I. Examples
-아/어서 is a grammatical construction that signifies that the action in the second clause occurs after the action in the first clause, and the two actions are closely linked in a way that the second action depends on the first. In English, this structure can be translated as ‘and’ or ‘(in order) to’.
<Example 1>
- 우리는 세 시간 동안 카페에 앉아서 이야기했어요.
(We sat in the cafe and talked for three hours.)
<Example 2>
- 친구 동생에게 건담 로봇을 사서 주었어요.
(I bought a Gundam robot and
gave it to my friend’s younger sibling.)
<Example 3>
- 수지는 사과를 깎아서 먹었어요.
(Suzy peeled an apple and ate it.)
II. Grammar Point
1. Transformation Examples
V-아/어서 construction is formed by adding -아서 to stems ending in the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ (가다 + -어서 –> 가서). Otherwise, -어서 is used (씻다 + -어서 –> 씻어서). For verbs ending in 하다, 해서 is added(결혼하다 + -어서 –> 결혼해서).
A. Stem Ending in ㅏ or ㅗ –> -아서
- 가다 + -아서 –> 가서
- 오다 + -아서 –> 와서 (오 + ㅏ)
- 사다 + -아서 –> 사서
- 만나다 + -아서 –> 만나서
- 앉다 + -아서 –> 앉아
B. Steam Ending in Vowel Other Than ㅏ or ㅗ –> -어서
- 씻다 + -어서 –> 씻어서
- 이다 + -어서 –> 이어서
- 만들다 + -어서 –> 만들어서
- 벌다(earn) + -어서 –> 벌어서
C. Verb Ending in 하다 –> -해서
- 요리하다 + -해서 –> 요리해서
- 공부하다 + -해서 –> 공부해서
- 입학하다 + -해서 –> 입학해서
D. Irregular Forms
- 쓰다 –> 써서
- 굽다(bake) –> 구워서
2. The Same Subject of Both Verbs
- 제이슨은 어제 철수를 만나서 (제이슨은) 영화를 봤어요. (O)
(Jason met Cheolsu yesterday and (Jason) watched a movie.)
제이슨은 어제 철수를 만나서 철수는 영화를 봤어요. (X)
3. The 2nd Verb = The Overall Tense
- 제이슨은 어제 철수를 만나서 (제이슨은) 영화를 봤어요.
(Jason met Cheolsu yesterday and watched a movie.)
- 제이슨은 내일 철수를 만나서 (제이슨은) 영화를 볼 거에요.
(Jason will meet Cheolsu tomorrow and will watch a movie.)
4. – 고 vs -아/어서
A. -고 –> Two Unrelated Actions
<Example 1> 샤인머스켓을 씻고 먹어요.
The sentence can be translated to ‘(I/You) wash and eat Shine Muscat. However, there is no 100% causal relationship between washing the Shine Muscat and eating it here. While the contextual relationship may be clear, it would not be strange at all to wash the Shine Muscat and then eat something else. One thing that is clear is that after eating the Shine Muscat, whether it is the Shine Muscat itself or something else, will be consumed.
<Example 2> 친구를 만나고 연극을 봤어요.
Similarly, this sentence can also be interpreted as “I met a friend and watched a play.” Depending on the context, there is not a 100% causal relationship that indicates I watched the play exclusively with the friend I met. I could have watched it alone, with a third party, or even with another friend I met. These nuances might make Korean seem difficult, but it is important to remember that these are examples meant for explaining grammar. Someone proficient in Korean would accurately specify or describe who they watched with. So, do not get discouraged by any confusion. Keep up the good work in learning Korean!
B. -아/어서 –> Very Closely Related Actions
<Exmaple 1> 샤인머스켓을 씻어서 먹어요.
- (I/You) wash the Shine Muscat and
- eat the Shine Muscat that I washed
<Example 2> 친구를 만나서 연극을 봤어요.
- I met a friend and
- watched a play (with the friend that I met).
5. Verbs Related to Wearing, Use -고
When it comes to verbs related to wearing, use -고 instead of -아/어서. Such verbs include 입다(wear), 안경 또는 우산을 쓰다(put on glasses, raise the umbrella), 가방을 매다 (hang the bag). It might be confusing, but thinking about it this way could make it a bit easier. Wearing is seen as a means, so there is not a 100% causal relationship between wearing and the subsequent action.
- 가디건을 입어서 공부해요. (X)
(Because I wear a cardigan, I study.)
–> 가디건을 입고 공부해요. (O)
(I put on a cardigan and study)
- 철수가 안경을 써서 책을 봐요. (X)
(Because Cheolsu puts on glasses,
he reads books.)
–> 철수가 안경을 쓰고 책을 봐요. (O)
(Cheolsu puts on glasses and reads books.)
- 회사원들이 우산을 써서 여의도를 걷고 있어요. (X)
(Because the office workers are using umbrellas,
they are walking around Yeouido.)
–> 회사원들이 우산을 쓰고 여의도를 걷고 있어요. (O)
(The office workers are using umbrellas and
walking around Yeouido.)
III. Practice
- 퇴근하고 코인 노래방에 ___ 노래할 거에요. (가다)
- 우리는 김밥을 ___ 먹지 않고 ___ 먹어요. (사다 / 만들다)
- 오늘 저녁은 내가 직접 ___ 먹을 거에요. (요리하다)