Korean verb · irregular · first needed at elementary level (A2)
어떻다
eotteota
to be how, to be like what
An ㅎ verb: before -아/어 the ㅎ drops and the vowel becomes ㅐ: (eottaeyo), (eottaesseoyo). It is almost always a question. (eotteoke) means “how”.
Speed:
Present
현재
“How is it?”, asking about something or someone: (yojeum eottaeyo?), how are things these days?
| polite | 어때요eottaeyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 어떻습니까eotteoseumnikka | |
| casual | 어때eottae |
Past
과거
“How was it?”: (yeohaeng eottaesseoyo?), how was your trip?
| polite | 어땠어요eottaesseoyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 어땠습니까eottaetseumnikka | |
| casual | 어땠어eottaesseo |
Future
미래
Wondering what something will be like uses -(으)ㄹ까요: (naeil nalssiga eotteolkkayo?), what will the weather be like tomorrow?
| polite | 어떨까요eotteolkkayo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 어떻겠습니까eotteoketseumnikka | |
| casual | 어떨까eotteolkka |
Examples
- 한국 생활은 어때요?Hanguk saenghwareun eottaeyo?How is life in Korea?
- 어제 본 영화 어땠어요?Eoje bon yeonghwa eottaesseoyo?How was the film you saw yesterday?
- 내일 같이 점심 먹는 게 어때요?Naeil gachi jeomsim meongneun ge eottaeyo?How about having lunch together tomorrow?