Learn Hangul Grammer 09

🟩 Korean Connective Endings -고 / -아서 / -지만

1. Overview

In Korean, you can make your sentences more natural and complex by using connective endings, also called conjunctive suffixes. These endings link two or more clauses together, like “and”, “because”, or “but” in English.

The three most commonly used ones are:

• -고 = and
• -아서 / -어서 = because / so
• -지만 = but / although

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2. -고: Connecting actions or descriptions (and)

✅ Meaning

Used to list multiple actions or states. Similar to “and” in English.

✅ How to use

Attach -고 to the verb or adjective stem.

✅ Examples

• 나는 밥을 먹고 물을 마셨어요. = I ate and drank water.
• 민지는 예쁘고 똑똑해요. = Minji is pretty and smart.

✅ Notes

• Only the final verb carries tense.
• You can use this for both actions and states.

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3. -아서 / -어서: Cause and effect (because / so)

✅ Meaning

Shows that the first clause is the reason for the second one. Similar to “because” or “so” in English.

✅ How to use

• If the stem vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ → use -아서
• Otherwise → use -어서
• For 하다 verbs → use -해서

✅ Examples

• 배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요. = I was hungry, so I ate.
• 비가 와서 못 갔어요. = It rained, so I couldn't go.
• 공부를 안 해서 시험을 망쳤어요. = I didn’t study, so I failed.

✅ Notes

• Avoid using it in commands or suggestions.

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4. -지만: Contrast (but / although)

✅ Meaning

Used to show contrast or opposition between the two clauses.

✅ How to use

Add -지만 to the verb or adjective stem.

✅ Examples

• 그는 잘생겼지만 성격이 나빠요. = He’s handsome, but has a bad personality.
• 나는 싫지만 도와줄게요. = I don’t like it, but I’ll help.

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5. Comparing the three endings

Ending	Usage	Example	English Meaning
-고	Sequence or listing	책을 읽고 잤어요.	and
-아서 / -어서	Cause → Result	피곤해서 잤어요.	because / so
-지만	Contrast	춥지만 나갔어요.	but / although

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6. Tense Usage

Only the last verb in the sentence gets the tense.

• 나는 밥을 먹고 텔레비전을 봤어요. = I ate and watched TV.
  (not: 먹었고 봤어요)

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7. Sentence Expansion Practice

Basic:

• 나는 학교에 갔어요. = I went to school.

➤ Using -고:

• 나는 학교에 가고 친구도 만났어요. = I went to school and met a friend.

➤ Using -아서/어서:

• 나는 늦게 일어나서 학교에 늦었어요. = I woke up late, so I was late for school.

➤ Using -지만:

• 나는 아프지만 학교에 갔어요. = I was sick, but I went to school.