This is another way of expressing actions. The simple phrase ‘먹어요’ (meokeoyo) in a conversation can mean:
- I am eating
- is eating
- let’s eat or
- simply eat
Instead of the plain phrase above it can be stated this way — 먹고 있어요 (moekko isseoyo) with a subject or an object this phrase can mean is eating or still eating. This verb endig can only be used in pair with a processive verb and it denotes an action in progress. So it’s the base form of the processive verb +고 있어요 as cited in the example above, 먹, which is the base of the word 먹다 (meoktta- to eat). Other examples are as follows:
- 가고 있어요 (kago isseoyo – is going)
- 자고 있어요 (jago isseoyo – is sleeping or still sleeping)
Please note that this verb ending when attached to -ㄹ extending verb keeps the ㄹ instead of dropping it. So for the word 살다 (saltta), which means to live, becomes 살고 있어요 (salko isseoyo). Note how this verb ending behaves, it is just like -고 싶어요 (-ko shipoyo) which has been discussed in my previous post.
To make the verb ending honorific, just change 있어요 with 계세요 (kyeseyo). As we know 있다 (itta – dictionary form) or 있어 (isseo – infinitive form) means to exist or to stay this is the plain verb, the honorific one is 계 (kye). Reminds you of 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi kyeseyo) use to say goodbye to someone who is ‘staying’.
It Started with Hangul 
So to make it honorific, is to make it more formal? And what do you mean by attaching a ㄹ to the verb ending? So does it mean that kago isseoyo meoktta, means that you’re going to eat?
hmm i think there is something wrong with the order of words it should be mokko isseoyo (going to eat)
Oh and isnt itta supposed to be 이따 instead of 있다?
ㅅ and ㅆ takes ‘t’ sound when its a final consonant or in the case of 있다 last consonant in the block followed by another consonant sound. This is what i learned from Elementary Korean on pronunciation rules.