시제 (si-je, sije) · 서법 (seo-beop, seobeop)
시제 indicates the time of an action or state, while 서법 expresses the speaker's attitude or manner of speaking, such as commands or intentions.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
A grammatical element indicating the time an action or state occurs (past, present, future)
When to use
Describing past events, Stating present facts, Mentioning future plans
The nuance
Use 시제 to clearly express the time of an action or state via verb forms or auxiliaries, divided into past, present, and future tenses.
A grammatical expression showing the speaker’s attitude or manner of speaking, such as commands, intentions, or possibilities
When to use
Giving commands, Making suggestions, Expressing intention, Showing possibility
The nuance
Use 서법 to express commands, suggestions, intentions, or possibilities through verb endings, reflecting speaker's attitude regardless of tense.
나는 어제 영화를 봤다.
na-neun eo-je yeong-hwa-reul bwass-da., na neun eo je yeong hwa reul bwass da.
Correctly uses past tense to indicate an action that happened in the past.
나는 어제 영화를 본다.
na-neun eo-je yeong-hwa-reul bon-da., na neun eo je yeong hwa reul bon da.
Incorrect present tense used for a past event; should use past tense '봤다'.
내일 비가 올 것이다.
nae-il bi-ga ol geos-i-da., nae il bi ga ol geos i da.
Correctly uses future tense to clearly express a future event.
내일 비가 온다.
nae-il bi-ga on-da., nae il bi ga on da.
Present tense used to express a near-future fact, which is natural in Korean.
문을 닫아라!
mun-eul dat-a-ra!, mun eul dat a ra!
Correct imperative mood to clearly give a command.
문을 닫는다!
mun-eul dat-neun-da!, mun eul dat neun da!
Declarative tense used awkwardly for a command; imperative form needed.
같이 가자.
gat-i ga-ja., gat i ga ja.
Correct use of the suggestive mood to naturally express a proposal or invitation.
같이 간다.
gat-i gan-da., gat i gan da.
Simple present tense without suggestive intent, inappropriate as a proposal.
Which is used to talk about past events?
Which is used to express commands?
In '내일 갈 거예요', what grammatical element is '갈 거예요'?
What mood is ‘가자’?
