Learning Korean Grammar(4-1) - Sentence Types

Korean has four main sentence types : declarative, interrogative, imperative, and pro-positive. Moreover, the sentence type is influenced by Korean speech styles, which can be divided into three main types: formal polite, informal polite, and informal plain. The formal polite style ~(스)ㅂ니다 is used most in formal or public situations, including the military, news reporting, presentations, meetings, and lectures. The informal polite style ~아/어요 is the honorific form used most in daily life. Compared to the formal polite style, the informal polite style is softer and less formal, and therefore it is used mainly among family members, friends, and other close acquaintances. Furthermore, although the formal polite style has different forms for each of the four sentence types (desclarative, interrogative, imperative, and pro-positive), the informal polite style uses the same form for all four types. Thus, sentence types in this style are determined by the situation and sentence information. For this reason, the informal polite style is less complicated than the formal polite style. As for the informal plain style ~아/어, it is mainly used among intimate friends, by superiors toward persons of lower-rank, and among family members. It is considered rude to us the informal plain style with somebody one does not know personally or with whom one is not very close. Here we examine the formal polite and informal polite styles only.   

 

(1)    Declarative Sentence

Declarative sentences are used when explaining something or responding to a question

①     Formal Polite Style

Declarative formal polite sentences are made by adding ~(스)ㅂ니다 to the word stem.

-저는 교회에 갑니다. I go to church.

-저는 밥을 먹습니다. I eat rice.

 

②     Informal Polite Style

Declarative informal polite sentences are made by adding ~아/어요 to the word stem.

-저는 교회에 가요. I go to church.

-저는 밥을 먹어요. I eat rice.