Adverbs

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
-게, -로, 부사
Lesson
3

TL;DR

  • -게 turns adjectives into adverbs (빠르다 → 빠르게 "quickly")
  • -로 turns nouns into adverbs when showing manner or method (한국어로 "in Korean")
  • Many Korean adverbs are standalone words that don't need special endings (아주, 정말, 너무, etc.)

What are adverbs? 🤔

Adverbs describe how something is done. They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
In English: "She runs quickly" or "This is very delicious"
In Korean: "그녀는 빠르게 달려요" or "이것은 아주 맛있어요"

Making adverbs with -게

The most common way to create adverbs is by adding -게 to adjective stems.
Pattern: Adjective stem + 게
→ 빠르게 달려요 (run quickly)
→ 조용히 말해요 (speak quietly) - wait, what? 🧐
→ 예쁘게 그렸어요 (drew prettily/beautifully)
→ 천천히 걸어요 (walk slowly) - another exception!
→ 열심히 공부해요 (study diligently) - yep, another one 😅

Making adverbs with -로

Use -로 (or -으로 after consonants) to turn nouns into adverbs showing manner or method.
→ 한국어로 말해요 (speak in Korean)
→ 버스로 가요 (go by bus)
→ 손으로 먹어요 (eat with hands)

Standalone adverbs

Many common adverbs are just... adverbs! They don't need any special endings.
Common ones:
  • 아주 (very)
  • 정말 (really)
  • 너무 (too much / very)
  • 많이 (a lot)
  • 조금 (a little)
  • 잘 (well)
  • 못 (poorly / not well)
  • 다시 (again)
  • 같이 (together)
  • 혼자 (alone)
→ 정말 좋아요! (It's really good!)
→ 한국어를 잘 해요 (speak Korean well)
→ 많이 먹었어요 (ate a lot)

Exceptions ⚠️

Some adjectives use -히 instead of -게

A handful of common adjectives take -히 instead of -게:
  • 조용하다 → 조용히 (quietly)
  • 천천하다 → 천천히 (slowly)
  • 열심하다 → 열심히 (diligently)
  • 깨끗하다 → 깨끗히 (cleanly)
  • 특별하다 → 특별히 (especially)
There's no clear rule for which adjectives use -히 vs -게. You'll pick these up naturally! 💪

빨리 vs 빠르게

Both mean "quickly" but 빨리 is more common in everyday speech:
→ 빨리 와! (Come quickly!)
→ 빠르게 달려요 (run quickly) - sounds more formal
That's it! Start noticing adverbs when you read or listen to Korean, and you'll get the hang of them quickly (빨리! 😄)
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using adverbs ending in -게, -로, or stand-alone adverbs. 📝
 
  • 오늘은 날씨가 _ 좋아요. (정말)
      • Answer
      정말
 
 
  • 동생이 _ 걸어요. (빠르다)
      • Answer
      빠르게
 
 
  • 친구가 _ 설명했어요. (자세하다)
      • Answer
      자세하게 / 자세히
 
 
  • 엄마가 _ 요리를 만드셨어요. (조용하다)
      • Answer
      조용하게 / 조용히
 
 
  • 선생님이 _ 말씀하셨어요. (천천히)
      • Answer
      천천히
 
 
  • 언니가 _ 웃었어요. (크다)
      • Answer
      크게
 
 
  • 오빠가 _ 대답했어요. (정확하다)
      • Answer
      정확하게 / 정확히
 
 
  • 아이가 _ 뛰어요. (즐겁다)
      • Answer
      즐겁게
 
 
  • 할머니가 _ 사세요. (건강하다)
      • Answer
      건강하게 / 건강히
 
 
  • 학생들이 _ 공부해요. (열심히)
      • Answer
      열심히
 
Vocabulary
정말 - really
빠르다 - to be fast
자세하다 - to be detailed
조용하다 - to be quiet
천천히 - slowly
크다 - to be big/loud
정확하다 - to be accurate
즐겁다 - to be joyful
건강하다 - to be healthy
열심히 - diligently
Common mistakes
  • ⚠️ Don't forget: adjectives need -게 or -히/이 to become adverbs (빠르다 → 빠르게, not just 빠르)
  • ❌ Avoid using -게 with adverbs that already exist independently (천천히, 열심히 - these don't become 천천하게 or 열심하게)
  • 🔄 Remember: some adjectives allow both -게 and -히 forms (자세하게 / 자세히), though -게 is more commonly used in speech
  • 💡 Pay attention to irregular sound changes when forming adverbs (e.g., 즐겁다 → 즐겁게, keeping the ㅂ)