1. -아/어/여요 [-a/eo/yeo-yo] [polite/plain]

  2. -(으)시죠 [-(eu)-si-jyo] [honorific]

  3. -자 [-ja] [informal]

  4. -(으)ㄹ래요? [-(eu)l-lae-yo?] [polite/casual]

  5. -(으)실래요? [-(eu)-sil-lae-yo?] [polite/formal]

시작하다 [si-ja-ka-da] = to start; to begin

  1. 시작해요. [si-ja-kae-yo.] = Let’s start. (plain)2. 시작하시죠. [si-ja-ka-si-jyo.] = Let’s start. (honorific)3. 시작하자. [si-ja-ka-ja.] = Let’s start. (informal)4. 시작할래요? [si-ja-kal-lae-yo?] = Shall we start? (polite/casual)5. 시작하실래요? [si-ja-ka-sil-lae-yo?] = Shall we start? (polite/formal)

The most frequently used form is the first example above, -아/어/여요 [-a/eo/yeo-yo]. As the most heard and used way to say “yes”, this lesson will focus only on this ending. The other forms will be covered in future lessons.

If you are looking at this verb ending and wondering why it looks the same as the plain present tense ending, that is because it is! Although it is the exact same ending, you generally tell the difference through context. Take a look at a few sample sentences to see how easily the meaning can be determined.

저도 서점에 갈 거예요. 같이 가요![jeo-do seo-jeo-me gal kkeo-ye-yo. ga-chi ga-yo!]= I am going to the bookstore, too. Let’s go together!

배 안 고파요? 우리 햄버거 먹어요.[bae an go-pa-yo? u-ri haem-beo-geo meo-geo-yo.]= Aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat hamburgers.

지금 두 시예요. 세 시에 여기에서 만나요.[ji-geum du si-ye-yo. se si-e yeo-gi-e-seo man-na-yo.]= It is two o’clock now. Let’s meet here at three o’clock.

저 금요일까지 바빠요. 토요일에 시작해요. 어때요?[jeo geu-myo-il-kka-ji ba-ppa-yo. to-yo-i-re si-ja-kae-yo. eo-ttae-yo?]= I will be busy until Friday. Let’s start on Saturday. What do you think?

다른 데 가요. 여기 안 좋은 것 같아요.[da-reun de ga-yo. yeo-gi an jo-eun geot ga-ta-yo.]= Let’s go somewhere else. I think this place is not so good.