TL;DR
- -고 connects two actions or states in sequence, like saying "and" between verbs 🔗
- Attach it directly to verb stems: 가다 → 가고, 먹다 → 먹고, 있다 → 있고 ✨
- It works for listing actions that happen one after another OR describing multiple states at the same time 🎯
What is -고? 🤔
-고 is your go-to connector when you want to link two (or more!) actions or descriptions together 🔗
Think of it as the "and" that joins verbs — it's super common and you'll use it all the time! 💬
How to Form It 🛠️
The pattern is beautifully simple:
Verb stem + 고
That's it! No vowel harmony, no irregulars to worry about (mostly 😉)
→ 가다 → 가고 (go and...)
→ 먹다 → 먹고 (eat and...)
→ 보다 → 보고 (see/watch and...)
→ 예쁘다 → 예쁘고 (pretty and...)
→ 크다 → 크고 (big and...)
When to Use It 💡
1. Sequential Actions (one thing, then another) 🎬
When you do multiple things in order:
→ 학교에 가고 친구를 만났어요.
(I went to school and met my friend.)
→ 샤워하고 밥을 먹어요.
(I shower and eat.)
→ 영화를 보고 집에 갔어요.
(I watched a movie and went home.)
2. Listing Multiple States/Descriptions 🎨
When describing something with multiple qualities:
→ 이 가방은 예쁘고 싸요.
(This bag is pretty and cheap.)
→ 그 사람은 키가 크고 친절해요.
(That person is tall and kind.)
→ 날씨가 춥고 바람이 불어요.
(The weather is cold and it's windy.)
3. Connecting More Than Two Items 🔗
You can chain multiple -고 together!
→ 일어나고 씻고 옷을 입어요.
(I wake up, wash up, and get dressed.)
→ 음식이 맛있고 싸고 건강해요.
(The food is delicious, cheap, and healthy.)
Important Notes 📝
Timing: -고 doesn't strictly mean the actions happen immediately one after another — it just shows they're connected in some way ⏰
Subject: Usually the subject stays the same for both clauses, but not always! Context is key 🗝️
→ 저는 노래하고 동생은 춤을 춰요.
(I sing and my younger sibling dances.)
Exceptions ⚠️
ㄹ Irregular Verbs 🎭
If the verb stem ends with ㄹ, there's no change (it's already irregular in other forms, but -고 doesn't care!):
→ 만들다 → 만들고 (make and...)
→ 살다 → 살고 (live and...)
→ 길다 → 길고 (long and...)
No dropping of ㄹ here — just attach -고 directly! 👌
That's -고 in a nutshell! 🥜
It's one of the most useful and straightforward grammar points you'll learn — use it everywhere! 🌟
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -고 to connect two actions or states. 🔗
- 저는 아침에 운동_____ 샤워해요.
Answer
하고
- 친구를 만나_____ 영화를 봤어요.
Answer
고
- 오늘은 날씨가 춥_____ 바람이 불어요.
Answer
고
- 커피를 마시_____ 음악을 들었어요.
Answer
고
- 이 식당은 음식이 맛있_____ 가격도 싸요.
Answer
고
- 숙제를 다 하_____ 게임을 할 거예요.
Answer
고
- 언니는 키가 크_____ 예뻐요.
Answer
고
- 집에 가_____ 쉬고 싶어요.
Answer
고
- 한국어를 공부하_____ 한국 드라마를 봐요.
Answer
고
- 밥을 먹_____ 설거지를 했어요.
Answer
고
Vocabulary
운동하다 - to exercise
샤워하다 - to shower
만나다 - to meet
영화 - movie
춥다 - to be cold
바람 - wind
불다 - to blow
커피 - coffee
마시다 - to drink
음악 - music
듣다 - to listen
식당 - restaurant
맛있다 - to be delicious
가격 - price
싸다 - to be cheap
숙제 - homework
게임 - game
언니 - older sister (for females)
키 - height
크다 - to be tall/big
예쁘다 - to be pretty
쉬다 - to rest
공부하다 - to study
드라마 - drama
보다 - to watch/see
밥 - rice/meal
먹다 - to eat
설거지 - dishwashing
Common mistakes
- ❌ Don't confuse -고 with -아/어서. Remember: -고 simply links actions without implying cause/effect.
- ⚠️ -고 attaches directly to the verb stem, not the polite form. Use 가고, not 가요고.
- 🔄 When describing simultaneous states, -고 works great: 예쁘고 착해요 (pretty and kind).
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