Korean Grammar Beginner -Tenses- (1): Present A/V-(스)ㅂ니다

I. Examples

By adding -(스)ㅂ니다 at the end of verb, the present tense of formal polite style is completed. For example, “생각하다”(think (base form)) transforms to “좋습니다” or “읽다”(read (base form)) transforms to “읽습니다”. The question form of -(스)ㅂ니다 is -(스)ㅂ니까?

<Example 1>

• 9시 뉴스입니다. (This is 9 o’clock news.)

<Example 2>

• 질문 있습니까? (Do you have any questions?)

II. Grammar Point

-(스)ㅂ니다 or its interrogative form -(스)ㅂ니까? is the most polite expression in the Korean language. Therefore, it is used in formal situations such as within the military, during news broadcasts, when speaking in front of people, making proposals during meetings, or giving lectures. The present tense of informal polite style is made by adding A/V -아/어요.

• Korean Grammar Beginner <Tenses> (2): Present -A/V -아/아요

In other words, it is a form of expression used when addressing a non-specific, general audience. Conversely, when -(스)ㅂ니다 or -(스)ㅂ니까 is used in situations other than those formal ones, it can unintentionally create a stiff atmosphere and make the conversation awkward between speakers.

1. Word Stem Ends in Vowel

A. Declarative + -ㅂ니다

• 가다 (go) + -ㅂ니다 = 갑니다
• 오다 (come) + -ㅂ니다 = 옵니다
• 자다 (sleep) + -ㅂ니다 = 잡니다
• 예쁘다 (pretty) + -ㅂ니다 = 예쁩니다
• 이다 (be – am, are, is) + -ㅂ니다 = 입니다
• 아니다 (be not) + -ㅂ니다 = 아닙니다
• 만들다 (make) + -ㅂ니다 = 만듭니다 (irregular form)

B. Interrogative + -ㅂ니까?

• 가다 (go) + -ㅂ니까? = 갑니까?
• 오다 (come) + -ㅂ니까? = 옵니까?
• 자다 (sleep) + -ㅂ니까? = 잡니까?
• 예쁘다 (pretty) + -ㅂ니까? = 예쁩니까?
• 이다 (be – am, are, is) + -ㅂ니까? = 입니까?
• 아니다 (be not) + -ㅂ니까? = 아닙니까?
• 만들다 (make) + -ㅂ니까? = 만듭니까? (irregular form)

2. Word Stem Ends in Consonant

A. Declarative + -습니다

• 먹다 (eat) + -습니다 = 먹습니다
• 앉다 (sit) + -습니다 = 앉습니다
• 읽다 (read) + -습니다 = 읽습니다
• 작다 (small) + -습니다 = 작습니다
• 있다 (there is / are) + -습니다 = 있습니다
• 없다 (there is not /are not) + -습니다 = 없습니다

B. Interrogative + -습니까?

• 먹다 (eat) + -습니까? = 먹습니까?
• 앉다 (sit) + -습니까? = 앉습니까?
• 읽다 (read) + -습니까? = 읽습니까?
• 작다 (small) + -습니까? = 작습니까?
• 있다 (there is / are) + -습니까? = 있습니까?
• 없다 (there is not /are not) + -습니까? = 없습니까?

III. Practice

• 햄버거를 ___ (먹다)
• 신문을 ___? (읽다)
• 책을 ___ (사다)
• 어디에 ___? (가다)

IV. See More

• Korean Grammar Beginner <Tenses> (1): Present -A/V -(스)ㅂ니다
• Korean Grammar Beginner <Tenses> (2): Present -A/V -아/아요
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Tenses- (3): Past A/V-았/어요
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Tenses- (4): Future V-(으)ㄹ 거예요
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Tenses- (5): Progressive V-고 있다
• Korean Grammar Beginner -Tenses- (6): Past Perfect A/V -았/었었어요