How to conjugate into the basic past tense in –요 form and –ㅂ/습니다 form

New knowledge requires that you understand and master the old stuff. In this particular case, conjugating into the basic past tense the trick is in mastering the present tense. Otherwise, it will be hard to remember.

The basic past tense in –요 form is formed by adding -었어요/았어요/했어요 to the verb stem.

The rules for the past are the same as those for conjugating into the present tense:

1. Remove the –다 from the verb.

2. If the last vowel is a an ㅗ or ㅏ you’ll add –았어요.

Ex. 가다→갔어요.

Ex. 좁다→좁았어요.

A, For the rest of the vowels –었어요 is used.

Ex. 크다→컸어요Ex. 먹다→먹었어요

The basic past tense in-ㅂ/습니다 form is formed simply by only adding –

습니다 to the -었/았/했. Everything else is the same as the –요 form.