And Connector: -고¶

Quick Reference

Pattern: Verb stem + 고 Meaning: "and" (sequential or simultaneous actions) Formation: Works with all verbs regardless of final consonant Example: 가다 → 가고, 먹다 → 먹고, 읽다 → 읽고

Detailed Explanation¶

The -고 connector is one of the most versatile and commonly used connectors in Korean. It links two actions or states that are related, showing either:

Sequential actions: First action, then second action
Simultaneous actions: Both actions happening at the same time
Simple listing: Two or more facts/states without strong time relationship

Formation Rules¶

-고 is one of the simplest connectors:

Take the verb stem (remove 다)
Add 고
No changes based on vowels or consonants

Examples: - 가다 (to go) → 가고 - 먹다 (to eat) → 먹고 - 읽다 (to read) → 읽고 - 마시다 (to drink) → 마시고 - 듣다 (to listen) → 듣고

Usage¶

1. Sequential Actions (이어진 동작)¶

Actions that happen one after another:

학교에 가고 친구를 만났어요. I went to school and met a friend.
손을 씻고 밥을 먹어요. I wash my hands and eat.

2. Simultaneous Actions (동시 동작)¶

Actions happening at the same time:

음악을 듣고 공부해요. I study while listening to music.
커피를 마시고 이야기해요. Let's talk while drinking coffee.

3. Simple Listing (나열)¶

Listing characteristics or facts:

그 사람은 키가 크고 잘생겼어요. That person is tall and handsome.
이 방은 넓고 깨끗해요. This room is spacious and clean.

Important Notes¶

Tense and -고¶

The -고 clause does NOT take tense markers. Tense is shown only in the final verb:

❌ 집에 갔고 밥을 먹었어요.
✓ 집에 가고 밥을 먹었어요. I went home and ate.

Multiple -고 in One Sentence¶

You can chain multiple -고 connectors:

아침에 일어나고 샤워하고 옷을 입고 학교에 가요. I wake up in the morning, shower, get dressed, and go to school.

-고 with 있다/계시다¶

-고 있다 forms the present progressive (currently doing):

지금 밥을 먹고 있어요. I am eating now. (Note: This is a different pattern, not a simple connector)

Comparison¶

-고 vs -아서/어서¶

Both can connect actions, but with differences:

Feature	-고	-아서/어서
Relationship	Loose connection	Cause-effect
Order	Can sometimes swap	Cannot swap order
Imperative	Can be used	Cannot be used

Examples: - 밥을 먹고 갔어요. (I ate and went - sequential) - 밥을 먹어서 갔어요. (I ate, so I went - implies eating was the reason for being able to go)

Examples¶

Sequential Actions¶

영화를 보고 저녁을 먹었어요. I watched a movie and had dinner.
숙제를 하고 친구한테 전화했어요. I did homework and called a friend.
편의점에 가고 우유를 샀어요. I went to the convenience store and bought milk.

Simultaneous Actions¶

텔레비전을 보고 밥을 먹어요. I eat while watching TV.
노래를 부르고 춤을 춰요. I sing and dance (at the same time).

Listing¶

이 가방은 예쁘고 싸요. This bag is pretty and cheap.
오늘 날씨가 춥고 바람이 많이 불어요. Today the weather is cold and it's very windy.
저는 학생이고 동생도 학생이에요. I am a student and my younger sibling is also a student.

Practice¶

Connect: 저는 한국어를 공부하다 + 친구는 일본어를 공부하다 (use -고)
Fill in the blank: 아침에 일어나___ 커피를 마셔요.
Make one sentence: 도서관에 갔어요. 책을 읽었어요.
Connect: 이 음식은 맛있다 + 이 음식은 건강해요
Translate: I exercised and took a shower. (운동하다, 샤워하다)
Fix the error: 어제 영화를 봤고 재미있었어요.
Connect three actions: 일어나다 + 씻다 + 학교에 가다
Fill in: 그 사람은 친절하___ 똑똑해요.
Create a sentence using -고 with simultaneous actions (음악을 듣다, 걷다)
Translate: This coffee is hot and delicious. (뜨겁다, 맛있다)

Show Answers

1. 저는 한국어를 공부하고 친구는 일본어를 공부해요. *I study Korean and my friend studies Japanese.* 2. 아침에 일어나**고** 커피를 마셔요. *I wake up in the morning and drink coffee.* 3. 도서관에 가고 책을 읽었어요. *I went to the library and read a book.* (Note: Past tense only on the final verb) 4. 이 음식은 맛있고 건강해요. *This food is delicious and healthy.* 5. 운동하고 샤워했어요. *I exercised and took a shower.* 6. **Corrected**: 어제 영화를 보고 재미있었어요. *Yesterday I watched a movie and it was fun.* (Explanation: Don't use past tense marker on -고 clause) 7. 아침에 일어나고 씻고 학교에 가요. *I wake up in the morning, wash up, and go to school.* 8. 그 사람은 친절하**고** 똑똑해요. *That person is kind and smart.* 9. 음악을 듣고 걸어요. / 음악을 들으면서 걸어요. *I walk while listening to music.* (Note: -으면서 is more precise for simultaneous actions) 10. 이 커피는 뜨겁고 맛있어요. *This coffee is hot and delicious.*