When you want to form a statement in the standar polite form, you stick 요 at the end of the sentence. For example, 이분 보라 씨예요. (이분 = this person. 보라 = Bora. 씨 = Ms. 예요 = copula ‘is’ in the standard polite form) would mean ‘This person is Ms. Bora’. Moreover, if I want to turn this statement into a question, I would say, ‘이분 보라 씨예요?’ This time the sentence would mean ‘Is this person Ms. Bora?’ You’ll notice that the structure of the sentence and the words itself hasn’t changed. In fact, the ending 요 which is a standard polite ending, is the same for both the question and statement form.

The only thing that’s changed is the intonation. When a statement in the standard polite form is being uttered, the intonation is neutral. However when a question is the standard polite form is being uttered, the intonation rises. Since the 요 ending is the same for both the question and statement forms, the only way you can tell the difference between whether a sentence is a question or a statement is by the intonation of the speaker’s voice. In a phrase like 누구예요? (누구 = who. 예요 = copula ‘is’.) meaning ‘Who is it?’ the intonation is not so dependent on comprehension because it would not make much sense as a statment.

When a question is formed in the deferential polite form, ㅂ니까 will be the ending. Using the example above, 이분 보라 씨입니까? will mean ‘Is this person Ms. Bora?’ in the deferential polite form. Now when you want to say it as a statement, it will be 이분 보라 씨입니다 or ‘This person is Ms. Bora’ in the deferential polite. Notice that the difference in ending between the statement and interrogative form of the deferential polite is the ending. In the statement form, the word ends in 다. The question form ends in 까. The same rules apply with 누구입나까? Although, this phrase isn’t really uttered in the statement form.

Now when the word ends in a consonant, the standard polite form (both in the question and statement form) will use a 이에요 ending. Example: 시험이에요. (It’s an exam.) When the word ends in a vowel, 예요 is the ending used. Example: 수라예요. (I’m Sura.) Note, this is only when you use the copula. When the verb ends in a vowel in the deferential polite form, it’ll end with ㅂ니다 or ㅂ니까 depending on whether it’s a statement or question. Example: 갑니다/갑니까. When it ends in a consonant, it’ll end in 습니다. Example: 책을 읽습니다/읽습니까. There are exceptions to this rule, but I’ll discuss them as I go along with the blog.