-다④
-다④: Plain Written Statement — News and Report -다
Plain-style statement ending used in written report, headlines, and diary-like narration.
How to form it
| When | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective / 이다 / -었- / -겠- | -다 | 좋다 / 학생이다 / 갔다 / 가겠다 |
| Verb past in headlines / diary | -다 | 정부가 발표했다 / 비가 왔다 |
-다④ (this slot) is the plain written statement ending — the -다 of news, reports, and textbook narration.
It is not every -다 in Korean. Dictionary and curriculum separate senses; here the job is declarative plain style in writing, not intimate speech chat.
Why this is hard
Beginners meet -아요/어요 and think -다 is only dictionary citation form. Then they open a newspaper and drown in -다 sentences. The reverse error also happens: pasting news -다 into café talk with strangers and sounding blunt or textbook-stiff.
Related endings (-는다, adjectives in -다) look alike. This page’s hook is written report voice.
What it does
It closes a clause as a bare fact in plain style — common in articles, summaries, and formal notes.
오늘 회의가 열렸다.
새 정책이 발표됐다.
그는 학생이다.
날씨가 맑다.In speech among close equals you may hear plain -다, but learners should treat written report as the safe first home for this slot.
Forms
Predicate + plain -다 (with the usual verb/adjective/이다 shapes of 해라체 / plain style).
When not to use it
Do not default to -다 with teachers, clerks, or first meetings — use 해요체 or 합니다체.
Do not confuse citation-dictionary -다 (“the verb 가다”) with sentence-final news -다. Same letters; different classroom job.
Do not mix it randomly with -요 in one formal paragraph without a style reason.
Neighbours — and why they differ
| Form | Why it is not this slot |
|---|---|
| -아요/어요 | Polite spoken default. |
| -습니다 | Formal polite; speeches and careful service. |
| -는다 | Plain style for action verbs in writing — same neighbourhood, taught as its own shape. |
Ask: am I writing a bare report-style fact? If yes, plain -다. If you are speaking politely, stay in 해요/합니다.
Do not confuse it with
Taught alongside this
On the jabi learning path, this appears in 종결어미 (final ending) — Advanced Korean 1, Unit 3, on the theme of final ending. These come with it:
Words used above
Quick check
No sign-up, no score saved — just see if it stuck.
1. A written report states that he is a student. Not polite speech, not formal 습니다, not past.
2. The diary line says the weather is clear, in plain written style. Not 해요 and not 습니다.
3. The headline says it rained, in compact plain style. Not spoken past, not present 온다.
Common questions
Which dictionary senses?
「012」 plain statement of fact/state (해라). 「013」 compact past in diaries/news titles. Curriculum gloss: newspaper/report plain style.
Vs dictionary citation form -다?
「014」 marks the citation/basic form. Don’t conflate with report style on this page.
Vs spoken 해라 -다?
Related plain level, but this slot stresses written report/news feel.
Vs -다가 shortened -다?
Different entries. This is statement ending, not interruption -다가.