it is combined with [-았다]. 

In all other cases, the past tense suffix [-었다] is attached.

열다 = 여 + -ㄴ/다 = 나는 문을 연다 = I open the door (present, irregular verb) 

열다 = 열 + -었다 = 나는 물을 열었다 = I opened the door (past) 

닫다 = 닫 + -는다 = 창문을 닫는다 = I close the window (present) 

닫다 = 닫 + -았다 = 창문을 닫았다 = I closed the window (past) 

먹다 = 먹 + -ㄴ/다 = 나는 점심을 먹는다 = I eat lunch (present) 

먹다 = 먹 + -었다 = 나는 물을 먹었다 = I ate lunch (past) 

Exceptions

When a verb stem ends with [하], it is combined with [-였].

하다 = 하 + -였다 = 태희는 집에서 숙제를 했다 = Taehee did homework at home 

[했다] is a shortened form of [하였다]

Sometimes some words create shortened forms such as [가다], [오다], [마시다] and so forth.

태희는 어제 교회에 갔다 (가+았+다) = Taehee went to the church yesterday 

그들은 어제 집에 왔다 (오+았+다) = They came home yesterday 

나는 물을 마셨다(마시+었+다) = I drank water

Past (adjective)

When an adjective stem ends with a vowel [ㅏ, ㅗ, ㅏ, ㅛ], it is combined with [-았다]. 

In other cases, the past tense suffix [-었다] is attached.

좋다 = 그 친구는 좋다 = That friend is good (present) 

좋다 = 좋 + -았다 = 그 친구는 좋았다 = That friend was good (past) 

길다 = 수업이 길었다 = The class was long (present) 

길다 = 길 + -었다 = 수업이 길었다 = The class was long (past) 

작다 = 그 옷은 작다 = That clothes is small

작다 = 작 + -았다 = 그 옷은 작았다 = That clothes was small 

It uses the same form of conjugation as verbs in the past tense. However, in the case of adjectives, it can be used to describe a thing or person’s present state as well because the action has already happened before and it is a result of the current state affected by the previous action.

잘생기다 = 잘생기+었다 = 그는 잘생겼다 = He is handsome 

결혼하다 = 결혼+하였다 = 그녀는 결혼했다 = She is married 

젖다 = 젖 + -었다 = 가방이 젖었다 = My bag is wet 

붓다 = 부 + -었다 = 얼굴이 부었다 = My face is swollen 

닮다 = 닮 + -았다 = 나는 아버지를 닮았다 = I resemble my father 

Exceptions

When a verb stem ends with [하], it is combined with [-였].

뚱뚱하다 = 뚱뚱하 + -였다 = 그는 뚱뚱했다 = He was chubby 

[했다] is a shortened form of [하였다]

Future Tense

Future (verb)

In the case of future tense, it is hard to say that there is a direct form for it because there are always modal meanings which can be like probability, capability, obligation, intention, etc, in the future tense. Since the future tense is not compatible with imperative and propositional forms, the modal suffixes [-겠다] and [-(으)ㄹ 거다] can be used for statement and question sentences in Korean.

It does not matter if a verb stem ends with a consonant or a vowel, it is always combined with [-겠다]. It shows the speaker’s intention or will to take action.

끝나다 = 끝나 + -겠다 = 수업이 끝나겠다 = The class will end 

공부하다 = 공부하 + -겠다 = 나는 공부하겠다 I will study 

먹다 = 먹 + -겠다 = 나는 타코를 먹겠다 = I will eat tacos 

배우다 = 배우 + -겠다 = 한국어를 배우겠다 = I will learn Korean 

[-(으)ㄹ 거다] shows the speaker’s weak commitment to take an action.

If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-을 거다] 

If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-ㄹ 거다] 

읽다 = 읽 + -을 거다 = 책을 읽을 거다 = I will read a book 

일어나다 = 일어나 + -ㄹ 거다 = 좋은일이 일어날 거다 = A good thing will happen

*Important exception*

알다 (to know) and 모르다 (not to know) can be conjugated in future tense, but it does not work as a future tense.

If it is combined with the future suffix [-겠다], it could be like [알겠다] and [모르겠다]. However, these words are usually used to respond or reply “I understand” and “I don’t understand” in the present tense.

Future (adjective)

It does not matter if a verb stem ends with a consonant or a vowel, it is always combined with [-겠다].

배고프다 = 배고프 + -겠다 = 동생은 배고프겠다 = My brother will (may) be hungry 

맛있다 = 맛있 + -겠다 = 사과가 맛있겠다 = The apple will (may) be delicious 

슬프다 = 슬프 + -겠다 = 너는 슬프겠다 = You will (may) be sad 

[-(으)ㄹ 거다] shows the speaker’s weak commitment to take an action.

If a verb stem ends with a consonant, it is combined with [-을 거다] 

If a verb stem ends with a vowel, it is combined with [-ㄹ 거다] 

늦다 = 늦 + -을 거다 = 도착이 늦을 거다 = It will be arriving late 

차다 = 차 + -ㄹ 거다 = 음료는 찰 거다 = The beverage will be cold 

Please remember that you are learning the basic form (conjugation) of present, past, and future tense which are not usually utilized in daily conversations. You will be learning the forms for spoken language in honorific systems (formal and informal), so please pay attention to understanding the basic form and how it changes depending on the tense.

*Additional Expressions

“Must have + p.p (past participle)” = [-았/었 + 겠다] can express a highly likely outcome of a past event.

웃다 = 웃 + -었 + 겠다 = 너 때문에 웃었겠다 = He must have laughed because of you 

오다 = 오 + -았 + 겠다 = 지금쯤 왔겠다 = He must have come by now 

원하다 = 원하 + -였 + 겠다 = 원숭이를 원했겠다 = You must have wanted a monkey 

“May have + p.p (past participle)” = [-았/었 + -(으)ㄹ 거다] can express a less likely outcome of a past event.

웃다 = 웃 + -었 + 을 거다 = 너 때문에 웃었을 거다 = He may have laughed because of you 

오다 = 오 + -았 + 을 거다 = 그가 지금쯤 왔을 거다 = He may have come by now 

원하다 = 원하 + -였 + 을 거다 = 원숭이를 원했을 거다 = You may have wanted a monkey 

Aspect

Progressive

It indicates an ongoing action over an extended period of time. [-고 있다], or [-는 중이다] can be attached to an action verb stem. This progressive suffix also can be applied in the present, past, and future aspects.

Present Progressive : [-고 있다], or [-는 중이다] 

입다 = 입 + -고 있다 = 나는 교복을 입고 있다 = I am wearing school uniform 

수영하다 = 수영하 + -는 중이다 = 그는 수영하는 중이다 = He is swimming 

Past Progressive : [-고 있었다] or [-는 중이었다] 

입다 = 입 + -고 있었다 = 나는 교복을 입고 있었다 = I was wearing school uniform 

수영하다 = 수영하 + -는 중이었다 = 그는 수영하는 중이었다 = He was swimming 

Future Progressive : [-고 있겠다], [-는 중이겠다], [-고 있을 거다], or [-는 중일 거다] 

입다 = 입 + -고 있겠다 = 나는 교복을 입고 있겠다 = I may/must be wearing school uniform 

수영하다 = 수영하 + -는 중이겠다 = 그는 수영하는 중이겠다 = He may/must be swimming 

싸우다 = 싸우 + -고 있을 거다 = 우리는 싸우고 있을 거다 = We may/must be fighting 

끝내다 = 끝내 + -는 중일 거다 = 회의를 끝내는 중일 거다 = They may/must be finishing the meeting 

Progressive (Adjective)

You can also use adjectives in progressive form by attaching the suffix [-아/어 지다] which means “to become” or to express the ongoing change of state.

“-아지다” is used when the syllable of an adjective stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].

“-어지다” is used when the syllable of an adjective stem contains any vowel except for [아] or [오].

Present Progressive : [-아/어지고 있다]

늦다 = 늦 + -어지고 있다 = 완료가 늦어지고 있다 = It is getting delayed to complete 

좋다 = 좋 + -아지고 있다 = 건강이 좋아지고 있다 = The health is getting better 

바쁘다 = 바 + -빠지고 있다 = 일이 바빠지고 있다 = The work is getting busier 

Past Progressive : [-아/어지고 있었다] or [-아/어지는 중이었다] 

늦다 = 늦 + -어지고 있다 = 완료가 늦어지고 있었다 = It was getting delayed to complete 

좋다 = 좋 + -아지고 있다 = 건강이 좋아지는 중이었다 = The health was getting better 

바쁘다 = 바 + -빠지고 있다 = 일이 바빠지고 있었다 = The work was getting busier 

Future Progressive : [-아/어지고 있겠다], [-아/어지는 중이겠다], [-아/어지고 있을 거다], or [-아/어지는 중일 거다] 

늦다 = 늦 + -어지고 있다 = 완료가 늦어지고 있겠다 = It may/must be getting delayed to complete 

좋다 = 좋 + -아지고 있다 = 건강이 좋아지는 중이겠다 = The health may/must be getting better 

바쁘다 = 바 + -빠지고 있다 = 일이 바빠지고 있겠다 = The work may/must be getting busier 

빠르다 = 빨 + -라지고 있을 거다 = 속도가 빨라지고 있을 거다 = The speed may/must be getting faster 

짧다 = 짧 + -아지는 중일 거다 = 낮이 짧아지는 중일 거다 = The daytime may/must be getting shorter 

Perfect

It indicates the completion of an action (from the beginning to the end of the time). These present, past, and future suffixes can be attached to a stem of verbs and adjectives.

“-아 왔다” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains the vowel [아] or [오].

“-어 왔다” is used when the syllable of a verb stem contains any vowel except for [아] or [오].

Present Perfect : [-아/어 왔다]

살다 = 살 + -아 왔다 = 한국에서 힘들게 살아 왔다 = I have lived a tough life in Korean 느끼다 = 느 + -껴 왔다 = 지금까지 다름을 느껴 왔다 = I have felt a difference up until now 

Past Perfect : [-았었/었었]

살다 = 살 + -아 왔다 = 한국에서 힘들게 살아 왔었다. = I had lived a tough life in Korean 

느끼다 = 느 + -껴 왔다 = 지금까지 다름을 느껴 왔었다 = I had felt a difference up until now 

*[-았/었던] can be used for subordinate clause 

살다 = 살 + -았던 = 힘들게 살았던 날들이다 = It was the days when I used to live a tough life 

느끼다 = 느 + 껴왔던 = 이것은 지금까지 느꼈던 것이다 = This is what I used to feel so far 

Future Perfect : [-아/어 가다]

끝나다 = 끝 + -나 가다 = 수업이 곧 끝나 간다 = The class would have finished soon 

오다 = 오 + -아 가다 = 거의 다 와 간다 = I would have come soon (= I’m almost getting there) 

읽다 = 읽 + -어 가다 = 그 소설을 거의 다 읽어 간다 = I would have read the novel soon