Korean grammar '-고'

 

1. Explanation

 : '-고' connects verbs or adjectives. It is used to list action, states or indicate preceding clause happened before following clause. So, it can be translated as 'and'. This is similar with 'Korean grammar #8 -와/과/하고'. The difference between them is that '-고' conjugates with verbs or adjectives, while '-와/과/하고' counjugates with nouns. Let's look at examples together.

 

2. Examples

 저는 책을 읽고 커피를 마셔요. (I read a book and drink coffee.)

 *읽다 to read

  1) A verb stem is '읽-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 읽고

 

 제 친구는 학교에 가고 수업을 들어요. (My friend goes to the school and takes a lesson.)

 *가다 to go 

  1) A verb stem is '가-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 가고

 

 정국은 노래하고 춤춰요. (Jungkook is singing and dancing.)

 *노래하다 to sing

  1) A verb stem is '노래하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 노래하고

 

 남동생이 밥을 먹고 약을 먹어요. (Younger brother had a meal, and then takes a medicine.)

 *먹다 to eat

  1) A verb stem is '먹-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 먹고

 

 아빠가 집에 도착했고 손을 씻어요. (Dad arrived at home and cleans his hands.)

 *도착하다 to arrive

  1) A verb stem is '도착하-'

  2) Make it as a past tense

  3) '하다.' changes '했다.'

  4) 도착했다.

  5) It conjugates with '-고'

  6) 도착했고

 

 나 심심하고 배고파. (I'm bored and hungry.)

 *심심하다 bored

  1) An adjective stem is '심심하-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 심심하고 

 

 이 떡볶이는 싸고 맛있어요. (This tteokbokki is cheap and delicious.)

 *싸다 cheap

  1) An adjective stem is '싸-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 싸고

 

 어제 산 가방이 비싸고 무거워요. (The bag that I bought yesterday is expensive and heavy.)

 *비싸다 expensive

 1) An adjective stem is '비싸-'

 2) It conjugates with '-고'

 3) 비싸고

 

 관광 명소는 시끄럽고 사람이 많아요. (Tourist attractions are noisy and crowded.)

 *시끄럽다 noisy

  1) An adjective stem is '시끄럽-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 시끄럽고

 

 공원은 넓고 조용해요. (The park is wide and quiet.)

 *넓다 wide

  1) An adjective stem is '넓-'

  2) It conjugates with '-고'

  3) 넓고

 

3. Practice

  In this chapter, there is no practice session. Because '-고' can be attached to any form of verbs or adjectives. So, let's try to combine two sentences to one sentence. If you leave a comment, I'll check it and correct it for you.

 

4. Vocabulary

 저 I( = polite ) / 책 book / 읽다 to read / 커피 coffee / 마시다 to drink / 친구 friend / 학교 school / 가다 to go / 수업 lesson, class / (수업을) 듣다 to take (a lesson) / 노래하다 to sing / 춤추다 to dance / 남동생 younger brother / 밥 meal, rice / 먹다 to eat, to take / 약 medicine / 아빠 dad / 집 home / 도착하다 to arrive / 손 hands / 씻다 to clean / 나 I( = casual) / 심심하다 bored / 배고프다 hungry / 떡볶이 tteokbokki / 싸다 cheap / 맛있다 delicious / 어제 yesterday / 사다 to buy / 가방 bag / 비싸다 expensive / 무겁다 heavy / 관광 명소 tourist attraction / 시끄럽다 noisy / 사람 people / (사람이) 많다 crowded / 공원 park / 넓다 wide / 조용하다 quiet

 

5. Answer