Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 1 - My First Steps in Korean (Lessons 1 to 30) ᚛ Lesson 26 - The modifier -(으)ㄹ

The modifier -(으)ㄹ

In this course: ㄹ / 을

In this chapter, we will study the modifier -(으)ㄹ. It is an ending that follows a verb and can be used in many different cases. The first one we will see is the future tense in the next chapter, but the modifier -(으)ㄹ is a verb form that we will use many times throughout our learning of Korean. It is therefore very important to master it.

General rule

In general, the modifier -(으)ㄹ is used as follows:

• If the stem of the verb ends in a vowel: [Stem]ㄹ
• If the stem of the verb ends in a consonant: [Stem]을

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The verb 가다 (= to go) has the stem 가 which ends in a vowel. We therefore add ㄹ to it.

• 가다 → 갈

The verb 먹다 (= to eat) has a stem 먹 which ends in a consonant. We therefore add 을 to it.

• 먹다 → 먹을

Exception of verbs ending in ㄹ

For verbs whose stem ends in ㄹ, it is not necessary to add the modifier -(으)ㄹ, the stem is sufficient on its own:
[Stem]

The verb 살다 (= to live) has a stem 살 which ends in ㄹ. Nothing is added to it to get its -(으)ㄹ form.

• 살다 → 살

Exception of verbs ending in ㅂ

For irregular verbs whose stem ends in ㅂ, the modifier -(으)ㄹ is added as follows:
[Stem -ㅂ]울

The irregular verb 춥다 (= to be cold) has the stem 춥 which ends in ㅂ. We then remove the final ㅂ from the stem, 추, then add 울.

• 춥다 → 추울

Exception of verbs ending in ㄷ

For irregular verbs whose stem ends in ㄷ, the modifier -(으)ㄹ is added as follows:
[Stem -ㄷ]ㄹ을

The irregular verb 듣다 (= to listen / hear) has a stem 듣 which ends in ㄷ. We then remove the final ㄷ from the stem, 드, then we add ㄹ을.

• 듣다 → 들을

Exception of verbs ending in ㅅ

Exception of verbs ending in ㅎ

Summary table of structure

Exercises

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