V+(스)ㅂ니다

Table of content

Present tense Alternative forms

Present tense

Used to explain the present action, state, or fact politely.

Example

할아버지가 칭찬하셨습니다.

Grandfather praised me.
전 사람을 해친 적이 없습니다.

I have never harmed anyone.
저를 살려 주신 은혜를 꼭 갚고 싶습니다.

I want to repay the favor of saving me.

This pattern is used in

V+(스)ㅂ니다만

Alternative forms

Before 1989, this grammar point was written as -읍니다 after final consonants ㅆ and ㅄ. For example:

제가 하겠읍니다!

I will do it

선곡하신 곡이 없읍니다.

The song you've selected is unavailable

This usage of -읍니다 can still be seen in the writings of older people or to give a piece of text the vibe that a person who learned Korean spelling before 1989 is writing it. In modern usage, this form can sometimes be used humorously even after consonants that usually wouldn't take -읍니다. For example:

그렇읍니다!

It is so!

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