Five basic verbs — 있다, 없다, 가다, 오다, 하다

These are five common Korean verbs. Learn 있다 ↔ 없다 and 가다 ↔ 오다 as opposite pairs. 하다 also joins with many nouns to make verbs.

01있다itda🔊 [읻따]

to exist, to have · to be in a place. It also shows that you own or hold something.

Note English uses two forms: there is and to have. Korean uses 있다 for both. The thing that exists, or that you have, takes 이/가, not 을/를.

Examples 시간이 있다 (to have time) · 집에 있다 (to be at home)

오늘 시간이 있어요? Do you have time today? | 오늘 = today | You can use this question when you make plans

02없다eopda🔊 [업따]

to not exist, to not have · used when something is not there, or when someone does not have it. The opposite is 있다.

Note 없다 is one word. You do not make it by adding a not word to 있다. This one word covers both there is not and does not have.

Examples 돈이 없다 (to have no money) · 문제가 없다 (there's no problem)

오늘은 약속이 없어요. I have no plans today. | 약속 = appointment, plans | 없다 takes 이/가, just like 있다

03가다gada

to go · to move away from where you are.

Forms 가요 · 갑니다 · 갔어요 (past)

Examples 학교에 가다 (to go to school) · 집으로 가다 (to go home)

저는 학교에 가요. I'm going to school. | The place you are going to takes 에 | 으로 can show the direction you move in

04오다oda

to come · to move toward where you are.

Forms 와요 · 옵니다 · 왔어요 (past)

Note Korean uses 오다 with rain and snow: 비가 와요 and 눈이 와요. English uses It is raining or It is snowing.

Examples 친구가 오다 (a friend comes) · 비가 오다 (it rains)

친구가 우리 집에 왔어요. A friend came to my house. | 우리 집 = my house, literally our house | The polite form is 와요, not 오아요

05하다hada

to do · a very common verb. It also joins with nouns to make new verbs.

Forms 해요 · 합니다 · 했어요 (past)

Examples 공부를 하다 (to study) · 일을 하다 (to work) · 운동을 하다 (to exercise)

저녁에 한국어 공부를 해요. I study Korean in the evening. | 저녁 = evening | You can also join 공부 and 하다 as 공부하다

Quick check3 questions

Put each verb into the polite form.

Show answers

1. 있어요 2. 왔어요 3. 해요

오다 and 하다 change shape more than the others

Study tip 하다 joins with many nouns to make verbs. Examples are 공부하다, 운동하다, and 여행하다. Learn these noun-and-verb pairs together.

TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Core Words ①