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KOREAN VERB

약속하다

to promise

  • #165 most used
  • 하다 verb

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI promise
NegativeI don’t promise

Past

과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI promised
NegativeI didn’t promise

Future

미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI will promise
NegativeI won’t promise

Honorific

높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms

Form Polite Formal
PresentI promise (respectfully)
PastI promised (respectfully)
FutureI will promise (respectfully)

Connectives

연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences

  1. And (-고) promising, and…, and…
  2. So, and then (-아/어서) promising, and…, so…
  3. If, when (-(으)면) if I promise
  4. Because (-(으)니까) because I promise
  5. But (-지만) I promise, but…

Requests and commands

명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요

  1. Please (-(으)세요) please promise
  2. Formal request (-(으)십시오) please promise (formal)
  3. Plain command promise! (casual)
  4. Please don’t please don’t promise

How to use 약속하다

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    다시는 지각 안 하겠다고 약속해요.

    I promise I'll never be late again.

  2. Past

    민준이가 토요일에 꼭 온다고 약속했어요.

    Min-jun promised he'd definitely come on Saturday.

  3. Future

    내일 부모님께 열심히 공부하겠다고 약속할 거예요.

    Tomorrow I'll promise my parents to study hard.

  4. Honorific

    할머니가 생일에 꼭 오시겠다고 약속하셨어요.

    Grandma promised to come for my birthday without fail.

  5. Connectives

    약속하고 안 지키면 친구가 실망해요.

    If you promise and don't keep it, your friend is disappointed.

  6. Requests and commands

    이번에는 정말 늦지 않겠다고 약속하세요.

    Promise you really won't be late this time.

Good to know

  • 약속 is a promise and also plans with someone: 약속이 있어요 is "I have plans".

Where you hear 약속하다

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Korean · Intermediate Level 3

  • 저는 약속하면 지켜요. When I promise, I keep it.
  • 수아한테 전화하겠다고 약속했어요. I promised Su-a I'd call.
  • 내일 약속할게. 오늘은 바빠. I'll promise tomorrow. Today I'm busy.

Korean · Advanced Level 2

  • 저는 약속하면 지켜요. When I promise, I keep it.
  • 수아한테 전화하겠다고 약속했어요. I promised Su-a I'd call.
  • 내일 약속할게. 오늘은 바빠. I'll promise tomorrow. Today I'm busy.
18
The ring

Intermediate Level 3 · 늦지 않겠다고 약속할게요.

Needs a subscription 17
Rice cakes from upstairs

Advanced Level 2 · 네, 약속한 대로 여섯 시까지요.

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.