Korean grammar · Elementary (A2)
Linking actions: -고, -아서/-어서, -(으)면서, -다가
How to join actions in one sentence: and, and then, while, was doing and then, before, after and as soon as.
-고: and, and then
-고 (-go) joins two actions or facts. Add it to the stem with no changes: (chingureul mannago yeonghwareul bwasseoyo), I met a friend and saw a film. Only the last verb shows the tense and the speech level; the first stays in the plain -고 form.
It also joins descriptions: (ssago masisseoyo), it's cheap and tasty. For “and” between nouns, use 하고, 와/과 or (이)랑 instead. Between two sentences, use (geurigo).
- 아침을 먹고 회사에 갔어요.Achimeul meokgo hoesae gasseoyo.I had breakfast and went to work.
- 이 동네는 조용하고 깨끗해요.I dongneneun joyonghago kkaekkeutaeyo.This neighbourhood is quiet and clean.
-아서/-어서: and then (connected steps)
-아서/-어서 (-aseo/-eoseo) also means “and then”, but the first action leads into the second: you do the second thing there, with that, or because of the first. It follows the same vowel rule as the present: (gaseo), (mannaseo), (naeryeoseo), (haeseo). The subject of both parts is the same, and the first verb never takes the past.
Compare (chingureul mannaseo yeonghwareul bwasseoyo), I met a friend and we saw a film together, with (chingureul mannago yeonghwareul bwasseoyo), I met a friend and (later, maybe alone) saw a film. It also describes how you get somewhere: (georeoseo gayo), I walk there.
Verbs of getting into or putting on something keep -고, because the state continues: (beoseureul tago gayo), I go by bus; (koteureul ipgo nagasseoyo), I put on a coat and went out. -아서 also gives reasons; see the page on reasons.
- 다음 역에서 내려서 갈아타세요.Daeum yeogeseo naeryeoseo garataseyo.Get off at the next station and change there.
- 케이크를 사서 친구 집에 갔어요.Keikeureul saseo chingu jibe gasseoyo.I bought a cake and took it to my friend's house.
- 여기 앉아서 기다리세요.Yeogi anjaseo gidariseyo.Please sit here and wait.
- 회사까지 걸어서 십 분 걸려요.Hoesakkaji georeoseo sip bun geollyeoyo.It's a ten-minute walk to work.
-(으)면서: while
-(으)면서 (-(eu)myeonseo) means doing two things at the same time, by the same person: (eumageul deureumyeonseo gongbuhaeyo), I study while listening to music. -면서 after a vowel or ㄹ ( (bomyeonseo), (mandeulmyeonseo)), -으면서 after a consonant ( (meogeumyeonseo)). It can also join two facts that are true together, often with a contrast: (almyeonseo wae mureobwayo?), why do you ask when you know?
- 밥 먹으면서 이야기해요.Bap meogeumyeonseo iyagihaeyo.Let's talk while we eat.
- 운전하면서 전화하면 안 돼요.Unjeonhamyeonseo jeonhwahamyeon an dwaeyo.You mustn't phone while driving.
-다가: was doing, and then
-다가 (-daga), often shortened to -다, means an action was going on and then stopped or switched to something else: (gongbuhadaga jami deureosseoyo), I was studying and fell asleep; (geotdaga neomeojyeosseoyo), I fell over while walking. The subject is the same in both parts.
With the past, -았/었다가 means the first action was completed and then undone or followed by something else: (sijange gatdaga wasseoyo), I went to the market and came back; (changmuneul yeoreotdaga dadasseoyo), I opened the window and then closed it again.
- 집에 가다가 친구를 만났어요.Jibe gadaga chingureul mannasseoyo.I ran into a friend on my way home.
- 쭉 가다가 은행 앞에서 오른쪽으로 가세요.Jjuk gadaga eunhaeng apeseo oreunjjogeuro gaseyo.Go straight on, then turn right at the bank.
Before, after, as soon as
Before is -기 전에 (-gi jeone) on any stem: (jagi jeone), before going to bed. After is -(으)ㄴ 후에 or -(으)ㄴ 다음에: (babeul meogeun hue), after eating. With nouns, just add or : (siksa jeone), before the meal; (sueop hue), after class.
-자마자 (-jamaja) means “as soon as”: (jibe ojamaja jasseoyo), I went to sleep as soon as I got home. Tense is shown only on the last verb in all these patterns.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -고 | and, and then | (ssitgo jayo), I wash and go to bed |
| -아서/-어서 | and then (connected) | (gaseo sayo), I go there and buy it |
| -(으)면서 | while | (georeumyeonseo meogeoyo), I eat while walking |
| -다가 | was doing, then | (bodaga jasseoyo), I fell asleep watching |
| -기 전에 | before | (meokgi jeone), before eating |
| -(으)ㄴ 후에 | after | (meogeun hue), after eating |
| -자마자 | as soon as | (dochakhajamaja), as soon as I arrive |
- 한국에 오기 전에 한국어를 조금 배웠어요.Hanguge ogi jeone hangugeoreul jogeum baewosseoyo.I learned a little Korean before I came to Korea.
- 졸업한 후에 서울로 이사했어요.Joreophan hue Seoullo isahaesseoyo.After graduating I moved to Seoul.
- 수업이 끝나자마자 전화할게요.Sueobi kkeunnajamaja jeonhwahalgeyo.I'll call you as soon as class finishes.