509 words
3 minutes
-아/어/여: Casual Imperative Ending
2024-12-09
2025-02-26
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Example Sentences#

  1. 아름다움 보여 줘, 사라지기 전에1
    Show me beauty before it fades away

    • 주다 means ‘to give’.
    • -어 주다 is a grammar pattern where 주다 is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that the action is done for someone else’s benefit.
    • is a casual imperative ending used in informal speech.
  2. 네가 원하는 쪽으로 가 봐.2
    Go whichever way you want.

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
  3. 푸른 바람 따라가3
    Follow the blue breeze

    • 따라가다 means ‘to follow’ or ‘to go after’, formed from 따르다 (to follow) and 가다 (to go).
    • is a casual imperative ending used in informal speech.
  4. 걱정하지 마.4
    Don’t worry.

    • 말다 means ‘to stop’ or ‘to not do’, and (a contraction of 말아) is its casual conjugation form, commonly used in informal speech for negative imperatives conveying a gentle tone.
  5. 진실을 보여 줘, 길을 잃기 전에1
    Show me truth before I lose my way

    • 주다 means ‘to give’.
    • -어 주다 is a grammar pattern where 주다 is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that the action is done for someone else’s benefit.
    • is a casual imperative ending used in informal speech.
  6. 너와 나, 손잡고 달려가3
    Let’s hold hands and run

  7. 떡볶이는 너희가 맛있게 먹어.4
    You guys enjoy the tteokbokki.

    • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
    • -어 is a casual imperative ending used in informal speech.
  8. 멈추지 마, 이 순간3
    Don’t stop, not in this moment

    • 말다 means ‘to stop’ or ‘to not do’, and (a contraction of 말아) is its casual conjugation form, commonly used in informal speech for negative imperatives conveying a gentle tone.
  9. 조금만 더 내게 다가와 3
    Come a little closer to me

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
  10. 너와 나, 웃으며 춤춰 3
    You and I, let’s smile and dance

    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -어 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • is the imperative ending used in informal speech.

Footnotes#

  1. Sentence from A New Beginning. 2

  2. Sentence from Alice And The Cheshire Cat Story.

  3. Sentence from Blue Breeze Song. 2 3 4 5

  4. Sentence from What Is On The Menu Tonight. 2

-아/어/여: Casual Imperative Ending
https://koreanstorylab.com/posts/grammar/-아-어-여-casual-imperative-ending/
Author
Korean Story Lab
Published at
2024-12-09