Giving Additional Information with '고' — Korean Grammar

The particle (gogogoko) is a connective ending used to link two or more verbs or adjectives together. It functions similarly to the English word and. It attaches directly to the verb stem.

To form this, simply remove (dadadata) from the dictionary form of the verb or adjective and attach (gogogoko).

(ga·daga·daga·daka·ta) (to go) → (gagagaka) + (gogogoko) → (ga·goga·goga·goka·ko)
(mŏk·dameok·damŏk·damek·ta) (to eat) → (mŏkmeokmŏkmek) + (gogogoko) → (mŏk·gomeok·gomŏk·gomek·ko)

Listing Sequential Actions

The most common use of (gogogoko) is to list actions that happen one after another. The order of the verbs in the sentence usually reflects the order in which the actions occur.

손을 씻고 밥을 먹어요.
son·ŭl ssit·go ba·bŭl mŏ·gŏ·yo.son·eul ssit·go ba·beul meo·geo·yo.son·ŭl ssit·go ba·bŭl mŏ·gŏ·yo.son·ul ssit·ko pa·pul me·ke·yo.
I wash my hands and eat a meal.
숙제를 하고 자요.
suk·je·rŭl ha·go ja·yo.suk·je·reul ha·go ja·yo.suk·je·rŭl ha·go ja·yo.suk·cey·lul ha·ko ca·yo.
I do homework and sleep.

Listing Characteristics

When used with adjectives, (gogogoko) lists different states or characteristics of a single subject. In this case, the order does not indicate a time sequence; it is simply a list of equal traits.

이 가방은 싸고 예뻐요.
i ga·bang·ŭn ssa·go ye·bbŏ·yo.i ga·bang·eun ssa·go ye·bbeo·yo.i ga·bang·ŭn ssa·go ye·ppŏ·yo.i ka·pang·un ssa·ko yey·ppe·yo.
This bag is cheap and pretty.
한국어는 재미있고 쉬워요.
han·gu·gŏ·nŭn jæ·mi·it·go swi·wŏ·yo.han·gu·geo·neun jae·mi·it·go swi·wŏ·yo.han·gu·gŏ·nŭn jae·mi·it·go shwi·wŏ·yo.han·ku·ke·nun cay·mi·it·ko sui·wŏ·yo.
Korean is interesting and easy.

Tense Marking

A crucial rule for beginners is that the tense is usually marked only on the final verb of the sentence. The first verb (attached to (gogogoko)) remains in its base form, even if the sentence refers to the past or future. The tense of the final verb applies to the entire sentence.

어제 친구를 만나고 영화를 봤어요.
ŏ·je chin·gu·rŭl man·na·go yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwat·sŏ·yo.eo·je jin·gu·reul man·na·go yeong·hwa·reul bwat·seo·yo.ŏ·je chin·gu·rŭl man·na·go yŏng·hwa·rŭl bwat·sŏ·yo.e·cey cin·ku·lul man·na·ko yeng·hwa·lul pwat·se·yo.
Yesterday I met a friend and saw a movie.
내일 쇼핑하고 밥을 먹을 거예요.
næ·il syo·pʰing·ha·go ba·bŭl mŏ·gŭl gŏ·ye·yo.nae·il syo·ping·ha·go ba·beul meo·geul geo·ye·yo.nae·il syo·p'ing·ha·go ba·bŭl mŏ·gŭl gŏ·ye·yo.nay·il syo·phing·ha·ko pa·pul me·kul ke·yey·yo.
Tomorrow I will go shopping and eat a meal.

Adding Additional Information

While (gogogoko) is primarily a connector, it can also appear at the end of a sentence. This occurs when a speaker finishes a sentence but then wants to add an "afterthought" or supplementary information. When used this way, it is often combined with (yo) for politeness ( (go·yogo·yogo·yoko·yo)) and frequently includes the particle (dododoto) (also/too) in the phrase.

오늘은 배가 고파요. 목도 마르고요.
o·nŭ·rŭn bæ·ga go·pʰa·yo. mok·do ma·rŭ·go·yo.o·neu·reun bae·ga go·pa·yo. mok·do ma·reu·go·yo.o·nŭ·rŭn bae·ga go·p'a·yo. mok·do ma·rŭ·go·yo.o·nu·lun pay·ka ko·pha·yo. mok·to ma·lu·ko·yo.
I am hungry today. And thirsty, too.
시간이 없어요. 돈도 없고요.
si·ga·ni ŏp·sŏ·yo. don·do ŏp·go·yo.si·ga·ni eop·seo·yo. don·do eop·go·yo.si·ga·ni ŏp·sŏ·yo. don·do ŏp·go·yo.si·ka·ni ep·se·yo. ton·to ep·ko·yo.
I don't have time. And I don't have money, either.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

30 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 27. A few of them, with the words “Giving Additional Information with '고'” is about in bold:

저희 아이들을 너무 사랑하고 아이들도 저를 너무 사랑해요.
chŏ·hi a·i·dŭr·ŭl nŏ·mu sa·rang·ha go a·i·dŭl do jŏ·rŭl nŏ·mu sa·rang·hæ·yo.jeo·hi a·i·deur·eul neo·mu sa·rang·ha go a·i·deul do jeo·reul neo·mu sa·rang·hae·yo.chŏ·hi a·i·dŭr·ŭl nŏ·mu sa·rang·ha go a·i·dŭl do jŏ·rŭl nŏ·mu sa·rang·hae·yo.ce·hi a·i·tur·ul ne·mu sa·lang·ha ko a·i·tul to ce·lul ne·mu sa·lang·hay·yo.
I love them and they love me.
Lesson 32
완전 좋아요! 아픈데 없고 건강해요.
wan·jŏn jo·a·yo! a·pʰŭn de ŏp go gŏn·gang·hæ·yo.wan·jeon jo·a·yo! a·peun de eop go geon·gang·hae·yo.wan·jŏn jo·a·yo! a·p'ŭn de ŏp go gŏn·gang·hae·yo.wan·cen co·a·yo! a·phun tey ep ko ken·kang·hay·yo.
I feel great! I am not sick. I am healthy.
Lesson 64
그녀의 차는 느리고 저렴한 편이에요.
kŭ·nyŏ·ŭi chʰa·nŭn nŭ·ri go jŏ·ryŏm·han pʰyŏn i·e·yo.geu·nyeo·ui cha·neun neu·ri go jeo·ryeom·han pyeon i·e·yo.kŭ·nyŏ·ŭi ch'a·nŭn nŭ·ri go jŏ·ryŏm·han p'yŏn i·e·yo.ku·nye·uy cha·nun nu·li ko ce·lyem·han phyen i·ey·yo.
She has a slow, cheap car.
Lesson 110

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