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Easy Korean - Level 3, Unit 23: The 르 (Reu) Irregular

In Unit 11, we learned about the ㅂ irregular. Now we will learn another very common irregular rule: the 르 (Reu) irregular.

The Rule

When a verb or adjective stem ends in 르 (like 모르다, 빠르다) AND it meets a suffix that starts with a vowel (like -아/어요), the following happens:

  1. The vowel ㅡ in '르' is dropped.
  2. An extra ㄹ is added to the bottom of the previous syllable.
  3. The remaining 'ㄹ' attaches to the new vowel (-아 or -어, depending on the vowel of the previous syllable).

It sounds complicated, but it's very consistent! Let's look at examples.

Examples

1. 빠르다 (to be fast) * Stem: 빠르 * Meets: -아요 (because '빠' has the '아' vowel) * Rule: Drop ㅡ. Add ㄹ to 빠 -> 빨. Add ㄹ to 아요 -> 라요. * Result: 빨라요 (It is fast)

2. 모르다 (to not know) * Stem: 모르 * Meets: -아요 (because '모' has the '오' vowel) * Rule: Drop ㅡ. Add ㄹ to 모 -> 몰. Add ㄹ to 아요 -> 라요. * Result: 몰라요 (I don't know)

3. 부르다 (to sing / to call / to be full) * Stem: 부르 * Meets: -어요 (because '부' has the '우' vowel) * Rule: Drop ㅡ. Add ㄹ to 부 -> 불. Add ㄹ to 어요 -> 러요. * Result: 불러요 (I sing / I am full)

4. 자르다 (to cut) * Stem: 자르 * Meets: -아요 -> 잘라요 (I cut it)

5. 게으르다 (to be lazy) * Stem: 게으르 * Meets: -어요 -> 게을러요 (They are lazy)

What if the suffix is NOT a vowel?

If the suffix starts with a consonant (like -고, -는, -(으)면, etc.), the word stays completely regular!

  • 빠르다 -> 빠르고, 빠르면, 빠르지만
  • 모르다 -> 모르고, 모르면, 모르지만

Example Sentences

  1. 이 차는 아주 빨라요. (This car is very fast.)
  2. 저는 그 사람을 몰라요. (I don't know that person.)
  3. 배가 너무 불러요. (My stomach is too full.)
  4. 머리를 잘랐어요. (I cut my hair. - Past tense!)