Simultaneous & Alternate Actions In Korean (...기도 하고 ...기도하다)

Author
Written byLee Min-jung (이민정)

In Korean grammar, ...기도 하고 ...기도하다 is a versatile structure.

It's used to express two actions or states that either occur simultaneously or alternately.

Essentially, it can convey the idea of "both X and Y" or "sometimes X and sometimes Y", contingent on the context.

Grammar Rule: For simultaneous actions, use ...기도 하고 ...기도하다 to indicate "both X and Y".

For alternate actions, the same structure means "sometimes X and sometimes Y".

Examples of simultaneous actions

When I think about moving to a new country I'm both happy and sad.
The baby sneezed and yawned at the same time.
This meal is both light and filling.
Today I packed my suitcases and did some exercise too.
Ramen is inexpensive and easy to prepare.
Jun Yeong is smart and muscular too.

Examples of alternate actions

When I think about moving to a new country sometimes I'm happy about it and sometimes I'm sad.
When I was a primary school student sometimes I combed my hair and sometimes I wore a cap.
Sometimes I catch the bus to university and sometimes I cycle.
When I was young, sometimes I played with dolls and sometimes I played with Lego.
Sometimes I buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the market and sometimes from the supermarket.

Conclusion

The structure ...기도 하고 ...기도하다 in Korean serves as a powerful tool to describe simultaneous or alternate states and actions.

By mastering this structure, learners can convey a broader range of emotions and situations in their conversations.

Practice using these patterns in your sentences to achieve a more natural flow in your Korean conversations.

  • Share this:
  • Facebook
  • X
Let's dive into the Korean grammar structure ...기도 하고 ...기도하다, which denotes both simultaneous and alternate actions or states.
Subscribe
Get the Korean content that I don't share publicly to your inbox:
🇰🇷 Learn Korean
This online learn Korean resource guide is for anyone who wants to learn the Korean language. My goal is to help you learn Korean grammar and phrases, and share the best Korean resources to help you learn.
Get the Korean content that I don't share publicly to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE:
Korean Language Guide
Lee Min-jung (이민정)
어디든 가치가 있는 곳으로 가려면 지름길은 없다.Learn Korean here.Make sure to subscribe.
© Korean Language Guide, 2024. Contact