Learn Hangul Grammer 13

🟩 Expressing Feelings and Nuance in Korean

Using -고 싶다 / -고 있다 / -아/어 보다

---

🔹 1. Overview

In Korean, we use special grammar endings to express wants, ongoing actions, and experience. These endings let us express emotions and intentions clearly.

The most common forms are:

• -고 싶다 → want to do
• -고 있다 → be doing (present progressive)
• -아/어 보다 → try to do / have tried

---

🔸 2. -고 싶다: Expressing Want or Desire

✅ Meaning

Used to show that the speaker wants to do something.
It’s like “I want to ~” in English.

✅ Structure

Verb stem + -고 싶다

✅ Examples

• 여행을 가고 싶어요. = I want to go on a trip.
• 피자를 먹고 싶어요. = I want to eat pizza.
• 동생이 자고 싶어 해요. = My younger sibling wants to sleep.

⚠ Note: Use -고 싶어 하다 for third person.

---

🔸 3. -고 있다: Expressing Ongoing Actions

✅ Meaning

Used to express that something is happening right now
It’s like “I am ~ing” in English.

✅ Structure

Verb stem + -고 있다

✅ Examples

• 지금 공부하고 있어요. = I am studying now.
• 음악을 듣고 있어요. = I’m listening to music.
• 운동하고 있었어요. = I was exercising.

Also used for changing states:

• 꽃이 피고 있어요. = The flower is blooming.

---

🔸 4. -아/어 보다: Trying or Experiencing Something

✅ Meaning

Used to say you tried something or are encouraging someone to try
Equivalent to “try doing something” or “have you ever ~”

✅ Structure

Verb stem + -아/어 보다

• 가다 → 가보다
• 먹다 → 먹어 보다
• 입다 → 입어 보다
• 하다 → 해 보다

✅ Examples

• 김치를 먹어 봤어요. = I’ve tried kimchi.
• 제주도에 가 봤어요? = Have you been to Jeju Island?
• 이거 한번 입어 보세요. = Please try this on.

---

🔸 5. Comparison Summary

Grammar	Function	Example
-고 싶다	Want to do	책을 읽고 싶어요. = I want to read.
-고 있다	Be doing now	책을 읽고 있어요. = I am reading.
-아/어 보다	Try/Experience	책을 읽어 봤어요. = I’ve tried reading the book.

---

🔸 6. Practice Examples

Original: 저는 한국어를 공부해요.

• -고 싶다 → 한국어를 공부하고 싶어요.
• -고 있다 → 한국어를 공부하고 있어요.
• -아/어 보다 → 한국어를 공부해 봤어요.