πŸ’¬

Polite Present Tense: μ•„μš” / μ–΄μš”

Keywords
μ•„μš”/μ–΄μš”
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
πŸ’¬
TL;DR πŸ¦„
  • -μ•„μš”Β /Β -μ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{-μ•„μš” / -μ–΄μš”}} [a-yo / eo-yo] is the everyday polite present ending.
  • If the stem’s last vowel is ㅏ\color{purple}{\text{ㅏ}} or γ…—\color{purple}{\text{γ…—}}, use μ•„μš”\color{purple}{\text{μ•„μš”}}.
  • Most other vowels use μ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{μ–΄μš”}}. ν•˜λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€}} becomes ν•΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{ν•΄μš”}}.
πŸ”Š
🎧 Iru Helper Note β€” Open the
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets page and compare κ°€λ‹€Β /Β κ°€μš”\color{purple}{\text{κ°€λ‹€ / κ°€μš”}} [ga-da / ga-yo], λ¨Ήλ‹€Β /Β λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήλ‹€ / λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”}} [meok-da / meo-geo-yo], and ν•˜λ‹€Β /Β ν•΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€ / ν•΄μš”}} [ha-da / hae-yo].
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🌈 The Big Picture

Korean dictionary forms end in λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ‹€}} [da]. To make everyday polite present tense, remove λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ‹€}} and add the right ending.
  • ㅏ /Β γ…—\color{purple}{\text{ㅏ / γ…—}} stems β†’ μ•„μš”\color{purple}{\text{μ•„μš”}}
  • Most other vowels β†’ μ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{μ–΄μš”}}
  • ν•˜λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€}} β†’ ν•΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{ν•΄μš”}}

🧩 Core Pattern

  • κ°€λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{κ°€λ‹€}} [ga-da] β†’ κ°€μš”\color{purple}{\text{κ°€μš”}} [ga-yo]
  • λ¨Ήλ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήλ‹€}} [meok-da] β†’ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”}} [meo-geo-yo]
  • 보닀\color{purple}{\text{보닀}} [bo-da] β†’ λ΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ΄μš”}} [bwa-yo]
  • λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€}} [ma-si-da] β†’ λ§ˆμ…”μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ…”μš”}} [ma-syeo-yo]
  • λ°°μš°λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μš°λ‹€}} [bae-u-da] β†’ λ°°μ›Œμš”\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μ›Œμš”}} [bae-wo-yo]
  • κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€}} [gong-bu-ha-da] β†’ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”}} [gong-bu-hae-yo]

πŸ› οΈ How They Work

μ €λŠ”Β ν•™κ΅μ—Β κ°€μš”.\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 학ꡐ에 κ°€μš”.}} [jeo-neun hak-gyo-e ga-yo] β€” I go to school. 🏫
μ €λŠ”Β λ°₯μ„Β λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” λ°₯을 λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.}} [jeo-neun ba-beul meo-geo-yo] β€” I eat a meal. 🍚
μ €λŠ”Β ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯ΌΒ κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.}} [jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul gong-bu-hae-yo] β€” I study Korean. πŸ‡°πŸ‡·

πŸ“š Cross-check note

The -μ•„μš”Β /Β -μ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{-μ•„μš” / -μ–΄μš”}} [a-yo / eo-yo] polite present endings were cross-checked against National Institute of Korean Language guidance at korean.go.kr. βœ…

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ Keeping λ‹€\color{purple}{\text{λ‹€}} β†’ βœ… remove it first.
  • ❌ λ¨Ήμ•„μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήμ•„μš”}} β†’ βœ… λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”}}.
  • ❌ ν•˜λ‹€μš”\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€μš”}} β†’ βœ… ν•΄μš”\color{purple}{\text{ν•΄μš”}}.
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Try this exercise

Instructions
Change each dictionary form into everyday polite present tense. Fill the blank, say it aloud, then check the Answer toggle.
1. κ°€λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ°€λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ga-daβ†’____] β€” to go 🚢
Answer
κ°€μš” β€” ㅏ stem, so use μ•„μš” and contract.
2. λ¨Ήλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[meok-daβ†’____] β€” to eat 🍚
Answer
λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” β€” γ…“ stem, so use μ–΄μš”.
3. 사닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{사닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[sa-daβ†’____] β€” to buy πŸ›οΈ
Answer
μ‚¬μš” β€” ㅏ stem, so use μ•„μš” and contract.
4. 읽닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{읽닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ik-daβ†’____] β€” to read πŸ“š
Answer
μ½μ–΄μš” β€” other-vowel stem, so use μ–΄μš”.
5. 보닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{보닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bo-daβ†’____] β€” to see/watch πŸ‘€
Answer
λ΄μš” β€” 보 + μ•„μš” contracts to λ΄μš”.
6. λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ma-si-daβ†’____] β€” to drink β˜•
Answer
λ§ˆμ…”μš” β€” λ§ˆμ‹œ + μ–΄μš” contracts to λ§ˆμ…”μš”.
7. λ°°μš°λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μš°λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bae-u-daβ†’____] β€” to learn πŸ“–
Answer
λ°°μ›Œμš” β€” 배우 + μ–΄μš” contracts to λ°°μ›Œμš”.
8. κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[gong-bu-ha-daβ†’____] β€” to study πŸ“š
Answer
κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš” β€” ν•˜λ‹€ becomes ν•΄μš”.
9. μžλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μžλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ja-daβ†’____] β€” to sleep 😴
Answer
μžμš” β€” ㅏ stem, so use μ•„μš” and contract.
10. ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ha-daβ†’____] β€” to do πŸ› οΈ
Answer
ν•΄μš” β€” ν•˜λ‹€ becomes ν•΄μš”.
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • κ°€λ‹€ β†’ to go
  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ to eat
  • 사닀 β†’ to buy
  • 읽닀 β†’ to read
  • 보닀 β†’ to see/watch
  • λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ β†’ to drink
  • λ°°μš°λ‹€ β†’ to learn
  • κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ to study
  • μžλ‹€ β†’ to sleep
  • ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ to do
Tip πŸ’‘ Remove λ‹€ first. Then check the stem vowel.
🎯
Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! πŸš€
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πŸ“¦
🎯 Practice Hub β€” Polite Present Tense: μ•„μš” / μ–΄μš”
Β 
Welcome to present-tense practice! πŸ’¬ Convert dictionary forms into everyday polite Korean, then check the answer key. Tiny endings, mighty sentences. ✨
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πŸ“ Instructions
Fill each blank with the correct polite present form. Each exercise has 10 questions labeled A–J and a clear answer key in the right column.
Β 

Exercise 1 β€” ㅏ / γ…— Takes μ•„μš” β˜€οΈ

A. κ°€λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ°€λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ga-da→____]
to go 🚢
B. 사닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{사닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[sa-da→____]
to buy πŸ›οΈ
C. 보닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{보닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bo-da→____]
to see/watch πŸ‘€
D. μžλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μžλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ja-da→____]
to sleep 😴
E. μ €λŠ”Β ν•™κ΅μ—Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 학ꡐ에 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun hak-gyo-e→____]
I go to school. 🏫
F. μ €λŠ”Β νŽœμ„Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” νŽœμ„ \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun pe-neul→____]
I buy a pen. πŸ–ŠοΈ
G. μ €λŠ”Β μΉœκ΅¬λ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 친ꡬλ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun chin-gu-reul→____]
I see a friend. 🀝
H. κ°€μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ°€μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[ga-yo←____]
dictionary form check 🚢
I. λ΄μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ΄μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[bwa-yo←____]
dictionary form check πŸ‘€
J. μžμš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μžμš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[ja-yo←____]
dictionary form check 😴
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • κ°€λ‹€ β†’ to go
  • 사닀 β†’ to buy
  • 보닀 β†’ to see/watch
  • μžλ‹€ β†’ to sleep
  • 학ꡐ β†’ school
  • 펜 β†’ pen
  • 친ꡬ β†’ friend
Answer Key πŸ”‘ A κ°€μš”; B μ‚¬μš”; C λ΄μš”; D μžμš”; E κ°€μš”; F μ‚¬μš”; G λ΄μš”; H κ°€λ‹€; I 보닀; J μžλ‹€.
Tip πŸ’‘ Last stem vowel ㅏ or γ…— points you toward μ•„μš”, often with contraction.

Exercise 2 β€” Other Vowels Take μ–΄μš” πŸŒ™

A. λ¨Ήλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[meok-da→____]
to eat 🍚
B. 읽닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{읽닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ik-da→____]
to read πŸ“š
C. λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ma-si-da→____]
to drink β˜•
D. λ°°μš°λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μš°λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bae-u-da→____]
to learn πŸ“–
E. μ €λŠ”Β λ°₯을 ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” λ°₯을 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun ba-beul→____]
I eat a meal. 🍚
F. μ €λŠ”Β μ±…μ„Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 책을 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun chae-geul→____]
I read a book. πŸ“š
G. μ €λŠ”Β μ»€ν”Όλ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 컀피λ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun keo-pi-reul→____]
I drink coffee. β˜•
H. λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[meo-geo-yo←____]
dictionary form check 🍚
I. λ§ˆμ…”μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ…”μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[ma-syeo-yo←____]
dictionary form check β˜•
J. λ°°μ›Œμš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μ›Œμš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[bae-wo-yo←____]
dictionary form check πŸ“–
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ to eat
  • 읽닀 β†’ to read
  • λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ β†’ to drink
  • λ°°μš°λ‹€ β†’ to learn
  • λ°₯ β†’ meal/rice
  • μ±… β†’ book
  • 컀피 β†’ coffee
Answer Key πŸ”‘ A λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”; B μ½μ–΄μš”; C λ§ˆμ…”μš”; D λ°°μ›Œμš”; E λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”; F μ½μ–΄μš”; G λ§ˆμ…”μš”; H λ¨Ήλ‹€; I λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€; J λ°°μš°λ‹€.
Tip πŸ’‘ Most vowels that are not ㅏ or γ…— use μ–΄μš”.

Exercise 3 β€” ν•˜λ‹€ Becomes ν•΄μš” πŸ› οΈ

A. ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ha-da→____]
to do πŸ› οΈ
B. κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[gong-bu-ha-da→____]
to study πŸ“š
C. μš΄λ™ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μš΄λ™ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[un-dong-ha-da→____]
to exercise πŸƒ
D. μ €λŠ”Β ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul→____]
I study Korean. πŸ‡°πŸ‡·
E. μ €λŠ”Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun→____]
I exercise. πŸƒ
F. ν•΄μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{ν•΄μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[hae-yo←____]
dictionary form check πŸ› οΈ
G. κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[gong-bu-hae-yo←____]
dictionary form check πŸ“š
H. μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”Β β†Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μš΄λ™ν•΄μš” ← \_\_\_\_}}
[un-dong-hae-yo←____]
dictionary form check πŸƒ
I. ν•˜λ‹€μš”Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€μš” β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ha-da-yo→____]
fix the pitfall πŸ› οΈ
J. κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€μš”Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€μš” β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[gong-bu-ha-da-yo→____]
fix the pitfall πŸ“š
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ to do
  • κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ to study
  • μš΄λ™ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ to exercise
  • ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ β†’ Korean language
  • μ € β†’ I/me
Answer Key πŸ”‘ A ν•΄μš”; B κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”; C μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”; D κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”; E μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”; F ν•˜λ‹€; G κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€; H μš΄λ™ν•˜λ‹€; I ν•΄μš”; J κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”.
Tip πŸ’‘ ν•˜λ‹€ does not become ν•˜λ‹€μš”. It becomes ν•΄μš”.

Exercise 4 β€” Full Sentence Builder 🧱

A. μ €λŠ”Β ν•™κ΅μ—Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 학ꡐ에 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun hak-gyo-e→____]
I go to school. 🏫
B. μ €λŠ”Β λ°₯을 ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” λ°₯을 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun ba-beul→____]
I eat a meal. 🍚
C. μ €λŠ”Β ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul→____]
I study Korean. πŸ‡°πŸ‡·
D. μ €λŠ”Β μ±…μ„Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 책을 \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun chae-geul→____]
I read a book. πŸ“š
E. μ €λŠ”Β μ»€ν”Όλ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 컀피λ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun keo-pi-reul→____]
I drink coffee. β˜•
F. μ €λŠ”Β μΉœκ΅¬λ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” 친ꡬλ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun chin-gu-reul→____]
I see a friend. 🀝
G. μ €λŠ”Β νŽœμ„Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” νŽœμ„ \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun pe-neul→____]
I buy a pen. πŸ–ŠοΈ
H. μ €λŠ”Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun→____]
I sleep. 😴
I. μ €λŠ”Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun→____]
I exercise. πŸƒ
J. μ €λŠ”Β ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯ΌΒ ____\color{purple}{\text{μ €λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό \_\_\_\_}}
[jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul→____]
I learn Korean. πŸ“–
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • μ €λŠ” β†’ I
  • 학ꡐ에 β†’ to school
  • λ°₯을 β†’ a meal
  • ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό β†’ Korean language
  • 책을 β†’ a book
  • 컀피λ₯Ό β†’ coffee
  • 친ꡬλ₯Ό β†’ a friend
  • νŽœμ„ β†’ a pen
Answer Key πŸ”‘ A κ°€μš”; B λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”; C κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”; D μ½μ–΄μš”; E λ§ˆμ…”μš”; F λ΄μš”; G μ‚¬μš”; H μžμš”; I μš΄λ™ν•΄μš”; J λ°°μ›Œμš”.
Tip πŸ’‘ Full sentences still use the same verb-conjugation rules.

Exercise 5 β€” Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol πŸ›‘οΈ

A. κ°€λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ°€λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ga-da→____]
to go 🚢
B. λ¨Ήλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ¨Ήλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[meok-da→____]
to eat 🍚
C. 보닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{보닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bo-da→____]
to see/watch πŸ‘€
D. κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[gong-bu-ha-da→____]
to study πŸ“š
E. λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ma-si-da→____]
to drink β˜•
F. λ°°μš°λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{λ°°μš°λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[bae-u-da→____]
to learn πŸ“–
G. 사닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{사닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[sa-da→____]
to buy πŸ›οΈ
H. 읽닀 → ____\color{purple}{\text{읽닀 β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ik-da→____]
to read πŸ“š
I. μžλ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{μžλ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ja-da→____]
to sleep 😴
J. ν•˜λ‹€Β β†’Β ____\color{purple}{\text{ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ \_\_\_\_}}
[ha-da→____]
to do πŸ› οΈ
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • ㅏ/γ…— stem β†’ μ•„μš”
  • other vowels β†’ μ–΄μš”
  • ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ ν•΄μš”
  • κ°€λ‹€, λ¨Ήλ‹€, 보닀, κ³΅λΆ€ν•˜λ‹€, λ§ˆμ‹œλ‹€, λ°°μš°λ‹€, 사닀, 읽닀, μžλ‹€, ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ practice verbs
Answer Key πŸ”‘ A κ°€μš”; B λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”; C λ΄μš”; D κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš”; E λ§ˆμ…”μš”; F λ°°μ›Œμš”; G μ‚¬μš”; H μ½μ–΄μš”; I μžμš”; J ν•΄μš”.
Tip πŸ’‘ Final boss flow: remove λ‹€, check the stem vowel, then conjugate.
Β 
πŸŽ‰ Great work β€” you can now speak in polite present tense. Your verbs are officially wearing polite shoes. πŸ‘Ÿβœ¨