Ordering in the Restaurant

Same expression can mean different things depending on the situation.

공부해요. [gong-bu-hae-yo]
I study / I will study

공부해요! [gong-bu-hae-yo!]
Study! (Command)

공부해요? [gong-bu-hae-yo?]
Are you studying?

공부하세요 [gong-bu-ha-se-yo]
Please, study.

• 공부 [gong-bu] means "study"
• 하세요 [ha-se-yo] means "please, do."

Steps to make infinitive verbs to a polite command

Step 1. Drop the 다 [da]

Step 2. If the word ends in a vowel sound add -세요 [se-yo]
If the word does not end in a vowel sound add -(으)세요 [eu-se-yo]

Example for 세요 [se-yo]
일어나다 [i-reo-na-da] to wake up

Step 1. Drop the 다 [da]
일어나다 [i-reo-na-da]
→ 일어나 [i-reo-na]

Step 2. Attach 세요 [se-yo] or 으세요 [eu-se-yo]
일어나 [i-reo-na] end in ᅡ [a] (vowel sound),
you'll attach 세요 [se-yo].
일어나다 [i-reo-na-da] → 일어나세요 [i-reo-na-se-yo]

Example for 으세요 [eu-se-yo]
읽다 [ilk-da] to read

Step 1. Drop the 다 [da]
읽다 [ilk-da]
→ 읽 [ilk]

Step 2. Attach 세요 [se-yo] or 으세요 [eu-se-yo]
읽 [ilk] does not end in a vowel sound,
you'll attach 으세요 [eu-se-yo].
읽다 [ilk-da] → 읽으세요 [ilk-eu-se-yo]