Common Endings

Category
Basic Grammar
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Keyword #
-예요, -이에요, -습니다, -야, etc.
Lesson
42

TL;DR 📝

  • Korean uses different sentence endings based on formality: -예요/-이에요 (polite casual), -습니다 (formal), and -야 (casual with friends)
  • The choice between -예요 and -이에요 depends on whether the word ends in a vowel or consonant
  • Always match your ending to your relationship with the listener—when in doubt, use polite casual!

What are sentence endings? 🤔

In Korean, you can't just end a sentence wherever you want. Every sentence needs a proper ending that shows:
  • How formal you're being
  • Whether you're making a statement, asking a question, or giving a command
  • Your relationship with the listener
Think of it like this: in English, we change our tone and word choice based on who we're talking to. In Korean, the ending of the sentence does that job!

The most common endings ✨

Here are the sentence endings you'll use all the time:
Polite Casual (존댓말 - jondaenmal)
These are your go-to endings for most everyday situations—talking to people you don't know well, older people, or in professional settings:
  • -예요 — after vowels
  • -이에요 — after consonants
→ 저는 학생이에요.
(I'm a student.)
→ 이거 사과예요.
(This is an apple.)
Formal (격식체 - gyeokshikche)
Super formal—used in presentations, news, official settings:
  • -습니다 / -ㅂ니다 — statements
→ 저는 한국어를 공부합니다.
(I study Korean.)
Casual with friends (반말 - banmal)
Only use with close friends, people younger than you, or children:
  • -이야 — after consonants
  • -야 or nothing — after vowels
→ 나 학생이야.
(I'm a student.)
→ 이거 사과야.
(This is an apple.)

Quick reference chart 📊

Formality
After consonant
After vowel
Polite casual
-이에요
-예요
Formal
-습니다 / -ㅂ니다
-습니다 / -ㅂ니다
Casual
-이야
-야 / (nothing)

How to choose the right ending 💡

Step 1: Check if the word ends in a consonant or vowel
Look at the last letter of the word:
  • 책 (book) ends in ㄱ (consonant) → 책이에요
  • 커피 (coffee) ends in ㅣ (vowel) → 커피예요
Step 2: Pick your formality level
  • Polite casual (-예요/-이에요): Your default! Use this 90% of the time
  • Formal (-습니다): Job interviews, presentations, speaking to large groups
  • Casual (-야): Only with people you're super close to—when in doubt, DON'T use this!

Common mistakes to avoid ⚠️

Don't mix formality levels in one conversation!
Pick a level and stick with it. Switching randomly sounds really awkward.
❌ 저는 학생이에요. 한국어 공부해. (mixing polite + casual)
✅ 저는 학생이에요. 한국어 공부해요. (consistent polite)

Remember! 🎉

These are just the basics! There are many more endings for questions, commands, and different politeness levels. But master these first, and you'll be able to handle most conversations!
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks with '이에요' or '예요'.
  • 저는 학생_____. (I am a student.)
Answer
이에요
  • 이것은 책_____. (This is a book.)
Answer
이에요
  • 오빠는 의사_____. (My older brother is a doctor.)
Answer
예요
  • 저 사람은 선생님_____. (That person is a teacher.)
Answer
이에요
  • 제 친구는 배우_____. (My friend is an actor.)
Answer
예요
  • 이분은 김 교수님_____. (This is Professor Kim.)
Answer
이에요
  • 저는 요리사_____. (I am a chef.)
Answer
예요
  • 그 건물은 병원_____. (That building is a hospital.)
Answer
이에요
  • 우리 언니는 간호사_____. (My older sister is a nurse.)
Answer
예요
  • 이게 제 가방_____. (This is my bag.)
Answer
이에요
학생 – student
책 – book
오빠 – older brother (for females)
의사 – doctor
선생님 – teacher
배우 – actor
교수님 – professor
요리사 – chef
병원 – hospital
언니 – older sister (for females)
간호사 – nurse
가방 – bag
⚠️ Common Mistakes
  • Remember: Use 이에요 after nouns ending in a consonant, and 예요 after nouns ending in a vowel.
  • Don't confuse the formal ending -입니다 with the polite ending -예요/이에요. The latter is more conversational.
  • -야 is casual and should only be used with close friends or younger people, never in formal settings.
  • When pronouncing, 이에요 sounds like "ieyo" (two syllables), not "iyo."