-고
And, And Then
Use -고 to connect two actions or states, like saying 'A and then B' or 'A and B'.
How It Works
-고 is one of the most fundamental ways to connect sentences in Korean. It's equivalent to 'and' or 'and then' in English. It attaches directly to verb and adjective stems.
Main Usages:
1. Sequential Actions ('and then')
This is used when one action happens after another. The order matters.
- 아침을 먹고 학교에 가요. (I eat breakfast and then go to school.)
2. Listing Facts or States ('and')
This is used to list two or more characteristics or actions that are related but don't have a strict time order.
- 그 가수는 예쁘고 노래를 잘해요. (That singer is pretty and sings well.)
How to Use:
Simply attach -고 to the verb or adjective stem. It doesn't matter if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. It's very regular!
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 고 → 먹고
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 고 → 가고
- 예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁘 + 고 → 예쁘고
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋 + 고 → 좋고
Tense: In an 'and then' chain, the first verb usually has no tense marker, and the last verb carries the tense. When you list facts or contrast two things, native speakers often put the past tense on both verbs.
- 어제 영화를 보고 쇼핑했어요. (Yesterday, I watched a movie and then shopped.)
- 어제는 영화를 봤고 오늘은 쇼핑했어요. (Yesterday I watched a movie, and today I went shopping.)
Examples (4)
- 밥을 먹고 숙제를 했어요.
I ate a meal and then did my homework.
Word by Word: Meal eat and homework did.
- 제 친구는 키가 크고 착해요.
My friend is tall and kind.
Word by Word: My friend height is big and is kind.
- 저는 책을 읽고 음악을 들어요.
I read a book and listen to music.
This lists two separate activities. The order isn't strictly important.
- 이 식당은 음식이 싸고 맛있어요.
This restaurant's food is cheap and delicious.
Word by Word: This restaurant food is cheap and is delicious.
Common Mistakes
Using -고 for a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
Different Meaning피곤하고 일찍 잤어요.Better피곤해서 일찍 잤어요.While grammatically possible, -고 just lists two facts ('I was tired, and I slept early'). For cause and effect ('Because I was tired, I slept early'), it's more natural to use -아/어서.
Learn This First
To use this connector, you need to understand how it attaches to verb stems.
Related Patterns
- -아/어서Because of, Therefore
-고 connects actions sequentially ('A and then B') or lists facts. -아/어서 connects actions with a cause-and-effect relationship ('Because of A, B happened').
- -지만But
-고 connects two related or sequential ideas ('and'). -지만 connects two contrasting or opposing ideas ('but').
- -거나Or
-고 means both actions/states happen ('A and B'). -거나 presents a choice between two actions/states ('A or B').
- -고 있다Be -ing
-고 is a key component of the progressive tense pattern -고 있다, which means 'to be doing' an action.
- -고 싶다Want to
-고 is also part of the pattern -고 싶다, which is used to express 'want to do' something.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.