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Korean grammar

Speaking up to someone

-(으)세요

A0 · Starter Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

When the person you are talking about is older or senior, the verb gets 시 in it, which surfaces as -(으)세요. It is also how you ask politely: 앉으세요 is both "he sits" (respectful) and "please sit". Three verbs replace themselves outright: 있다 → 계세요, 먹다 → 드세요, 자다 → 주무세요. You do not use it about yourself.

Pattern

동사 어간 + (으)세요 · 계세요 · 드세요

Examples

  1. 여기 앉으세요.

    Please sit here.

  2. 할머니는 한국에 계세요.

    My grandmother is in Korea.

  3. 천천히 드세요.

    Please eat slowly.

Keep in mind

  • 앉으세요

    앉다 ends in a consonant → 으세요

  • 가세요

    가다 ends in a vowel → 세요

  • 계세요

    있다 does not take 으세요 — it is replaced

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    여기 _____. (앉다)

    1. 앉세요
    2. 앉아세요
    3. 앉으세요
    4. 앉이세요
    Show answer

    Answer: C 앉으세요

    A consonant before it takes 으세요.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    먼저 _____. (가다)

    1. 갓세요
    2. 가세요
    3. 가아세요
    4. 가으세요
    Show answer

    Answer: B 가세요

    A vowel before it takes 세요.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    부모님은 한국에 _____.

    1. 이세요
    2. 있어요
    3. 있으세요
    4. 계세요
    Show answer

    Answer: D 계세요

    있다 is replaced by 계시다 for people you respect.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    약을 하루에 세 번 _____. (먹다, 높임말)

    1. 드세요
    2. 먹으세요
    3. 잡으세요
    4. 먹어세요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 드세요

    먹다 is replaced by 드시다.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    Which form is right?

    이름을 여기에 _____. (쓰다)

    1. 써세요
    2. 쓰세요
    3. 쓰아세요
    4. 쓰으세요
    Show answer

    Answer: B 쓰세요

    쓰 ends in a vowel.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 선생님이 교실에 있으세요.
    2. 선생님이 교실에 계세요.
    3. 선생님이 교실에 계요.
    4. 선생님이 교실에 계시요.
    Show answer

    Answer: B 선생님이 교실에 계세요.

    계시다 → 계세요.

  7. 7This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is correct?

    —

    1. 저는 지금 집에 계세요.
    2. 저는 지금 집에 있으세요.
    3. 저는 지금 집에 있어요.
    4. 저는 지금 집에 계셔요.
    Show answer

    Answer: C 저는 지금 집에 있어요.

    Never use the honorific about yourself.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    신발을 _____. (벗다)

    1. 벗어세요
    2. 벗세요
    3. 벗으세요
    4. 벗이세요
    Show answer

    Answer: C 신발을 벗으세요. (벗다)

    벗 ends in ㅅ.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    Which form is right?

    길에서 _____. (조심하다)

    1. 조심하세요
    2. 조심하으세요
    3. 조심하요
    4. 조심해세요
    Show answer

    Answer: A 길에서 조심하세요. (조심하다)

    하 ends in a vowel.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Build the sentence.

    앉으세요. 여기에

    Show answer

    Answer: 여기에 앉으세요.

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