Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives) in Korean

Overview

In Korean, adjectives function as a type of verb called descriptive verbs (형용사). This CEFR A1 concept is fundamental because it means adjectives conjugate exactly like action verbs — they take tense markers, speech level endings, and negation patterns. There is no separate "to be" verb needed; 크다 means both "to be big" and simply "big."

Descriptive verbs are used predicatively (at the end of a sentence) with regular verb conjugation, and attributively (before a noun) using the modifier form -(으)ㄴ. This dual usage is essential for both describing things and modifying nouns in everyday Korean.

Understanding that Korean adjectives are verbs eliminates confusion about why they conjugate. Once you accept this, applying the same rules you learned for action verbs becomes natural and efficient.

How It Works

Predicative Use (end of sentence)

Conjugate like any verb:

Dictionary	Polite	English
크다	커요	is big
작다	작아요	is small
좋다	좋아요	is good
나쁘다	나빠요	is bad
예쁘다	예뻐요	is pretty
맛있다	맛있어요	is delicious

Attributive Use (before a noun)

Use -(으)ㄴ modifier:

Dictionary	Modifier	+ Noun	English
크다	큰	큰 집	big house
작다	작은	작은 가방	small bag
좋다	좋은	좋은 날	good day
예쁘다	예쁜	예쁜 꽃	pretty flower
새롭다	새로운	새로운 책	new book

Key Difference from Action Verbs

Action verbs use -는 for present modifier; descriptive verbs use -(으)ㄴ:

• 먹는 사람 (person who eats) — action verb
• 큰 사람 (big person) — descriptive verb

Examples in Context

Korean	Romanization	English	Note
이 집이 커요.	i ji-bi keo-yo	This house is big.	predicative
날씨가 좋아요.	nal-ssi-ga jo-a-yo	The weather is good.	predicative
큰 집	keun jip	a big house	attributive
맛있어요.	ma-si-sseo-yo	(It) is delicious.	predicative
비싸요.	bi-ssa-yo	(It) is expensive.	predicative
작은 고양이	ja-geun go-yang-i	small cat	attributive
오늘 날씨가 추워요.	o-neul nal-ssi-ga chu-wo-yo	Today the weather is cold.	irregular (ㅂ)
한국어가 어려워요.	han-gu-geo-ga eo-ryeo-wo-yo	Korean is difficult.	irregular (ㅂ)
새로운 친구	sae-ro-un chin-gu	new friend	irregular modifier
재미있는 영화	jae-mi-in-neun yeong-hwa	interesting movie	있다-type uses -는

Common Mistakes

Using 있다-type adjectives with -(으)ㄴ modifier

• Wrong: 맛있은 음식
• Right: 맛있는 음식 (delicious food)
• Why: Adjectives containing 있다/없다 (맛있다, 재미있다) use -는 for modification, not -(으)ㄴ. They behave like action verbs in this case.

Adding 이다 after adjectives like in English

• Wrong: 이 꽃은 예쁘다 이에요
• Right: 이 꽃은 예뻐요
• Why: Descriptive verbs already function as predicates. No copula needed.

Forgetting irregular conjugations

• Wrong: 춥다 → 춥어요
• Right: 춥다 → 추워요
• Why: Many common adjectives are ㅂ-irregular: the ㅂ becomes 우 before vowel endings (춥→추우→추워).

Usage Notes

Some of the most common Korean adjectives are ㅂ-irregular: 덥다 (hot → 더워요), 춥다 (cold → 추워요), 어렵다 (difficult → 어려워요), 쉽다 (easy → 쉬워요), 무섭다 (scary → 무서워요). These should be memorized as a group. In casual speech, adjectives are often used as exclamations: 예쁘다! (How pretty!) using the dictionary form.

Practice Tips

• Pick five objects and describe them with different adjectives: 이 가방은 커요. 이 꽃은 예뻐요. 이 음식은 맛있어요.
• Practice both forms for each adjective: predicative (예뻐요) and attributive (예쁜 + noun).
• Make a list of ㅂ-irregular adjectives and practice their conjugated forms. These are extremely common in daily conversation.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Polite Ending -아/어요 — adjectives conjugate with the same polite ending
• Next steps: Verb/Adj Modifying Nouns — learn the full modifier system for past, present, and future