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Intermediate

Verb Stems & Speech Levels

Dictionary form and the three levels

Every verb ends in -다 (dictionary form)

Remove -다 to get the stem.

💬 Examples
가다 → 가
gada → ga
to go → (stem) ga
📝 Drop -다 for the stem
먹다 → 먹
meokda → meok
to eat → (stem) meok
📝 Stem = 먹
Three main speech levels

formal (-ㅂ니다), polite (-요), plain (casual).

📊 Speech levels (가다 to go)
Level Ending Form
formal polite -(스)ㅂ니다 갑니다
informal polite -아/어요 가요
plain -ㄴ/는다 간다
💬 Examples
갑니다 / 가요 / 간다
gamnida / gayo / ganda
go (formal / polite / plain)
📝 Rising/falling formality
먹습니다 / 먹어요 / 먹는다
meokseumnida / meogeoyo / meongneunda
eat (formal / polite / plain)
📝 Three levels
The level matches the social situation

Formal for strangers/business, polite for daily life, plain among close friends.

💬 Examples
감사합니다.
gamsahamnida.
Thank you (formal).
📝 Formal -ㅂ니다
고마워요.
gomawoyo.
Thanks (polite).
📝 Polite -요