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Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)

Quick Reference

  • Korean adjectives are actually descriptive verbs (형용사)
  • They conjugate like verbs but describe states, not actions
  • Key differences from action verbs: cannot take -고 있다, different past tense nuance
  • Conjugation: same vowel harmony rules as verbs
  • Two types: Action verbs (동사) vs Descriptive verbs (형용사)

Detailed Explanation

What Are Descriptive Verbs?

In Korean, words that function as adjectives in English are actually verbs that describe states or qualities. They end in -다 in dictionary form and conjugate similarly to action verbs.

Examples: 

크다 (to be big)
작다 (to be small)
예쁘다 (to be pretty)
좋다 (to be good)
맛있다 (to be delicious)

Action Verbs vs Descriptive Verbs

Feature Action Verbs (동사) Descriptive Verbs (형용사)
Meaning Actions, movements States, qualities, conditions
Examples 가다, 먹다, 보다 크다, 예쁘다, 좋다
-고 있다 ✓ Can use ✗ Cannot use
Past tense Completed action Was in that state
Imperative ✓ Can command ✗ Cannot command

Conjugation Patterns

Descriptive verbs follow the same vowel harmony and conjugation rules as action verbs.

Present Tense (Polite Informal): - ㅏ/ㅗ stem → -아요 - Other vowels → -어요 - 하다 → 해요

Examples: 

크다 → 커요 (is big)
작다 → 작아요 (is small)
예쁘다 → 예뻐요 (is pretty)
좋다 → 좋아요 (is good)
많다 → 많아요 (is many/much)
적다 → 적어요 (is few/little)

Past Tense: 

크다 → 컸어요 (was big)
작다 → 작았어요 (was small)
예쁘다 → 예뻤어요 (was pretty)
좋다 → 좋았어요 (was good)

Future Tense: 

크다 → 클 거예요 (will be big)
작다 → 작을 거예요 (will be small)
예쁘다 → 예쁠 거예요 (will be pretty)
좋다 → 좋을 거예요 (will be good)

Key Conjugation Differences

1. Cannot use -고 있다

Descriptive verbs describe states, not ongoing actions, so they don't use progressive forms.

❌ 예쁘고 있어요 (Wrong) ✓ 예뻐요 (Correct - is pretty)

❌ 좋고 있어요 (Wrong) ✓ 좋아요 (Correct - is good)

2. Cannot use imperative forms

You can't command someone to "be tall" or "be pretty."

❌ 커! (Wrong - "Be big!") ❌ 예뻐! (Wrong - "Be pretty!")

3. Past tense nuance

For descriptive verbs, past tense means the state existed in the past but may not now.

  • 날씨가 좋았어요. (The weather was good [but not necessarily now].)
  • 음식이 맛있었어요. (The food was delicious [I ate it already].)

Common Descriptive Verbs by Category

Size: - 크다 (big), 작다 (small) - 높다 (high/tall), 낮다 (low/short) - 길다 (long), 짧다 (short)

Appearance: - 예쁘다 (pretty), 아름답다 (beautiful) - 잘생기다 (handsome) - 못생기다 (ugly)

Quality: - 좋다 (good), 나쁘다 (bad) - 새롭다 (new), 오래되다 (old) - 깨끗하다 (clean), 더럽다 (dirty)

Taste: - 맛있다 (delicious), 맛없다 (not delicious) - 달다 (sweet), 쓰다 (bitter) - 맵다 (spicy), 짜다 (salty)

Feelings/States: - 행복하다 (happy), 슬프다 (sad) - 피곤하다 (tired), 아프다 (sick/hurt) - 바쁘다 (busy), 심심하다 (bored)

Temperature: - 덥다 (hot), 춥다 (cold) - 따뜻하다 (warm), 시원하다 (cool/refreshing)

Quantity: - 많다 (many/much), 적다 (few/little) - 비싸다 (expensive), 싸다 (cheap)

When to Use

Descriptive verbs are used: - To describe characteristics of people, places, things - To express states and conditions - To talk about sensory experiences (taste, temperature, etc.) - To describe feelings and emotions - As predicates (main verb) or modifiers (before nouns)

Examples

Basic Sentences: - 이 가방은 비싸요. (This bag is expensive.) - 저 건물이 높아요. (That building is tall.) - 한국 음식은 맛있어요. (Korean food is delicious.) - 오늘 날씨가 좋아요. (Today's weather is good.)

Past Tense: - 어제는 추웠어요. (Yesterday was cold.) - 그 영화는 재미있었어요. (That movie was interesting.) - 옛날에는 이 도시가 작았어요. (Long ago, this city was small.)

Modifying Nouns: 

Present: -(으)ㄴ
크다 → 큰 집 (big house)
작다 → 작은 가방 (small bag)
예쁘다 → 예쁜 꽃 (pretty flower)

Past: -았/었던
크다 → 컸던 나무 (tree that was big)
좋다 → 좋았던 시간 (time that was good)

Dialogue: 

A: 새 아파트가 어때요?
B: 아주 좋아요. 크고 깨끗해요.
A: 비싸요?
B: 네, 좀 비싸지만 위치가 좋아요.

A: How's your new apartment?
B: It's very good. It's big and clean.
A: Is it expensive?
B: Yes, it's a bit expensive, but the location is good.

Practice

  1. Complete: 이 책은 ______. (This book is interesting.) [재미있다]

  2. Identify: Which is correct? 날씨가 (a) 좋고 있어요 (b) 좋아요

  3. Conjugate to past tense: 음식이 맛있어요. → 음식이 ______.

  4. Translate: The coffee is hot.

  5. Complete: 서울은 ______ 도시예요. (Seoul is a big city.) [크다]

  6. Choose: Can you say "예뻐!" as a command? (Yes/No)

  7. Complete: 어제 날씨가 ______. (Yesterday's weather was bad.) [나쁘다]

  8. Translate: This room is clean and bright. [밝다 = bright]

  9. Complete: 그 가게는 ______ 하지만 음식이 맛있어요. (That restaurant is small but the food is delicious.) [작다]

  10. Create three sentences using descriptive verbs to describe: (1) a person, (2) a place, and (3) food.

Show Answers 1. 재미있어요 2. (b) 좋아요 - Descriptive verbs cannot use -고 있다 3. 맛있었어요 4. 커피가 뜨거워요. 5. 큰 (when modifying a noun, use -(으)ㄴ form) 6. No - You cannot use imperative forms with descriptive verbs 7. 나빴어요 8. 이 방은 깨끗하고 밝아요. 9. 작다 하지만 should be: 작지만 Alternative: 그 가게는 작아요. 하지만 음식이 맛있어요. 10. Example answers: - Person: 제 친구는 키가 크고 잘생겼어요. (My friend is tall and handsome.) - Place: 이 공원은 조용하고 아름다워요. (This park is quiet and beautiful.) - Food: 이 김치는 맵고 짜요. (This kimchi is spicy and salty.) - Person: 우리 선생님은 친절하고 재미있어요. (Our teacher is kind and funny.) - Place: 제주도는 경치가 아름답고 공기가 깨끗해요. (Jeju Island has beautiful scenery and clean air.) - Food: 어머니가 만든 음식은 항상 맛있어요. (The food my mother makes is always delicious.)