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HOW TO USE 고, 지만, 아/어서 AND 으며
Korean conjunctive expressions are essential tools for building complex sentences and conveying nuanced relationships between ideas.
Among these, -고, -지만, -아/어서, and -(으)며 are frequently used in business contexts.
-고: SEQUENCING & LISTING ACTIONS
-고 is used to connect two or more clauses, indicating a sequence of actions or listing related items. It’s similar to “and” in English, but it also implies a chronological order.
PATTERN
Verb / adjective stem -고
계약서를 검토하고 서명했습니다.
I reviewed the contract and signed it계약서 : contract,
검토하다 : to review,
서명하다 : to sign
View More Examples:
| 보고서를 작성하고 회의 자료를 준비했습니다. | I wrote the report and prepared the meeting materials. 보고서 : report 작성하다 : to write 회의 자료 : meeting materials 준비하다 : to prepare |
| 효율적이고 생산적인 회의를 진행했습니다. | We conducted an efficient and productive meeting. 효율적인 : efficient 생산적인 : productive 회의 : meeting 진행하다 : to conduct |
| 예산을 분석하고 전략을 세웠습니다. | We analyzed the budget and set up a strategy. 예산 : budget 분석하다 : to analyze 전략 : strategy 세우다 : to set up |
| 마케팅 기획을 하고 홍보를 진행했습니다. | We planned the marketing and proceeded with the promotion. 마케팅 기획 : marketing plan 홍보 : promotion 진행하다 : to proceed |
-지만: CONTRAST OR OPPOSITION
-지만 is used to express contrast or opposition between two clauses, similar to “but” or “although” in English.
PATTERN
Verb / adjective / noun stem -지만
계약 조건은 좋지만, 마감일이 너무 짧습니다
The contract terms are good, but the deadline is too short보고서 : report
작성하다 : to write,
추가 자료 : additional materials
View More Examples:
| 보고서는 잘 작성했지만, 추가 자료가 필요합니다. | The report was well-written, but additional materials are needed. ( 보고서 : report, 작성하다 : to write, 추가 자료 : additional materials) |
| 회의는 유익했지만, 시간이 부족했습니다. | The meeting was informative, but we lacked time. ( 회의 : meeting, 유익하다 : informative, 시간 : time, 부족하다 : to lack( |
| 예산은 충분하지만, 프로젝트 진행이 늦어지고 있습니다. | The budget is sufficient, but the project progress is being delayed. 예산: budget, 프로젝트 진행: project progress, 늦어지다: to be delayed |
| 협상은 어려웠지만, 성공적으로 마무리했습니다. | The negotiation was difficult, but we concluded it successfully. 협상: negotiation, 마무리하다: to conclude |
NOTES || -지만 introduces a contrasting or opposing idea, It softens the impact of the second clause.
-아/어서: CAUSE & EFFECT OR SEQUENCE
-아/어서 is used to express a cause-and-effect relationship or a sequence of actions. It’s similar to because or and then in English.
- Usage:
- Attach -아서 to verb or adjective stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ.
- Attach -어서 to verb or adjective stems ending in other vowels.
- Attach -해서 to 하다 verbs.
보고서를 늦게 제출해서 죄송합니다
I apologize for submitting the report late보고서 : report
제출하다 : to submit
View More Examples:
| 회의 자료를 준비해서 회의를 진행했습니다. | We proceeded with the meeting after preparing the meeting materials. ( 회의 자료 : meeting materials, 준비하다: to prepare , 회의: meeting, 진행하다 : to proceed) |
| 예산이 부족해서 프로젝트를 연기했습니다. | We postponed the project because the budget was insufficient. ( 예산 : budget, 프로젝트 : project, 연기하다 : to postpone) |
| 협상을 잘해서 계약을 체결했습니다. | We signed the contract because we negotiated well. (협상하다: to negotiate, 계약: contract, 체결하다: to sign) |
| 시간이 없어서 보고서를 간략하게 작성했습니다. | Because there was no time, I wrote the report briefly. ( 시간 : time, 보고서 : report, 간략하게 : briefly, 작성하다 : to write) |
NOTES || -아/어서 indicates a causal relationship or a sequence. It often implies a logical connection between the clauses.
-(으)며: EXPRESSING SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS OR LISTING
-(으)며 is used to express simultaneous actions or to list related items. It’s similar to “while” or “and” in English.
- Usage:
- Attach -으며 to verb or adjective stems ending in a consonant.
- Attach -며 to verb or adjective stems ending in a vowel.
보고서를 작성하며 회의 준비를 했습니다
I prepared for the meeting while writing the report.보고서 : report
작성하다 : to write
회의 준비 : meeting preparation
View More Examples:
| 보고서를 작성하며 회의 준비를 했습니다. | I prepared for the meeting while writing the report. ( 보고서 : report, 작성하다 : to write, 회의 준비 : meeting preparation) |
| 예산을 분석하며 시장 조사를 진행했습니다. | We conducted market research while analyzing the budget. ( 예산 : budget, 분석하다 : to analyze, 시장 조사 : market research, 진행하다 : to conduct) |
| 계약을 검토하며 협상 조건을 조정했습니다. | We adjusted the negotiation terms while reviewing the contract. ( 계약 : contract, 검토하다 : to review, 협상 조건 : negotiation terms, 조정하다 : to adjust) |
NOTE || -(으)며 indicates simultaneous actions or lists related items. It can add information or context to the main clause.
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FAQs
What are conjunctive expressions in Korean?
Conjunctive expressions are grammar patterns used to connect two clauses or sentences, showing relationships like sequence, contrast, cause, or similarity.
What is the difference between -고 and -(으)며?
Both connect actions or states, but -고 is more common and neutral, while -(으)며 is slightly more formal or literary, and sometimes implies that actions happen at the same time.
Can I use -지만 and -아/어서 in the same sentence?
Yes, you can combine them in a single sentence if the context requires expressing both contrast and cause/effect, but be mindful of the sentence flow and clarity.
Do these connectors change based on tense or politeness level?
The connectors themselves don’t change based on tense, but the second clause in your sentence must be conjugated to reflect the correct tense and politeness level.
Are these expressions interchangeable?
No, each connector has its own specific meaning. For example, -지만 shows contrast (“but”), -아/어서 shows cause or sequence (“so”), and -고 or -(으)며 link actions or ideas (“and”).
Can I learn Korean with LTL Language School?
Yes!
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