TOPIK I: Formal vs. Polite Endings

Agent Progress
Built
Keywords
-(으)ㅂ니다 / -아/어요
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
TOPIK I Prep
✅
TL;DR
  • -(스)ㅂ니다 / -(스)ㅂ니까? is formal-polite style, common in announcements, tests, news, and official situations.
  • -아/어요 / -아/어요? is everyday polite style, common in daily conversations.
  • TOPIK I often asks you to recognize the same meaning in different politeness styles.
🎧
🎧 Helper Note: Read each pair aloud: 갑니다 / 가요, 먹습니다 / 먹어요, 좋습니까? / 좋아요?. The meaning is often the same, but the situation and tone are different.

🔑 The Big Picture

Korean uses different sentence endings depending on the situation. For TOPIK I, two polite styles are especially important:
  • Formal-polite: -(스)ㅂ니다, -(스)ㅂ니까?
  • Everyday polite: -아/어요, -아/어요?
Both are polite, but they feel different:
  • -(스)ㅂ니다 sounds more formal, official, clear, and presentation-like.
  • -아/어요 sounds polite but more natural in everyday conversation.
TOPIK I may test these endings in:
  • Short dialogues
  • Self-introductions
  • Notices and announcements
  • Simple workplace, school, or public-service situations
  • Grammar questions asking for the correct form

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1) Formal-polite statement: V/A-(스)ㅂ니다

Use -(스)ㅂ니다 for formal polite statements.
Stem type
Pattern
Example
Meaning
Ends in a vowel
-ㅂ니다
가다 → 갑니다
go/goes
Ends in a consonant
-습니다
먹다 → 먹습니다
eat/eats
Ends in ㄹ
ㄹ drops + -ㅂ니다
살다 → 삽니다
live/lives
Examples:
  • 저는 학생입니다. = I am a student.
  • 학교에 갑니다. = I go to school.
  • 아침을 먹습니다. = I eat breakfast.
  • 서울에 삽니다. = I live in Seoul.

2) Formal-polite question: V/A-(스)ㅂ니까?

Use -(스)ㅂ니까? for formal polite questions.
  • 어디에 갑니까? = Where are you going?
  • 무엇을 먹습니까? = What do you eat?
  • 한국어를 공부합니까? = Do you study Korean?
  • 서울에 삽니까? = Do you live in Seoul?
This form is common in textbooks, tests, interviews, and formal situations.

3) Everyday polite statement/question: -아/어요

Use -아/어요 for most polite daily conversations.
Stem vowel
Pattern
Example
Meaning
ㅏ or ㅗ
-아요
가다 → 가요
go/goes
Other vowels
-어요
먹다 → 먹어요
eat/eats
하다 verbs
-해요
공부하다 → 공부해요
study/studies
Examples:
  • 저는 학생이에요. = I am a student.
  • 학교에 가요. = I go to school.
  • 아침을 먹어요. = I eat breakfast.
  • 한국어를 공부해요. = I study Korean.

4) Same meaning, different style

Many TOPIK I questions expect you to recognize equivalent meanings.
Formal-polite
Everyday polite
Meaning
갑니다
가요
go/goes
먹습니다
먹어요
eat/eats
공부합니다
공부해요
study/studies
좋습니다
좋아요
is good
있습니까?
있어요?
is/are there? / do you have?

5) Noun sentences: 입니다 vs 이에요/예요

For nouns, formal-polite uses 입니다 and everyday polite uses 이에요/예요.
  • 학생입니다. = I am a student.
  • 학생이에요. = I am a student.
  • 의사입니다. = I am a doctor.
  • 의사예요. = I am a doctor.
Question forms:
  • 학생입니까? = Are you a student?
  • 학생이에요? = Are you a student?
  • 의사입니까? = Are you a doctor?
  • 의사예요? = Are you a doctor?

✅ Exam Strategy

What TOPIK I usually checks

  1. Form matching
      • 가다 → 갑니다 / 가요
      • 먹다 → 먹습니다 / 먹어요
      • 공부하다 → 공부합니다 / 공부해요
  1. Question vs statement
      • 갑니다 = go/goes
      • 갑니까? = do/does go?
  1. Situation
      • Announcement, speech, public notice → formal-polite is likely.
      • Friend, store, daily conversation → everyday polite is likely.
  1. Same meaning
      • “갑니다” and “가요” can have the same basic meaning.
      • The difference is style, not core meaning.
  1. Noun endings
      • 학생입니다 / 학생이에요
      • 학교입니다 / 학교예요

Fast solving method

  • First identify whether the sentence is a statement or a question.
  • Then identify the stem ending:
    • vowel stem → -ㅂ니다
    • consonant stem → -습니다
    • ㄹ stem → drop ㄹ + -ㅂ니다
  • For everyday polite style, check the final vowel:
    • ㅏ/ㅗ → -아요
    • other vowels → -어요
    • 하다 → 해요

⚠️ Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Thinking formal means impolite

Both styles are polite. 갑니다 is not rude; it is more formal.

Pitfall 2: Forgetting the question ending

  • 갑니다 = go/goes
  • 갑니까? = do/does go?
The final 까? makes it a question.

Pitfall 3: Using -습니다 after vowel stems

Correct:
  • 갑니다
  • 봅니다
Incorrect:
  • 가습니다
  • 보습니다

Pitfall 4: Forgetting ㄹ drop in formal style

Correct:
  • 살다 → 삽니다
  • 만들다 → 만듭니다
Incorrect:
  • 살습니다
  • 만들습니다

Pitfall 5: Confusing 입니다 and 있습니다

  • 입니다 = am/is/are
  • 있습니다 = have/there is/there are
Examples:
  • 저는 학생입니다. = I am a student.
  • 책이 있습니다. = There is a book. / I have a book.
🧪
Practice Hub: Formal vs. Polite Endings Drill — 50 TOPIK I-style Questions

Exercise 1 — Choose the correct formal ending

Choose the best formal-polite form.
  1. 가다
      2. 1) 갑니다 2) 가습니다 3) 가요ㅂ니다 4) 갈습니다
  1. 먹다
      2. 1) 먹ㅂ니다 2) 먹습니다 3) 먹아요 4) 먹습니까요
  1. 공부하다
      2. 1) 공부습니다 2) 공부합니다 3) 공부해요니다 4) 공부입니까
  1. 보다
      2. 1) 봅니다 2) 보습니다 3) 봐습니다 4) 보아요
  1. 읽다
      2. 1) 읽ㅂ니다 2) 읽습니다 3) 읽아요 4) 읽입니다
  1. 살다
      2. 1) 살습니다 2) 삽니다 3) 살ㅂ니다 4) 살아습니다
  1. 만들다
      2. 1) 만들습니다 2) 만듭니다 3) 만들ㅂ니다 4) 만들입니다
  1. 좋다
      2. 1) 좋습니다 2) 좋ㅂ니다 3) 좋아입니다 4) 좋아요니다
  1. 마시다
      2. 1) 마십니다 2) 마시습니다 3) 마셔습니다 4) 마시요
  1. 듣다
      2. 1) 듣습니다 2) 듣ㅂ니다 3) 들어입니다 4) 듣아요
Answer
1) 1 — 가다 has a vowel stem, so 갑니다.
2) 2 — 먹다 has a consonant stem, so 먹습니다.
3) 2 — 하다 verbs become 합니다 in formal style.
4) 1 — 보다 becomes 봅니다.
5) 2 — 읽다 has a consonant stem, so 읽습니다.
6) 2 — ㄹ drops: 살다 → 삽니다.
7) 2 — ㄹ drops: 만들다 → 만듭니다.
8) 1 — 좋다 has a consonant stem, so 좋습니다.
9) 1 — 마시다 has a vowel stem, so 마십니다.
10) 1 — 듣다 uses 듣습니다 in basic formal present.

Exercise 2 — Match formal and everyday polite meanings

Choose the everyday polite form with the same meaning.
  1. 갑니다
      2. 1) 가요 2) 먹어요 3) 공부해요 4) 있어요
  1. 먹습니다
      2. 1) 가요 2) 먹어요 3) 봐요 4) 좋아요
  1. 공부합니다
      2. 1) 공부해요 2) 공부예요 3) 공부였어요 4) 공부할게요
  1. 봅니다
      2. 1) 봐요 2) 보여요 3) 보입니다 4) 봤어요
  1. 좋습니다
      2. 1) 좋아요 2) 좋았어요 3) 좋을 거예요 4) 좋아합니다
  1. 있습니다
      2. 1) 있어요 2) 이에요 3) 예요 4) 갑니다
  1. 없습니다
      2. 1) 없어요 2) 있어요 3) 아니에요 4) 먹어요
  1. 학생입니다
      2. 1) 학생이에요 2) 학생이 있어요 3) 학생을 해요 4) 학생으로 가요
  1. 의사입니다
      2. 1) 의사예요 2) 의사있어요 3) 의사해요 4) 의사갑니다
  1. 읽습니다
      2. 1) 읽어요 2) 읽습니다요 3) 읽입니까 4) 읽예요
Answer
11) 1 — 갑니다 and 가요 both mean go/goes.
12) 2 — 먹습니다 and 먹어요 both mean eat/eats.
13) 1 — 공부합니다 and 공부해요 both mean study/studies.
14) 1 — 봅니다 and 봐요 both mean see/watch.
15) 1 — 좋습니다 and 좋아요 both mean is good.
16) 1 — 있습니다 and 있어요 both mean have/there is.
17) 1 — 없습니다 and 없어요 both mean do not have/there is not.
18) 1 — 학생입니다 and 학생이에요 both mean is a student.
19) 1 — 의사입니다 and 의사예요 both mean is a doctor.
20) 1 — 읽습니다 and 읽어요 both mean read/reads.

Exercise 3 — Question or statement?

Choose the best meaning.
  1. 학교에 갑니다.
      2. 1) I go to school. 2) Do you go to school? 3) I went to school. 4) I will go to school.
  1. 학교에 갑니까?
      2. 1) I go to school. 2) Do you go to school? 3) I went to school. 4) I cannot go to school.
  1. 아침을 먹습니다.
      2. 1) I eat breakfast. 2) Do you eat breakfast? 3) I want breakfast. 4) I ate breakfast.
  1. 아침을 먹습니까?
      2. 1) I eat breakfast. 2) Do you eat breakfast? 3) I will eat breakfast. 4) Breakfast is delicious.
  1. 한국어를 공부합니다.
      2. 1) I study Korean. 2) Do you study Korean? 3) I am Korean. 4) Korean is difficult.
  1. 한국어를 공부합니까?
      2. 1) I study Korean. 2) Do you study Korean? 3) I studied Korean. 4) I will study Korean.
  1. 시간이 있습니다.
      2. 1) There is time. 2) Is there time? 3) I am time. 4) Time is formal.
  1. 시간이 있습니까?
      2. 1) There is time. 2) Is there time? 3) Time was there. 4) I make time.
  1. 학생입니다.
      2. 1) I am a student. 2) Are you a student? 3) I have a student. 4) I meet a student.
  1. 학생입니까?
      2. 1) I am a student. 2) Are you a student? 3) Students go. 4) Student exists.
Answer
21) 1 — -ㅂ니다 is a statement ending.
22) 2 — -ㅂ니까? is a question ending.
23) 1 — -습니다 is a statement ending.
24) 2 — -습니까? is a question ending.
25) 1 — 공부합니다 is a statement.
26) 2 — 공부합니까? is a question.
27) 1 — 있습니다 is a statement.
28) 2 — 있습니까? is a question.
29) 1 — 입니다 is a statement.
30) 2 — 입니까? is a question.

Exercise 4 — Choose the natural ending for the situation

Choose the best sentence.
  1. A news announcer introduces the weather.
      2. 1) 오늘 날씨가 좋습니다. 2) 오늘 날씨가 좋아? 3) 오늘 날씨 좋다. 4) 오늘 날씨예요 먹어요.
  1. A student politely talks to a friend.
      2. 1) 지금 뭐 해요? 2) 지금 무엇을 합니까요? 3) 지금 뭐 하다? 4) 지금 뭐입니다?
  1. A formal self-introduction begins.
      2. 1) 안녕하세요. 저는 민수입니다. 2) 안녕. 나는 민수야. 3) 저는 민수 먹습니다. 4) 민수 있어요를.
  1. A store clerk politely asks a customer.
      2. 1) 무엇을 찾으세요? 2) 무엇을 찾다. 3) 무엇을 찾습니다요? 4) 무엇 찾니?
  1. A test sentence uses formal style.
      2. 1) 유나 씨는 학교에 갑니다. 2) 유나 씨는 학교에 가요요. 3) 유나 씨는 학교에 가습니다. 4) 유나 씨는 학교에 갑니까입니다.
  1. A daily polite answer to “뭐 먹어요?”
      2. 1) 김밥을 먹어요. 2) 김밥을 먹습니다까? 3) 김밥입니다 먹어요. 4) 김밥에 먹다.
  1. A formal question asks nationality.
      2. 1) 어느 나라 사람입니까? 2) 어느 나라 사람이에요요? 3) 어느 나라 사람합니다? 4) 어느 나라 사람 먹습니까?
  1. A polite daily question asks location.
      2. 1) 어디에 있어요? 2) 어디에 있습니까요? 3) 어디에 있다? 4) 어디에 입니다?
  1. A formal announcement says the class starts.
      2. 1) 수업을 시작합니다. 2) 수업을 시작해요요. 3) 수업을 시작이다. 4) 수업을 시작가요.
  1. A polite daily sentence says “It is coffee.”
      2. 1) 커피예요. 2) 커피합니다. 3) 커피있습니다. 4) 커피먹습니다.
Answer
31) 1 — Formal announcements often use -습니다.
32) 1 — -해요 is natural everyday polite style.
33) 1 — 저는 민수입니다 is formal self-introduction style.
34) 1 — 찾으세요 is polite and natural for a clerk.
35) 1 — 갑니다 is correct formal style.
36) 1 — 먹어요 is correct everyday polite style.
37) 1 — 입니까? is the formal noun question ending.
38) 1 — 있어요? is everyday polite style.
39) 1 — 시작합니다 is formal style.
40) 1 — 커피예요 is the natural everyday polite noun sentence.

Exercise 5 — TOPIK-style grammar and logic

Choose the best answer.
  1. “갑니다” and “가요” are different mainly in:
      2. 1) tense 2) politeness style 3) noun meaning 4) number
  1. Which is the formal question form of “먹다”?
      2. 1) 먹습니다 2) 먹습니까? 3) 먹어요 4) 먹었어요
  1. Which is the everyday polite form of “공부합니다”?
      2. 1) 공부해요 2) 공부했어요 3) 공부할 거예요 4) 공부입니까
  1. Which sentence means “I am a teacher” in formal style?
      2. 1) 저는 선생님입니다. 2) 저는 선생님이 있어요. 3) 저는 선생님을 먹어요. 4) 저는 선생님 갑니다.
  1. Which sentence means “Is there a chair?” in formal style?
      2. 1) 의자가 있습니까? 2) 의자가 입니다? 3) 의자가 갑니까? 4) 의자가 먹습니까?
  1. Which is correct for “to live” in formal statement style?
      2. 1) 살습니다 2) 삽니다 3) 살ㅂ니다 4) 살어요니다
  1. Which is correct for “to make” in formal statement style?
      2. 1) 만들습니다 2) 만듭니다 3) 만들입니다 4) 만들어요니다
  1. Which pair has the same basic meaning?
      2. 1) 봅니다 / 봐요 2) 봅니다 / 먹어요 3) 갑니다 / 있어요 4) 학생입니다 / 읽어요
  1. Which is a formal-polite statement?
      2. 1) 갑니다 2) 가요? 3) 갔어요 4) 갈 거예요
  1. Which is an everyday polite question?
      2. 1) 갑니까? 2) 가요? 3) 갑니다 4) 가다
Answer
41) 2 — The core meaning is similar; the style is different.
42) 2 — Formal question uses -습니까?
43) 1 — 공부합니다 corresponds to 공부해요.
44) 1 — 입니다 is the formal noun sentence ending.
45) 1 — 있습니까? asks “is/are there?” in formal style.
46) 2 — ㄹ drops: 살다 → 삽니다.
47) 2 — ㄹ drops: 만들다 → 만듭니다.
48) 1 — 봅니다 and 봐요 both mean see/watch.
49) 1 — 갑니다 is formal-polite statement style.
50) 2 — 가요? is an everyday polite question.

🧭 Final Review

Remember the main contrast:
  • Formal-polite: 갑니다 / 먹습니다 / 공부합니다 / 학생입니다
  • Everyday polite: 가요 / 먹어요 / 공부해요 / 학생이에요
On TOPIK I, both styles are polite. The key is to recognize the form, question marker, and situation quickly.