Nouns - Present, Past

Nouns [명사]

In this lesson, we're going to learn how to say a word in present and past tenses plus how to use the same expression in polite forms. 


Present and Past Tenses

Each table below show how to say 'an apple' and 'a pencil' in four different ways. The table is divided into present and past tenses, and positive and negative forms. Also, the first table shows the written form of Korean and the second table shows the spoken form.

• The written form is used in literature such as books, newspapers and any form of writing that is not 'conversational.' The written form, in essence, is literary, factual and declarative. It is rarely used in normal everyday conversations. However, the news on TV uses this written form of Korean. It is also used in public speeches. The reason is probably due to the fact that the news and public announcements or speeches are usually all declarative and/or factual.

• The spoken form is the usual way in which people speak and have a conversation. It is used in all types of spoken Korean such as normal conversations, dramas, and movies, with the possible exceptions of news, documentaries and other factual, formal types of programs on TV and radio.

Informal Written Form	Present	Past
Positive	사과다 연필이다	사과였다 연필이었다
Negative	사과가 아니다 연필이 아니다	사과가 아니었다 연필이 아니었다

Informal Spoken Form	Present	Past
Positive	사과야 연필이야	사과였어 연필이었어
Negative	사과(가) 아니야 연필(이) 아니야	사과(가) 아니었어 연필(이) 아니었어

• 사과 = an apple
• 연필 = a pencil

• 사과다 = is an apple
• 사과가 아니다 = is not an apple
• 사과였다 = was an apple
• 사과가 아니었다 = was not an apple

• 연필이야 = is a pencil
• 연필(이) 아니야 = is not a pencil
• 연필이었어 = was a pencil
• 연필(이) 아니었어 = was not a pencil

  
Note: The verb ending, 다, is used for nouns without a final consonant, and 이다 for nouns with a final consonant. Likewise, in the spoken form, 야 is used for nouns without final consonant and 이야 for nouns with a final consonant. Therefore:

• 사과다
• 연필이다
• 사과야
• 연필이야

Note: In spoken Korean, the particles are usually omitted. In the above example, 가/이 are in brackets to show that they are usually left out.

For more information on the 가/이 particle, please read Particles - 는, 가. 


Polite Form 

Each table below shows the polite form of the respective written and spoken forms we've looked at above which were in the informal form.

Polite Written Form	Present	Past
Positive	사과입니다 연필입니다	사과였습니다 연필이었습니다
Negative	사과가 아닙니다 연필이 아닙니다	사과가 아니었습니다 연필이 아니었습니다

Note: To change the informal form to the polite form, the following rules apply:

In the case of the present tense,

• 사과다 → 사과입니다 = 다 (or 이다 in the case of nouns with a final consonant, e.g. 연필) is taken off and replaced by 입니다
• 사과가 아니다  → 사과가 아닙니다 = 아니다 is changed to 아닙니다

In the case of the past tense,  다 is changed to 습니다.

• 사과였다 → 사과였습니다 
• 사과가 아니었다 → 사과가 아니었습니다

Polite Spoken Form	Present	Past
Positive	사과예요 연필이에요	사과였어요 연필이었어요
Negative	사과(가) 아니에요 연필(이) 아니에요	사과(가) 아니었어요 연필(이) 아니었어요

Note: To change the informal form to the polite form, the following rules apply:

In the case of the present tense:

• 사과야 → 사과예요 = 야 changes to 예요(or 에요 in the case of nouns with a final consonant, e.g. 연필)
• 사과 아니야 → 사과 아니에요 = 야 changes to 에요

In the case of the past tense, 요 is attached at the end.

• 사과였어 → 사과였어요
• 사과 아니었어 → 사과 아니었어요 

Here are some example sentences in the written form.

• 가게다 = is a shop
• 가방이다 = is a bag

• 소고기였다 = was beef
• 선생님이었다 = was a teacher

• 꽃이 아니다 = is not a flower
• 항구가 아니었다 = was not a port
• 동물이 아니었다 = was not an animal

Try translating the following sentences in the spoken form. What do they mean?

• 시계야
• 집이야
• 비둘기였어
• 사람이었어
• 구름(이) 아니야
• 빌딩(이) 아니었어
• 닭고기(가) 아니었어

Answers:

• is a clock/watch
• is a house
• was a pigeon
• was a person
• is not a cloud
• was not a building
• was not chicken (meat)

Now try rewrite the English sentences above in the polite spoken form of Korean, and pronounce them one by one.

At this point, I'd recommend that you get hold of someone who is Korean to teach you the correct pronunciation of each sentence, but I think many of you would not have that kind of luxury. So alternatively, as imperfect as it may be, I'd recommend the Google Translate's 'Listen' feature. It allows you to listen to the pronunciation of the words you put in.

• Google Translate

For those of you who would like to know how to type in Korean, please try the google results for 'How to type in Korean.'