-다가는

If You Keep Doing

Level 4Sounds Like daganeun

-다가는 is used to warn that if an action is continued, a negative or undesirable result will occur. It translates to 'If you keep doing X, then Y (something bad) will happen.'

How It Works

The grammar pattern -다가는 is a powerful way to express a warning or predict a negative outcome based on the continuation of a certain behavior or action. It can be attached to both present and past tense verb stems.

Structure:
1. Present Tense: Verb Stem + -다가는

먹다 (to eat) → 먹다가는
하다 (to do) → 하다가는

2. Past Tense: Verb Stem + -았/었다가는

마시다 (to drink) → 마셨다가는
쓰다 (to use/spend) → 썼다가는

The key function is to link a cause (the continued action) with a negative effect. The speaker is observing a situation and forecasting a problem if it doesn't change.

Tense Nuance:
While both forms express a warning, there's a subtle difference. The present tense form (-다가는) refers to a general or ongoing action. The past tense form (-았/었다가는) emphasizes that the action has already been happening for some time and is continuing, often making the warning feel more immediate or based on observed behavior.

Key Nuances:
1. Negative Consequence: The result in the second clause is almost always negative, undesirable, or problematic.
2. Continuation/Repetition: It implies that the action in the first clause is not a one-time event but is being repeated or continued over time.
3. Warning: It's often used to advise someone to stop their current course of action.

Comparison with -면:
While -면 is a general conditional ('if'), -다가는 is specifically for negative outcomes.

Correct: 그렇게 놀다가는 시험에 떨어질 거예요. (If you keep playing like that, you will fail the test.) - Negative warning.
Incorrect: 열심히 공부했다가는 시험에 합격할 거예요. (Using -다가는 for a positive outcome is unnatural).
Correct: 열심히 공부하면 시험에 합격할 거예요. (If you study hard, you will pass the test.) - General condition.

Comparison with -다가:
-다가 indicates an interruption or shift from one action to another. -다가는, with the added particle -는, emphasizes the continuation of the action itself as the cause of the problem.

Examples (4)

그렇게 매일 술을 마셨다가는 건강을 해칠 거예요.
If you keep drinking alcohol like that every day, you'll ruin your health.
Word by Word: Like that every day alcohol drink-if-you-keep health will-be-harmed.
지금 출발 안 했다가는 기차를 놓치겠어요.
If we don't leave now, we'll (surely) miss the train.
Word by Word: Now depart not do-if-you-keep train will-miss.
This shows that continuing the action of 'not leaving' will lead to a negative result.
계획 없이 돈을 썼다가는 월급날 전에 다 써 버릴 거예요.
If you keep spending money without a plan, you'll use it all up before payday.
Word by Word: Plan without money spend-if-you-keep payday before all use-up-completely will.
밤늦게까지 게임을 하다가는 내일 시험에 집중 못 할 거야.
If you keep playing games until late at night, you won't be able to concentrate on the exam tomorrow.
Word by Word: Late-at-night-until game do-if-you-keep tomorrow exam-on concentrate not-be-able-to will.

Common Mistakes

Using -다가는 for positive or neutral outcomes.
Not Quite열심히 공부했다가는 시험에 합격할 거예요.
Better열심히 공부하면 시험에 합격할 거예요.
-다가는 is specifically for warning about negative consequences. For general or positive conditions, the simple conditional -면 should be used.
Confusing it with a single past action causing a present result.
Not Quite어제 과식했다가는 오늘 배가 아파요.
Better매일 과식하다가는 위장병에 걸릴 거예요.
-다가는 implies a continuous or repeated action leading to a future negative result. For a single past action that caused a current state, use -아/어서 or -니까 (e.g., 어제 과식해서 오늘 배가 아파요 - 'Because I overate yesterday, my stomach hurts today').

Learn This First

To warn about consequences 'if you keep doing', you need interrupted action patterns.

-다가While Doing, Then
This builds on the interrupted action pattern -다가.

Words in This Pattern