-다가 expresses an action that is interrupted or changed to another action. It means "while doing [A], then [B]" or "after doing [A] for a while, then [B]", indicating a turning point or switch in activity.
Structure
Verb stem + -다가
Breakdown:
- -다가: Connective ending showing interruption/change
- Only attaches to action verbs (not adjectives)
Literal meaning: "While doing [this], then [that]" / "After doing [this], then [that]"
Formation Rules
All Action Verbs: -다가
Uniform attachment:
- 가다 → 가다가 (while going, then...)
- 먹다 → 먹다가 (while eating, then...)
- 읽다 → 읽다가 (while reading, then...)
- 자다 → 자다가 (while sleeping, then...)
- 공부하다 → 공부하다가 (while studying, then...)
ㄹ Irregular: Keep ㄹ + -다가
No dropping of ㄹ:
- 살다 → 살다가 (while living, then...)
- 만들다 → 만들다가 (while making, then...)
- 팔다 → 팔다가 (while selling, then...)
하다 Verbs: -하다가
All 하다 verbs:
- 일하다 → 일하다가 (while working, then...)
- 운동하다 → 운동하다가 (while exercising, then...)
- 청소하다 → 청소하다가 (while cleaning, then...)
NOT Used with Adjectives
Only action verbs:
- ❌ 크다가 (incorrect - adjective)
- ❌ 좋다가 (incorrect - adjective)
- ✅ 가다가 (correct - action verb)
- ✅ 먹다가 (correct - action verb)
Core Meaning: Interrupted Actions
Stopping One Action for Another
Switching activities:
- 책을 읽다가 잤어요 (I was reading a book, then fell asleep)
- 공부하다가 친구를 만났어요 (I was studying, then met a friend)
- 걷다가 뛰었어요 (I was walking, then ran)
Temporary Interruption
Pausing and resuming:
- 밥을 먹다가 전화를 받았어요 (I was eating, then answered the phone)
- TV를 보다가 잠깐 나갔어요 (I was watching TV, then went out briefly)
- 일하다가 쉬었어요 (I was working, then took a break)
Discovering While Doing
Finding out during an action:
- 청소하다가 돈을 찾았어요 (While cleaning, I found money)
- 길을 걷다가 친구를 만났어요 (While walking, I met a friend)
- 책을 읽다가 좋은 정보를 봤어요 (While reading, I saw good information)
Common Usage Patterns
Sequential Actions
One action interrupted by another:
- 집에 가다가 카페에 들렀어요 (I was going home, then stopped by a cafe)
- 영화를 보다가 나왔어요 (I was watching a movie, then left)
- 노래하다가 춤췄어요 (I was singing, then danced)
Unintentional Interruptions
Unexpected events:
- 자다가 깼어요 (I was sleeping, then woke up)
- 걷다가 넘어졌어요 (I was walking, then fell)
- 운전하다가 사고가 났어요 (I was driving, then had an accident)
Changing Plans
Switching intentions:
- 사다가 안 샀어요 (I was going to buy it, but didn't)
- 가다가 돌아왔어요 (I was going, but came back)
- 하다가 그만뒀어요 (I was doing it, but stopped)
Tense with -다가
Past Actions: -다가
Interrupted past events:
- 어제 공부하다가 잤어요 (Yesterday I was studying, then fell asleep)
- 밥 먹다가 전화 받았어요 (While eating, I answered the phone)
Present/Habitual: -다가
Current or regular interruptions:
- 항상 일하다가 쉬어요 (I always work, then rest)
- 가끔 걷다가 뛰어요 (Sometimes I walk, then run)
Future Plans: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 after -다가
Planned interruptions:
- 공부하다가 쉴 거예요 (I'll study, then rest)
- 일하다가 집에 갈 거예요 (I'll work, then go home)
Common Expressions
Daily Activities
- 밥 먹다가 (while eating, then...)
- 공부하다가 (while studying, then...)
- 자다가 (while sleeping, then...)
- TV 보다가 (while watching TV, then...)
- 일하다가 (while working, then...)
Movement Verbs
- 가다가 (while going, then...)
- 오다가 (while coming, then...)
- 걷다가 (while walking, then...)
- 뛰다가 (while running, then...)
- 운전하다가 (while driving, then...)
Discoveries
- 청소하다가 찾았어요 (while cleaning, found it)
- 걷다가 만났어요 (while walking, met [someone])
- 보다가 알았어요 (while watching/looking, realized)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 책을 읽다가 잤습니다 (I was reading a book, then fell asleep)
- 일하다가 쉬었습니다 (I was working, then rested)
Polite (해요체)
- 공부하다가 잤어요 (I was studying, then fell asleep)
- 걷다가 넘어졌어요 (I was walking, then fell)
Casual (반말)
- 먹다가 남겼어 (I was eating, then left some)
- 보다가 나왔어 (I was watching, then came out)
Negative Forms
Didn't Do After Starting
안 + Second Verb:
- 사다가 안 샀어요 (I was going to buy it, but didn't)
- 가다가 안 갔어요 (I was going to go, but didn't)
Couldn't Continue
못 + Second Verb:
- 먹다가 못 먹었어요 (I was eating, but couldn't continue)
- 하다가 못 했어요 (I was doing it, but couldn't continue)
Stopped Doing
그만두다 / 멈추다 as second verb:
- 일하다가 그만뒀어요 (I was working, then quit)
- 읽다가 멈췄어요 (I was reading, then stopped)
Special Pattern: -다가 -다가
Alternating Actions
Repeated switching:
- 자다가 깨다가 했어요 (I kept sleeping and waking up)
- 웃다가 울다가 했어요 (I kept laughing and crying)
- 가다가 서다가 했어요 (I kept going and stopping)
Emphasizes back-and-forth behavior
-다가 vs Similar Patterns
-다가 vs -(으)면서
-다가: Interrupted action (sequential)
- 밥 먹다가 전화 받았어요 (I was eating, then answered the phone)
-(으)면서: Simultaneous actions
- 밥 먹으면서 전화 받았어요 (I ate while talking on the phone)
-다가 vs -고
-다가: Interrupted/changed action
- 공부하다가 잤어요 (I was studying, then fell asleep - studying stopped)
-고: Simple sequential actions
- 공부하고 잤어요 (I studied and then slept - completed studying first)
-다가 vs -아/어서
-다가: Emphasis on interruption
- 책 읽다가 나갔어요 (I was reading, then went out - reading interrupted)
-아/어서: Cause/sequence without interruption emphasis
- 책 읽어서 나갔어요 (I read a book and then went out - less natural)
Question Forms
Asking About Interruptions
- 뭐 하다가 왔어요? (What were you doing before you came?)
- 언제 자다가 깼어요? (When did you wake up while sleeping?)
- 어디 가다가 만났어요? (Where were you going when you met?)
Expressing Surprise
- 뭐 하다가 넘어졌어요? (What were you doing when you fell?)
- 어떻게 하다가 잃어버렸어요? (How did you lose it? - What were you doing?)
Summary Table
| Verb Type | Stem | -다가 Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic verb | 가다 | 가다가 | while going, then... |
| Consonant | 먹다 | 먹다가 | while eating, then... |
| ㄹ irregular | 살다 | 살다가 | while living, then... |
| 하다 verb | 공부하다 | 공부하다가 | while studying, then... |
| Movement | 걷다 | 걷다가 | while walking, then... |
| State change | 자다 | 자다가 | while sleeping, then... |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Interrupted actions: One action stopped for another
- ✅ Only action verbs: NOT used with adjectives
- ✅ Uniform formation: Always -다가
- ✅ Turning point: Emphasizes change or interruption
- ✅ Discovery pattern: Finding things while doing something
- ✅ Natural speech: Very common in everyday Korean
-다가 is essential for expressing interrupted or changed actions in Korean, making your speech sound more natural and dynamic when describing sequences of events.