Korean verb · regular · first needed at beginner level (A1)
크다
keuda
to be big, to be tall
A ㅡ stem: the ㅡ drops before -어: (keoyo). A person is tall: (kiga keoyo), literally “the height is big”. A descriptive verb, but as an action verb it also means “to grow (up)”.
Speed:
Present
현재
Is big or tall.
| polite | 커요keoyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 큽니다keumnida | |
| casual | 커keo | |
| polite negative | 안 커요an keoyo |
Past
과거
Was big or tall.
| polite | 컸어요keosseoyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 컸습니다keotseumnida | |
| casual | 컸어keosseo | |
| polite negative | 안 컸어요an keosseoyo |
Future
미래
A guess: it will (probably) be big.
| polite | 클 거예요keul geoyeyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 클 겁니다keul geomnida | |
| casual | 클 거야keul geoya | |
| polite negative | 안 클 거예요an keul geoyeyo |
Progressive
진행
Only in the sense “to grow (up)”, for children, plants and animals: (jal keugo isseoyo), growing well.
| polite | 크고 있어요keugo isseoyo | |
|---|---|---|
| formal | 크고 있습니다keugo itseumnida | |
| casual | 크고 있어keugo isseo |
Examples
- 집이 정말 커요.Jibi jeongmal keoyo.The house is really big.
- 제 남동생은 키가 커요.Je namdongsaengeun kiga keoyo.My younger brother is tall.
- 아이들이 잘 크고 있어요.Aideuri jal keugo isseoyo.The children are growing up well.