ADJ + 아/어/해하다

1. Title

Changes in Parts of Speech using ADJ + 아/어/해하다

2. Grammar Explanation

In Korean, the suffix -아/어하다 is used to transform certain adjectives into verbs. This change allows the speaker to express their feelings or observations about someone's actions or outward appearances. The construction can be understood as similar to saying "appears (to be)" or "seems" in English.

Here’s how it works:

• If the adjective stem ends in the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ, use -아하다.

• For all other vowels, use -어하다.

• If the adjective ends in 하다, it changes to -해하다.

Additionally, when creating a negative imperative form, -지 마세요 is added to the adjective stem, resulting in -아/어/해하지 마세요. For example:

• 슬퍼하지 마세요. (〇) Don’t be sad. 슬프지 마세요. (X)

• 두려워하지 마세요. (〇) Please don’t be afraid. 두렵지 마세요. (X)

When -아/어/해하다 is added to 예쁘다 (to be pretty) and 귀엽다 (to be cute), the resulting forms 예뻐하다 and 귀여워하다 mean "to hold dear" or "to treat with love and affection".

3. Example Sentences

1. 그 남자는 항상 기뻐해요. (He always seems happy.)

2. 아이들이 이 놀이를 무서워해요. (The children are afraid of this ride.)

3. 그 여자는 동생을 예뻐해요. (She adores her younger sibling.)

4. 친구가 선물을 받아서 기뻐해요. (My friend is happy to receive a gift.)

4. Sample Dialogues

Dialogue 1

• A: 왜 민수는 시험을 안 쳤어요? (Why didn’t Minsu take the test?)

  B: 민수는 시험 치는 걸 너무 귀찮아해요. 그래서 선생님한테 촌지를 줬대요. (B: Minsu finds taking exams too bothersome. So, he bribed the teacher.)

Dialogue 2

• A: 아이가 왜 울고 있어요? (Why is the child crying?)

  B: 그 아이는 새엄마를 무서워해요. (The child is afraid of stepmom.)

5. Make Korean Sentences from English!

1. I find Korean food delicious.

2. My mom seems tired today.

3. My sister appears to be happy with her new job.

4. My friend is scared of spiders.

5. The students seem to enjoy the lesson.

6. My brother finds math difficult.

7. I adore my pet dog.

8. The children are afraid of the dark.

9. My friend is happy with the gift.

10. My dad treats his car with care.