Past Tense -았/-었어요, plus -고 싶다 and -(으)러 가다
To talk about the past, use '-았어요/-었어요 (-asseoyo/-eosseoyo)'. The rule is exactly the same as the present '-아요/-어요', following vowel harmony in the same way.
Making the Past Tense
| Present | Past | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가요 (gayo) | 갔어요 (gasseoyo) | went |
| 먹어요 (meogeoyo) | 먹었어요 (meogeosseoyo) | ate |
| 공부해요 (gongbuhaeyo) | 공부했어요 (gongbuhaesseoyo) | studied |
| 추워요 (chuwoyo) | 추웠어요 (chuwosseoyo) | was cold |
| 마셔요 (masyeoyo) | 마셨어요 (masyeosseoyo) | drank |
어제 친구를 만나서 저녁을 먹었어요.
eoje chingu-reul mannaseo jeonyeog-eul meogeosseoyo.
Yesterday I met a friend and ate dinner.
지난주에 영화를 봤어요.
jinanju-e yeonghwa-reul bwasseoyo.
I watched a movie last week.
작년 겨울은 정말 추웠어요.
jangnyeon gyeour-eun jeongmal chuwosseoyo.
Last winter was really cold.
The past of '이다 (ida, to be)' depends on the final consonant. With a final consonant, use '-이었어요 (-ieosseoyo)'; without one, use '-였어요 (-yeosseoyo)': 학생이었어요 (haksaeng-ieosseoyo), 의사였어요 (uisayeosseoyo).
-고 싶다: Want to Do
Add '-고 싶다 (-go sipda)' to a verb stem to say 'want to'. Politely, use '-고 싶어요 (-go sipeoyo)'.
저는 한국에 여행을 가고 싶어요.
jeo-neun hanguk-e yeohaeng-eul gago sipeoyo.
I want to travel to Korea.
-(으)러 가다/오다: Go/Come in Order To
To express purpose, add '-(으)러 가다/오다 (-(eu)reo gada/oda)' to a verb stem. With a final consonant, use '-으러 (-eureo)'; without one, use '-러 (-reo)'.
| Verb | Final consonant | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 먹다 (meokda) | yes | 먹으러 가요 (meogeureo gayo) |
| 사다 (sada) | no | 사러 가요 (sareo gayo) |
점심을 먹으러 식당에 가요.
jeomsim-eul meogeureo sikdang-e gayo.
I'm going to the restaurant to eat lunch.
주말에 푹 쉬고 싶어요.
jumar-e puk swigo sipeoyo.
I want to rest well on the weekend.
책을 빌리러 도서관에 갔어요.
chaeg-eul billireo doseogwan-e gasseoyo.
I went to the library to borrow a book.
Final 'ㄹ (l)' with -(으)러
Note: when the final consonant is 'ㄹ (l)', use just '-러 (-reo)', not '-으러 (-eureo)': 놀다 → 놀러 가요 (nolleo gayo), 살다 → 살러 가요 (salleo gayo).
친구 집에 놀러 가요.
chingu jib-e nolleo gayo.
I'm going to my friend's house to hang out.
💡 Tip: Tip: use '-고 싶다 (-go sipda)' when the subject is first person (I), and '-고 싶어하다 (-go sipeohada)' for third person (he/she).