-다가 expresses an action that is interrupted, changed, or followed by another action. It means "while (doing)...then" or "in the middle of (doing)" in English.
Structure
Verb stem + -다가
Breakdown:
- -다가: Connective ending for interrupted/changed actions
Literal meaning: "While doing [this], then (something else happens)"
Formation Rules
All Verbs: -다가
Simple attachment to any verb stem:
- 가다 → 가다가 (while going, then...)
- 먹다 → 먹다가 (while eating, then...)
- 하다 → 하다가 (while doing, then...)
- 보다 → 보다가 (while watching, then...)
- 듣다 → 듣다가 (while listening, then...)
- 자다 → 자다가 (while sleeping, then...)
- 일하다 → 일하다가 (while working, then...)
Note: Works with ALL action verbs.
Core Meaning: Interruption or Change
Interrupted Actions
Action 1 is interrupted by Action 2:
- 공부하다가 잤어요 (I fell asleep while studying)
- 걷다가 넘어졌어요 (I fell while walking)
- 밥을 먹다가 전화를 받았어요 (I answered the phone while eating)
- TV를 보다가 잠들었어요 (I fell asleep while watching TV)
Changed Actions
Switching from one action to another:
- 영화를 보다가 책을 읽었어요 (I was watching a movie, then read a book)
- 집에 가다가 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend while going home)
- 공부하다가 쉬었어요 (I was studying, then took a rest)
Discoveries During Actions
Finding/noticing something while doing something:
- 청소하다가 반지를 찾았어요 (I found a ring while cleaning)
- 책을 읽다가 재미있는 부분을 발견했어요 (I discovered an interesting part while reading)
- 걷다가 친구를 봤어요 (I saw a friend while walking)
Common Usage Patterns
Interruptions
Actions that get interrupted:
- 자다가 깼어요 (I woke up while sleeping)
- 일하다가 쉬었어요 (I took a break while working)
- 이야기하다가 멈췄어요 (I stopped while talking)
- 먹다가 그만뒀어요 (I stopped while eating)
Unintended Events
Something unexpected happens:
- 걷다가 넘어졌어요 (I fell while walking)
- 계단을 내려가다가 미끄러졌어요 (I slipped while going down stairs)
- 운전하다가 사고가 났어요 (There was an accident while driving)
Transitions
Changing from one activity to another:
- 일하다가 점심 먹으러 갔어요 (I went to eat lunch while working)
- 공부하다가 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend while studying)
- 게임하다가 숙제를 했어요 (I did homework while gaming)
Temporary States
Doing something temporarily then returning:
- 집에 갔다가 왔어요 (I went home and came back)
- 잠깐 나갔다가 올게요 (I'll go out briefly and come back)
- 쉬었다가 다시 할게요 (I'll rest and then do it again)
Special Pattern: -았/었다가
Completed Action, Then Another
Did something and then something else:
- 갔다가 왔어요 (I went and came back)
- 샀다가 팔았어요 (I bought it and then sold it)
- 했다가 후회했어요 (I did it and then regretted it)
- 만났다가 헤어졌어요 (We met and then separated)
Meaning: Completed first action, then second action (often returning to original state)
Tense Usage
Past Context (Most Common)
Interrupted or changed actions in the past:
- 공부하다가 잤어요 (I fell asleep while studying)
- 걷다가 친구를 만났어요 (I met a friend while walking)
- 먹다가 배탈이 났어요 (I got a stomachache while eating)
Present/Habitual
Regular pattern of interruption:
- 항상 일하다가 쉬어요 (I always take breaks while working)
- 자주 보다가 멈춰요 (I often stop while watching)
Future
Expected interruption or change:
- 공부하다가 쉴 거예요 (I'll take a break while studying)
- 가다가 들를 거예요 (I'll stop by while going)
Common Expressions
Interrupted Actions
- 보다가 (while watching, then...)
- 먹다가 (while eating, then...)
- 자다가 (while sleeping, then...)
- 읽다가 (while reading, then...)
- 듣다가 (while listening, then...)
- 걷다가 (while walking, then...)
Go and Come Back
- 갔다가 오다 (go and come back)
- 나갔다가 오다 (go out and come back)
- 다녀오다 (go briefly and return)
Try and Change
- 하다가 그만두다 (do then quit)
- 먹다가 남기다 (eat then leave some)
- 사다가 환불하다 (buy then refund)
Example Sentences
Interruptions
- 영화를 보다가 잠들었어요 (I fell asleep while watching a movie)
- 공부하다가 친구가 왔어요 (My friend came while I was studying)
- 밥을 먹다가 전화를 받았어요 (I answered the phone while eating)
- 책을 읽다가 그만뒀어요 (I stopped while reading a book)
Discoveries
- 청소하다가 오래된 사진을 찾았어요 (I found an old photo while cleaning)
- 산책하다가 예쁜 카페를 발견했어요 (I discovered a pretty cafe while walking)
- 정리하다가 잃어버린 물건을 찾았어요 (I found the lost item while organizing)
Go and Return
- 편의점에 갔다가 올게요 (I'll go to the convenience store and come back)
- 잠깐 나갔다가 왔어요 (I went out briefly and came back)
- 한국에 갔다가 돌아왔어요 (I went to Korea and came back)
Changes
- 게임을 하다가 공부했어요 (I was playing games, then studied)
- 집에 가다가 친구 집에 들렀어요 (I was going home, then stopped by my friend's house)
- 일하다가 쉬었어요 (I was working, then rested)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Interruption
A: 어제 뭐 했어요?
(What did you do yesterday?)
B: 영화를 보다가 잠들었어요.
(I fell asleep while watching a movie.)
Dialogue 2: Discovery
A: 그 반지 어떻게 찾았어요?
(How did you find that ring?)
B: 청소하다가 우연히 찾았어요.
(I found it by chance while cleaning.)
Dialogue 3: Brief Visit
A: 어디 가요?
(Where are you going?)
B: 은행에 갔다가 올게요. 금방 돌아올게요.
(I'll go to the bank and come back. I'll be back soon.)
Dialogue 4: Changed Action
A: 왜 늦었어요?
(Why were you late?)
B: 집에 가다가 친구를 만나서 얘기했어요.
(I met a friend while going home and talked.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가면서 잤어요
Using -면서 for interruption
✅ Correct: 가다가 잤어요
Use -다가 for interrupted actions
❌ Incorrect: 공부하는 다가
Adding extra ending
✅ Correct: 공부하다가
Simple stem + -다가
❌ Incorrect: 좋다가
Using with adjectives inappropriately
✅ Correct: 가다가 (verbs only)
-다가 works with action verbs
Usage Notes
Emphasis on Change/Interruption
-다가 specifically highlights:
- Interruption of first action
- Change to different action
- Unexpected event during action
- Temporary state that changes
Not for Continuous Simultaneous Actions
Don't use for true simultaneous actions:
- ❌ 음악을 듣다가 공부해요 (wrong - if truly simultaneous)
- ✅ 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 (listening and studying at same time)
- ✅ 음악을 듣다가 공부했어요 (was listening, then studied - change)
Comparison with Similar Expressions
-다가 vs -면서
-다가 (interrupted/changed):
- 공부하다가 잤어요 (Was studying, then fell asleep - interruption)
-면서 (simultaneous):
- 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 (Study while listening to music - at same time)
-다가 vs -는 동안
-다가 (change/interruption):
- 영화를 보다가 나왔어요 (Left while watching movie - interrupted)
-는 동안 (throughout period):
- 영화를 보는 동안 조용히 했어요 (Was quiet during entire movie - no interruption)
-다가 vs -고
-다가 (emphasizes interruption):
- 먹다가 그만뒀어요 (Stopped in middle of eating)
-고 (sequential, neutral):
- 먹고 그만뒀어요 (Ate and then stopped - finished eating first)
갔다가 vs 가고
갔다가 오다 (go and return):
- 편의점에 갔다가 왔어요 (Went to store and came back)
가고 오다 (go and come - separate actions):
- 학교에 가고 집에 왔어요 (Went to school and came home - sequential)
Summary Table
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb + -다가 | While doing, then... | 보다가, 먹다가 |
| -다가 + Verb | Was doing A, then did B | 보다가 잤어요 |
| -았/었다가 | Did and then (returned) | 갔다가 왔어요 |
| -다가 말다 | Start then stop | 하다가 말았어요 |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Interruption/change: Action stopped or changed
- ✅ Not simultaneous: Different from -면서
- ✅ Common with discoveries: Finding things while doing something
- ✅ 갔다가 오다: Very common pattern (go and return)
- ✅ Simple formation: Just add -다가 to verb stem
- ✅ Emphasizes transition: From one action to another
-다가 is essential for expressing interrupted or changed actions in Korean. It's particularly useful for talking about unexpected events, discoveries during activities, and temporary actions that change or return to the original state.