-아/어다가
While Doing, In the Middle of
-아/어다가 connects two verbs, showing that you do the first action, then take the result of that action to a different place and do the second action. Think of it as 'do A, bring it, and then do B'.
How It Works
This pattern is used to express a sequence of actions where the result of the first action is physically carried over to the location of the second action. It emphasizes the connection between the two actions and the movement between two different places.
1. Structure:
It attaches to a verb stem.
- Verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -아다가
- 사다 (to buy) → 사다가
- 볶다 (to stir-fry) → 볶아다가 - Verb stems ending in other vowels + -어다가
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들어다가
- 줍다 (to pick up) → 주워다가 (ㅂ irregular) - 하다 verbs become 해다가
- 요리하다 (to cook) → 요리해다가
2. Key Rules:
- The subject of both the first and second clauses must be the same.
- The first action must be completed before the second one begins.
- There must be a change of location between the two actions.
- The tense is expressed in the final verb of the sentence.
3. Colloquial Form:
In spoken Korean, -아/어다가 is often shortened to -아/어다.
e.g., 커피 좀 타다 줄래? (Can you make some coffee and bring it to me?)
4. Comparison with Similar Patterns:
- -고: Simply connects two actions sequentially. It doesn't imply a location change.
- 빵을 사고 먹었어요. (I bought bread and ate it. - Could be anywhere).
- 빵을 사다가 먹었어요. (I bought bread (at the store) and brought it (somewhere else) to eat). - -다가: Indicates an action is interrupted by another.
- 밥을 먹다가 전화를 받았어요. (While I was eating, I got a phone call). - -아/어서: Shows a sequence of closely related actions or a cause-and-effect relationship. It lacks the strong 'carry to another place' nuance.
- 친구를 만나서 영화를 봤어요. (I met my friend and (then) we watched a movie).
Examples (4)
- 도서관에서 책을 빌려다가 집에서 읽었어요.
I borrowed a book from the library and read it at home.
Word by Word: From the library book borrow-and-bring at home read.
Action 1: Borrowed a book (at the library). Action 2: Read it (at home). The book was moved from the library to the home.
- 빵을 만들어다가 친구에게 선물했어요.
I made bread and gave it to my friend as a gift.
Word by Word: Bread make-and-bring to a friend gifted.
Action 1: Made bread (e.g., at my house). Action 2: Gave it to a friend (e.g., at their house or a cafe). The bread was moved from my place to my friend's location.
- 은행에서 돈을 찾아다가 옷을 샀어요.
I withdrew money from the bank and then bought clothes.
Word by Word: From the bank money withdraw-and-bring clothes bought.
Action 1: Withdrew money (at the bank). Action 2: Bought clothes (at a store). The money was carried from the bank to the store.
- 커피를 타다 드릴까요?
Shall I make some coffee and bring it to you?
Word by Word: Coffee make-and-bring shall I give you?
This is a common example of the shortened form -아/어다. It implies making coffee in one place (like the kitchen) and bringing it to another (like the living room).
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어다가 when both actions occur in the same place.
Not Quite집에서 숙제를 해다가 잠을 잤어요.Better집에서 숙제를 하고 잠을 잤어요.-아/어다가 requires a change of location. Since both doing homework and sleeping happened at home (집), the simple sequential connector -고 is correct.
Confusing -아/어다가 (sequential action) with -다가 (interrupted action).
Not Quite요리를 해다가 전화를 받았어요.Better요리하다가 전화를 받았어요.The incorrect sentence sounds like 'I cooked, brought the food somewhere, and then answered the phone.' To say 'I received a phone call while I was cooking,' you must use -다가 to show interruption.
Learn This First
To express 'while doing/in the middle of', you need verb conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -고And, And Then
-고 simply lists actions in sequence. -아/어다가 is more specific, adding the nuance that the result of the first action is carried to a new location for the second action.
- -다가While Doing, Then
-다가 indicates an action is interrupted by another. In contrast, -아/어다가 indicates the first action is completed before the second one begins in a new location.
- -아/어서Because of, Therefore
-아/어서 can show a sequence of closely related actions (like 'I went to the store and bought milk'). However, it doesn't carry the strong implication of moving the result of the first action to a new place like -아/어다가 does.
- -(으)러 가다/오다Go/come to Do
Both patterns involve movement for a purpose. -러 가다/오다 expresses the purpose of going/coming, while -아/어다가 describes performing an action first and then moving to do something else with the result.