-고 is a connector meaning "and," used to link verbs, adjectives, and actions in sequence or simultaneously.
Structure
Verb/Adjective stem + -고
Meaning: "And" / "And then" / "While"
Formation
With Verbs
Stem + -고:
- 가다 → 가고 (go and)
- 먹다 → 먹고 (eat and)
- 보다 → 보고 (see/watch and)
- 자다 → 자고 (sleep and)
- 공부하다 → 공부하고 (study and)
With Adjectives
Stem + -고:
- 좋다 → 좋고 (good and)
- 크다 → 크고 (big and)
- 예쁘다 → 예쁘고 (pretty and)
- 재미있다 → 재미있고 (fun and)
With 이다 (Copula)
Noun + 이고/고:
- 학생이고 (student and)
- 의사고 (doctor and)
- 선생님이고 (teacher and)
Core Meanings
Sequential Actions
Actions in sequence (and then):
- 일어나고 씻어요 (I wake up and then wash)
- 밥을 먹고 학교에 가요 (I eat and then go to school)
- 영화를 보고 집에 왔어요 (I watched a movie and then came home)
Simultaneous States
Multiple states at once:
- 예쁘고 착해요 (Pretty and kind)
- 크고 무거워요 (Big and heavy)
- 싸고 좋아요 (Cheap and good)
Listing Items/Actions
Complete enumeration:
- 사과, 배, 바나나를 사고 집에 왔어요 (I bought apples, pears, and bananas and came home)
Sequential Actions
Time Order: First... Then...
Actions following in order:
- 샤워하고 자요 (Shower and then sleep)
- 숙제하고 놀아요 (Do homework and then play)
- 운동하고 밥 먹어요 (Exercise and then eat)
Must Complete First Action
First action completed before second:
- 손을 씻고 먹어요 (Wash hands and then eat - must wash first)
- 문을 닫고 나갔어요 (Closed the door and then left)
Listing Multiple Items
Two Items
- 크고 예뻐요 (Big and pretty)
- 싸고 좋아요 (Cheap and good)
- 먹고 마셔요 (Eat and drink)
Three or More Items
- 착하고, 예쁘고, 똑똑해요 (Kind, pretty, and smart)
- 일어나고, 씻고, 옷을 입어요 (Wake up, wash, and get dressed)
Complete List Implication
-고 implies listing all items:
- 사과하고 배를 샀어요 (I bought apples and pears - only these two)
Simultaneous States/Qualities
Multiple Characteristics
Describing with multiple adjectives:
- 크고 빨갛다 (Big and red)
- 예쁘고 착하다 (Pretty and kind)
- 싸고 맛있다 (Cheap and delicious)
Multiple Roles/Identities
- 학생이고 아르바이트생이에요 (I'm a student and part-timer)
- 친구고 동료예요 (Friend and colleague)
Politeness Levels
Formal (합니다체)
- 가고 옵니다 (go and come)
- 예쁘고 좋습니다 (pretty and good)
Polite (해요체)
- 가고 와요 (go and come)
- 예쁘고 좋아요 (pretty and good)
Casual (반말)
- 가고 와 (go and come)
- 예쁘고 좋아 (pretty and good)
Common Patterns
Verb + -고 + Verb
Sequential actions:
- 먹고 자요 (Eat and sleep)
- 읽고 써요 (Read and write)
- 보고 듣고 배워요 (Watch, listen, and learn)
Adjective + -고 + Adjective
Multiple qualities:
- 크고 무거워요 (Big and heavy)
- 싸고 좋아요 (Cheap and good)
- 빠르고 정확해요 (Fast and accurate)
Daily Routines
- 일어나고 씻고 밥을 먹어요 (Wake up, wash, and eat)
- 회사에 가고 일하고 집에 와요 (Go to work, work, and come home)
-고 vs Other Connectors
-고 (And)
Complete list, sequence:
- 사과하고 배 (Apples and pears - only these)
- Sequential or simultaneous
-(이)랑/하고 (And - Nouns)
Casual noun connector:
- 친구랑 영화 봤어요 (Watched a movie with friend)
- More casual than -고
-아/어서 (Because/So)
Cause and effect:
- 배고파서 먹어요 (Hungry so I eat)
- Shows reason, not just sequence
-(으)니까 (Since/Because)
Reason:
- 비가 오니까 우산 가져가요 (Since it's raining, take an umbrella)
Negative Forms
안/못 + Verb + -고
- 안 먹고 자요 (Don't eat and sleep)
- 못 가고 있어요 (Can't go and am staying)
Verb + -지 않고
- 먹지 않고 자요 (Don't eat and sleep)
- 가지 않고 여기 있어요 (Don't go and stay here)
Special Pattern: -고 있다
Progressive Aspect
Currently doing:
- 먹고 있어요 (I'm eating - currently)
- 공부하고 있어요 (I'm studying)
Note: Different meaning from listing -고
Common Expressions
Daily Activities
- 일어나고 씻어요 (Wake up and wash)
- 밥 먹고 나가요 (Eat and go out)
- 공부하고 자요 (Study and sleep)
- 운동하고 샤워해요 (Exercise and shower)
Descriptions
- 예쁘고 착해요 (Pretty and kind)
- 싸고 좋아요 (Cheap and good)
- 크고 편해요 (Big and comfortable)
Work/School
- 회사 가고 일해요 (Go to work and work)
- 학교 가고 공부해요 (Go to school and study)
Question Forms
뭐 하고 뭐 해요?
What and what do you do?:
- 주말에 뭐 하고 뭐 해요? (What do you do on weekends? - listing activities)
Time Gaps
-고 Can Have Time Gap
Actions don't need to be immediate:
- 밥 먹고 2시간 후에 나갔어요 (I ate and then 2 hours later went out)
- Time can pass between actions
Immediate Sequence: -자마자
For immediate succession:
- 일어나자마자 커피를 마셔요 (Drink coffee as soon as I wake up)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 가고서
Redundant addition
✅ Correct: 가고
Just -고 is enough
❌ Incorrect: 학생고
Missing copula
✅ Correct: 학생이고
Need 이 after consonant
Multiple -고 in Sentence
Chaining Actions
Can use multiple -고:
- 일어나고, 씻고, 밥 먹고, 학교 가요 (Wake up, wash, eat, and go to school)
Natural Limit
Usually 3-4 items max:
- Too many -고 can sound repetitive
- Consider breaking into multiple sentences
Summary Table
| Usage | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential verbs | 먹고 자요 | eat and then sleep |
| Multiple adjectives | 크고 예뻐요 | big and pretty |
| Daily routine | 일어나고 씻어요 | wake up and wash |
| Identities | 학생이고 친구예요 | student and friend |
| Negation | 안 먹고 자요 | don't eat and sleep |