Descriptive Verbs/ Adjectives

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TL;DR — Descriptive Verbs in 3 bullets

🎭 Korean adjectives are actually verbs — they end in ~다 and conjugate just like action verbs (예쁘다, 춥다, 좋다…).

🗣️ Predicate use ("X is pretty") → 예쁘다 becomes 예뻐요, exactly like action verb conjugation.

🔗 Attributive use ("a pretty X") → add ~ㄴ/은 to the stem so it can hug a noun: 예쁘 + ㄴ → 예쁜 고양이 (a pretty cat).

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Iru's Helper Note

안녕! 🦊 Here's the most mind-blowing thing about Korean: "adjectives" don't really exist as a separate category. They're a special kind of verb called descriptive verbs (형용사). That's why 예쁘다 isn't just "pretty" — it literally means "to be pretty." Once you accept this, two big rules unlock automatically: descriptive verbs conjugate with ~아/어요 like action verbs, AND they need a special ending (~ㄴ/은) when they sit in front of a noun. Let's master both! 🚀

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🎧 Audio Practice

Descriptive verbs change shape depending on whether they predicate or modify — hearing the difference helps lock in the pattern. Open

Korean Helper Widgets in a side window and play 예쁜 고양이 (a pretty cat) vs 고양이가 예뻐요 (the cat is pretty). Same root 예쁘다, two different jobs.

🎭 Adjectives Are Verbs (형용사)

Korean grammar splits verbs into two flavors:

🏃 동사 (action verbs) — doing words: 먹다 (to eat), 가다 (to go), 읽다 (to read)

🎨 형용사 (descriptive verbs) — being words: 예쁘다 (to be pretty), 크다 (to be big), 좋다 (to be good)

Both groups end in ~다 in dictionary form, and both conjugate the stem with the same ~아/어요 rules. The big behavioral difference shows up only when they modify nouns — we'll get to that in a moment.

💡 Why this matters: In English you say "is pretty" (verb "is" + adjective "pretty"). In Korean, 예쁘다 is a single word that already means "to be pretty" — no separate "is" needed.

🗣️ Predicate Form — Just Conjugate Like Any Verb

When a descriptive verb sits at the end of a sentence ("The flower is pretty"), conjugate it with ~아/어요 using the same rules from the Sentence Structure lesson:

🌸 예쁘다 → stem 예쁘 (last vowel ㅡ, irregular) → 예뻐요 (it is pretty)

🏔️ 크다 → 크 → stem ends in ㅡ (irregular) → 커요 (it is big)

👍 좋다 → 좋 → vowel ㅗ → 좋아요 (it is good)

🥶 춥다 → 춥 → ㅜ vowel + ㅂ batchim (ㅂ-irregular) → 추워요 (it is cold)

🔥 덥다 → 덥 → ㅓ vowel + ㅂ batchim (ㅂ-irregular) → 더워요 (it is hot)

Sentence examples:

🌸 꽃이 예뻐요. (The flower is pretty.)

🏠 집이 커요. (The house is big.)

☕ 커피가 더워요. (The coffee is hot.)

⛄ 날씨가 추워요. (The weather is cold.)

Notice: descriptive verbs use the subject particle 이/가 here — you're saying "the flower itself is pretty," not introducing a topic.

🔗 Attributive Form — The ~ㄴ/은 Ending

When a descriptive verb sits in front of a noun ("a pretty flower"), you can't use 예뻐요. You need a modifier form. Add ~ㄴ/은 to the stem:

🌿 Stem ends in a vowel → add ㄴ as a batchim: 예쁘 → 예쁜

🪵 Stem ends in a consonant → add 은: 좋 → 좋은

Walkthrough:

🌸 예쁘다 → stem 예쁘 (vowel-final) → 예쁜 + noun → 예쁜 꽃 (a pretty flower)

🏔️ 크다 → 크 (vowel-final) → 큰 + noun → 큰 집 (a big house)

👍 좋다 → 좋 (consonant-final) → 좋은 + noun → 좋은 친구 (a good friend)

🔴 작다 → 작 (consonant-final) → 작은 + noun → 작은 고양이 (a small cat)

📏 길다 → 길 (ㄹ-irregular) → 긴 + noun → 긴 머리 (long hair)

⚠️ Critical: 예뻐요 꽃 (using predicate form before a noun) sounds completely wrong. Use 예쁜 꽃.

🎲 Three Irregular Patterns You'll Meet Constantly

Korean has irregular verbs that change shape during conjugation. Three irregulars dominate descriptive verbs:

1. ㅂ-irregular (ㅂ batchim drops, becomes 우)

Many descriptive verbs end in ㅂ batchim. When you conjugate with 아/어요 or attach ㄴ/은, the ㅂ turns into 우:

🥶 춥다 → 추워요 (predicate) / 추운 날 (a cold day)

🔥 덥다 → 더워요 (predicate) / 더운 날씨 (hot weather)

🙊 귀엽다 → 귀여워요 (predicate) / 귀여운 아기 (a cute baby)

📜 어렵다 → 어려워요 (predicate) / 어려운 시험 (a difficult exam)

🧼 더럽다 → 더러워요 (predicate) / 더러운 방 (a dirty room)

2. ㅡ-irregular (ㅡ vowel drops before 아/어)

When the stem ends in ㅡ vowel, the ㅡ disappears in conjugation:

🌸 예쁘다 → 예쁘 → 예쁘 + 어요 → 예뻐요 (ㅡ drops)

😫 바쁘다 → 바쁘 → 바빠요 (busy)

😢 슬프다 → 슬프 → 슬퍼요 (sad)

🏔️ 크다 → 크 → 커요 (big)

The attributive ~ㄴ ending doesn't trigger the drop — just attach ㄴ:

예쁘 + ㄴ → 예쁜

바쁘 + ㄴ → 바쁜

크 + ㄴ → 큰

3. ㄹ-irregular (ㄹ batchim drops before ㄴ)

Verbs whose stem ends in ㄹ batchim drop the ㄹ when adding ㄴ:

📐 길다 → 길어요 (predicate) / 길 + ㄴ → ㄹ drops → 긴 머리 (long hair)

🎙️ 멀다 → 멀어요 (predicate) / 멀 + ㄴ → 먼 곳 (a far place)

🍬 달다 → 달아요 (predicate) / 달 + ㄴ → 단 사탕 (sweet candy)

📚 12 Essential Descriptive Verbs

Learn these with all three forms: dictionary, predicate (~아/어요), attributive (~ㄴ/은).

🏔️ 크다 → 커요 → 큰 (big)

🔴 작다 → 작아요 → 작은 (small)

👍 좋다 → 좋아요 → 좋은 (good)

👎 나쁘다 → 나빠요 → 나쁜 (bad)

🌸 예쁘다 → 예뻐요 → 예쁜 (pretty)

😎 멋있다 → 멋있어요 → 멋있는 (cool — see special note below)

🥶 춥다 → 추워요 → 추운 (cold)

🔥 덥다 → 더워요 → 더운 (hot)

📐 길다 → 길어요 → 긴 (long)

✂️ 짧다 → 짧아요 → 짧은 (short)

💰 비싸다 → 비싸요 → 비싼 (expensive)

💵 싸다 → 싸요 → 싼 (cheap)

⚡ Special Group: ~있다 / ~없다 Verbs Use ~는

Some descriptive verbs include 있다 (to exist) or 없다 (to not exist) at the end. These behave like action verbs in attributive form — use ~는 instead of ~ㄴ/은:

📖 재미있다 → 재미있어요 (predicate) / 재미있는 책 (an interesting book)

😎 멋있다 → 멋있어요 / 멋있는 사람 (a cool person)

😋 맛있다 → 맛있어요 / 맛있는 음식 (delicious food)

🥱 재미없다 → 재미없어요 / 재미없는 영화 (a boring movie)

💡 Memory hook: If the dictionary form contains 있/없, attributive uses 는. Otherwise it's ㄴ/은.

🚫 What Descriptive Verbs CAN'T Do

Descriptive verbs are forbidden from a few action-verb forms. The big one beginners trip on:

❌ 예쁘는다 (action-verb plain present — wrong for adjectives)

❌ 예쁘ㄴ다 (also wrong)

✅ 예쁘다 stays 예쁘다 as the dictionary / plain form

✅ 예뻐요 (polite predicate)

✅ 예쁜 (attributive)

The written/literary plain present of action verbs is 먹는다 / 간다. Descriptive verbs never take that ending — they just stay as ~다 in plain form.

🌸 Putting It All Together — Real Sentences

🌸 예쁜 꽃이 책상 위에 있어요. (A pretty flower is on the desk.)

🏠 저는 큰 집을 사고 싶어요. (I want to buy a big house.)

☕ 더운 커피가 맛있어요. (Hot coffee is delicious.)

📖 재미있는 책을 읽어요. (I read an interesting book.)

🙊 귀여운 아기가 웃어요. (The cute baby is laughing.)

🇰🇷 Why This Matters

The "adjectives are verbs" insight is officially codified in Korean grammar by korean.go.kr (the National Institute of Korean Language). 형용사 is one of two big verb categories alongside 동사, and the ~ㄴ/은 attributive ending is one of the highest-frequency grammar patterns in Korean. Once you can flip any 형용사 between predicate (예뻐요) and attributive (예쁜) forms, you've unlocked the ability to describe almost anything in Korean. Future tense ~ㄹ/을 modifier and past tense ~ㄴ/은 modifier will build on top of this exact pattern.

⚠️ Pitfalls

❌ 예뻐요 꽃 (predicate form before a noun)

✅ 예쁜 꽃 (attributive form before a noun)

❌ 춥어요 (forgetting ㅂ-irregular)

✅ 추워요 (ㅂ → 우)

❌ 예쁘는 꽃 (using ~는 for a non-있/없 verb)

✅ 예쁜 꽃 (use ~ㄴ/은 unless dictionary form has 있/없)

❌ 재미있은 책 (using ~ㄴ/은 for 있다 verb)

✅ 재미있는 책 (있다 verbs use ~는)

❌ 예쁜다 / 예쁘는다 (action-verb plain present applied to a descriptive verb)

✅ 예쁘다 (stays 다 in plain form)

🎉 You did it!

You now know that adjectives are descriptive verbs, the predicate form (~아/어요), the attributive form (~ㄴ/은 or ~는 for 있/없 verbs), and three big irregular patterns (ㅂ, ㅡ, ㄹ). You can describe people, places, things, and feelings in Korean! 정말 멋있어요! Onto practice! 🚀

🎮 Try this exercise

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Vocabulary Box

For each prompt, decide if it's predicate (~아/어요) or attributive (~ㄴ/은 / ~는), and check for irregulars (ㅂ, ㅡ, ㄹ).

What is a 형용사?

Answer

A descriptive verb — Korean's category for what English calls adjectives. They end in ~다 and conjugate like verbs.

Conjugate 예쁘다 to polite predicate.

Answer

예뻐요 — ㅡ-irregular: 예쁘 + 어요 → ㅡ drops → 예뻐요.

Make the attributive form of 크다 to describe 집.

Answer

큰 집 — 크 (vowel-final) + ㄴ → 큰 + 집.

Conjugate 춥다 to polite predicate.

Answer

추워요 — ㅂ-irregular: 춥 → 추우 → 추워요.

Make the attributive form of 춥다 to describe 날.

Answer

추운 날 — ㅂ-irregular: 춥 → 추우 + ㄴ → 추운.

Why is 재미있는 책 correct, not 재미있은 책?

Answer

Because the dictionary form 재미있다 ends in 있다. 있/없 verbs use ~는 attributive, not ~ㄴ/은.

Make the attributive form of 길다 to describe 머리.

Answer

긴 머리 — ㄹ-irregular: 길 + ㄴ → ㄹ drops → 긴.

Translate (polite predicate): "The weather is hot."

Answer

날씨가 더워요. — 덥다 is ㅂ-irregular → 더워요.

Translate (attributive): "a small cat"

Answer

작은 고양이 — 작 (consonant-final) + 은 → 작은.

Why is 예쁘는다 wrong?

Answer

~는다 is the action-verb plain present ending. Descriptive verbs cannot take ~는다 — they stay as 예쁘다 in plain form.

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Ready for more? Head to the Practice Hub below for 50 deeper exercises across predicate, attributive, irregulars, and translations!

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🎯 Descriptive Verbs Practice Hub

Welcome to your 50-question deep dive! These exercises drill the predicate form, the ~ㄴ/은 attributive ending, the 있/없 ~는 group, three big irregulars (ㅂ, ㅡ, ㄹ), and full translations so you can describe anything in Korean. 🔥

🎧 Don't forget to open

Korean Helper Widgets for audio playback while you practice — saying each phrase aloud is half the battle.

How to use: Work one exercise at a time. Read each prompt, predict the answer, then open the Answer toggle to confirm. Move on once you can ace 8/10.

🗣️ Exercise 1 — Predicate Form (~아/어요)

📚 Vocabulary Box: Conjugate the descriptive verb to its polite predicate form ("X is ___").

💡 Tip: Apply the same ~아/어요 rule from action verbs. Watch for ㅂ, ㅡ, and ㄹ irregulars.

A. 좋다 → ?

Answer

좋아요 — vowel ㅗ → 아요; no contraction needed (ㅎ batchim).

B. 작다 → ?

Answer

작아요 — vowel ㅏ → 아요.

C. 크다 → ?

Answer

커요 — ㅡ-irregular: 크 + 어요 → ㅡ drops → 커요.

D. 예쁘다 → ?

Answer

예뻐요 — ㅡ-irregular: 예쁘 + 어요 → ㅡ drops → 예뻐요.

E. 춥다 → ?

Answer

추워요 — ㅂ-irregular: 춥 → 추우 + 어요 → 추워요.

F. 덥다 → ?

Answer

더워요 — ㅂ-irregular: 덥 → 더우 + 어요 → 더워요.

G. 귀엽다 → ?

Answer

귀여워요 — ㅂ-irregular: 귀엽 → 귀여우 + 어요 → 귀여워요.

H. 길다 → ?

Answer

길어요 — vowel ㅣ → 어요; ㄹ batchim stays in predicate form.

I. 멀다 → ?

Answer

멀어요 — vowel ㅓ → 어요; ㄹ batchim stays in predicate form.

J. 멋있다 → ?

Answer

멋있어요 — vowel ㅣ → 어요.

🔗 Exercise 2 — Attributive Form (~ㄴ/은)

📚 Vocabulary Box: Convert the descriptive verb so it can sit in front of a noun. Stem ends in vowel → ㄴ; consonant → 은.

💡 Tip: Use ~는 only when the dictionary form contains 있다 or 없다.

A. 크다 + 집 → ?

Answer

큰 집 — vowel-final stem → + ㄴ.

B. 작다 + 고양이 → ?

Answer

작은 고양이 — consonant-final stem → + 은.

C. 좋다 + 친구 → ?

Answer

좋은 친구 — consonant-final stem → + 은.

D. 예쁘다 + 꽃 → ?

Answer

예쁜 꽃 — vowel-final stem → + ㄴ.

E. 비싸다 + 가방 → ?

Answer

비싼 가방 — vowel-final stem → + ㄴ.

F. 재미있다 + 책 → ?

Answer

재미있는 책 — 있다 verb → ~는 attributive.

G. 맛있다 + 음식 → ?

Answer

맛있는 음식 — 있다 verb → ~는 attributive.

H. 재미없다 + 영화 → ?

Answer

재미없는 영화 — 없다 verb → ~는 attributive.

I. 짧다 + 머리 → ?

Answer

짧은 머리 — consonant-final stem → + 은.

J. 나쁘다 + 사람 → ?

Answer

나쁜 사람 — ㅡ-irregular stem (나쁘) is vowel-final → + ㄴ; ㅡ stays in attributive form.

🎲 Exercise 3 — Three Big Irregulars (ㅂ, ㅡ, ㄹ)

📚 Vocabulary Box: Spot the irregular pattern and apply both the predicate and attributive forms.

💡 Tip: ㅂ → 우; ㅡ drops before 아/어; ㄹ drops before ㄴ.

A. 어렵다 → predicate?

Answer

어려워요 — ㅂ-irregular: 어렵 → 어려우 + 어요 → 어려워요.

B. 어렵다 + 시험 → attributive?

Answer

어려운 시험 — ㅂ-irregular: 어려우 + ㄴ → 어려운.

C. 바쁘다 → predicate?

Answer

바빠요 — ㅡ-irregular: 바쁘 + 아요 → ㅡ drops → 바빠요 (last vowel before ㅡ was ㅏ, so use 아요).

D. 바쁘다 + 사람 → attributive?

Answer

바쁜 사람 — 바쁘 + ㄴ → 바쁜.

E. 멀다 + 곳 → attributive?

Answer

먼 곳 — ㄹ-irregular: 멀 + ㄴ → ㄹ drops → 먼.

F. 귀엽다 + 아기 → attributive?

Answer

귀여운 아기 — ㅂ-irregular: 귀엽 → 귀여우 + ㄴ → 귀여운.

G. 슬프다 → predicate?

Answer

슬퍼요 — ㅡ-irregular: 슬프 + 어요 → ㅡ drops → 슬퍼요.

H. 더럽다 + 방 → attributive?

Answer

더러운 방 — ㅂ-irregular: 더럽 → 더러우 + ㄴ → 더러운.

I. 달다 + 사탕 → attributive?

Answer

단 사탕 — ㄹ-irregular: 달 + ㄴ → ㄹ drops → 단.

J. 아프다 → predicate?

Answer

아파요 — ㅡ-irregular: 아프 + 아요 → ㅡ drops → 아파요 (last vowel before ㅡ was ㅏ, so use 아요).

📚 Exercise 4 — Predicate vs Attributive (Choose the Right Form)

📚 Vocabulary Box: Decide whether the slot needs predicate (~아/어요) or attributive (~ㄴ/은 / ~는).

💡 Tip: If the descriptor sits at the end of the sentence → predicate. If it sits in front of a noun → attributive.

A. 꽃이 . (예쁘다)

Answer

꽃이 예뻐요. — sentence-final → predicate.

B. 꽃을 사요. (예쁘다)

Answer

예쁜 꽃을 사요. — modifies 꽃 → attributive.

C. 집이 . (크다)

Answer

집이 커요. — sentence-final → predicate (ㅡ-irregular).

D. 집을 사고 싶어요. (크다)

Answer

큰 집을 사고 싶어요. — modifies 집 → attributive.

E. 날씨가 . (춥다)

Answer

날씨가 추워요. — sentence-final → predicate (ㅂ-irregular).

F. 저는 날을 싫어해요. (춥다)

Answer

저는 추운 날을 싫어해요. — modifies 날 → attributive (ㅂ-irregular).

G. 이 책은 . (재미있다)

Answer

이 책은 재미있어요. — sentence-final → predicate.

H. 책을 읽어요. (재미있다)

Answer

재미있는 책을 읽어요. — modifies 책 → attributive (있다 → ~는).

I. 머리가 . (길다)

Answer

머리가 길어요. — sentence-final → predicate.

J. 머리가 예뻐요. (길다)

Answer

긴 머리가 예뻐요. — modifies 머리 → attributive (ㄹ-irregular).

🌐 Exercise 5 — English-to-Korean Translation

📚 Vocabulary Box: Build full polite-informal Korean sentences using descriptive verbs. Choose predicate or attributive based on position.

💡 Tip: Predicate when the description is what the sentence is saying; attributive when the description is attached to a noun.

A. "The flower is pretty."

Answer

꽃이 예뻐요. — predicate; ㅡ-irregular.

B. "I like a pretty flower." (use 좋아하다 for "like")

Answer

저는 예쁜 꽃을 좋아해요. — attributive (예쁜) + object 을 + 좋아해요.

C. "The weather is cold."

Answer

날씨가 추워요. — predicate; ㅂ-irregular.

D. "I don't like cold days." (use 싫어하다)

Answer

저는 추운 날을 싫어해요. — attributive 추운 + object 을 + 싫어해요.

E. "The book is interesting."

Answer

책이 재미있어요. — predicate.

F. "I read an interesting book."

Answer

저는 재미있는 책을 읽어요. — attributive uses ~는 because of 있다.

G. "The baby is cute."

Answer

아기가 귀여워요. — predicate; ㅂ-irregular.

H. "I want to meet a cute baby." (use ~고 싶다)

Answer

저는 귀여운 아기를 만나고 싶어요. — attributive 귀여운.

I. "The hair is long."

Answer

머리가 길어요. — predicate; ㄹ stays in predicate form.

J. "I have long hair." (use 있다 "to have")

Answer

저는 긴 머리가 있어요. — attributive 긴 (ㄹ drops); subject of 있다 takes 가.

🎉 50 questions down! You can now describe almost anything in Korean: predicate (~아/어요), attributive (~ㄴ/은 or ~는), and three irregulars (ㅂ, ㅡ, ㄹ). 이제 아름다운 한국어를 만들 수 있어요! 화이팅! 🔥