Another Use of -기 Form

Another use of verb in -기 form is the pattern –> plain base+ 기 시작하-.  This means ‘begins to do’ or ‘begins doing’.  A plain base + 기 form with or without direct object particle 를 and the verb 시작해요 which means begins.  Here are some examples:

• 비가 오기 시작해요 (Biga ogi shijakhaeyo) It’s beginning to rain.
• 야재를 먹기 시작했어요 (Yachaereul mokki shijakhaesseoyo) I started to eat vegetables.
• 한국말은 언제부터 배우기 시작하셨어요? (Hankukmareun onjebuteo baeugi shijakhasyeosseoyo?) [Since]  When did you start learning Korean?

This pattern is used only with processive verbs.   For adjectives or descriptive verbs,  there is another way to say it without using the verb in 기 form.  The formula is to use descriptive verb in infinitive form + auxiliary very  져요 (jyeoyo) which means begins to be.  This will be further discussed in suceeding lessons of the book so I am leaving this topic for now.