Example Sentences#

1. 자전거 타고 나서 치맥 먹자.¹
   Let’s have some after biking.

   • 타다 means ‘to ride’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

2. “세상이 날마다 더 좁아지고 있어.²
   “The world is getting narrower every day.

   • 좁다 means ‘to be narrow’.
   • -아지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

3. 걷고 나면 보이는 길은 왜일까³
   Why do the roads only reveal themselves after I walk?

   • 걷다 means ‘to walk’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

4. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.⁴
   Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.

   • 가다 means ‘to go’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

5. 그러나 노인은 단지 “좋을 수도 있고, 나쁠 수도 있습니다”라고 대답했습니다.⁵
   However, the old man just answered, “It could be good, or it could be bad.”

   • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
   • ㄹ 수 있다 forms a grammar pattern that expresses ability or possibility. Adding 도 implies this possibility exists alongside others, shifting the nuance from ‘can’ to ‘might’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

6. 가슴이 뛰고 있잖아⁶
   My heart is racing

   • 뛰다 means ‘to race’ or ‘to pulsate’.
   • 가슴이 뛰다 is an expression meaning one’s heart is beating strongly, whether due to excitement, love, anticipation, fear, or other strong emotions.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

7. 큰 사건도 없는데, 사람들 이야기가 너무 진짜 같고, 그래서 더 감동적이었어.⁷
   Even though there’s no big event, the people’s stories seem so real, so it was more touching.

   • 같다 means ‘to be like’ or ‘to seem’.
   • 고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’.

8. 경험에 따르면, 누군가 제 곁에 있으면 그 사람의 성격이 저를 방해하고 자유를 제한합니다.⁸
   In my experience, if someone is beside me, their personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom.

   • 방해하다 means ‘to disturb’ or ‘to hinder’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

9. “라사로야, 오늘은 너와 이 포도를 똑같이 나누어 먹고 싶구나.⁹
   “Lazaro, today I want to share these grapes evenly with you.

   • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

10. 떨어질까 두려운 꽃잎을 꽉 쥐고¹⁰
    Clutching petals, afraid they might fall

    • 쥐다 means ‘to hold’ or ‘to grip’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs. In this lyrical context, -고 leaves the thought open-ended, acting as a verbal pause or ellipsis that implies continuity or an unspoken connection, common in reflective or lyrical texts.

11. 우리는 끝없는 검은 바다 한가운데 있는 고요한 무지의 섬에 살고 있으며, 멀리 나가는 것은 우리에게 맞지 않았습니다.¹¹
    We live on a quiet island of ignorance in the middle of an endless black sea, and it was not meant for us to venture far.

    • 살다 means ‘to live’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

12. 두 명의 스님, 한 명은 나이 든 스님이고 다른 한 명은 젊은 스님이 함께 여행하고 있었다.¹²
    Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.

    • 스님 means ‘monk’.
    • 이다 is the verb ‘to be’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

13. 가둔 세상을 부수고 싶었어¹³
    I wanted to break the world that confined us.

    • 부수다 means ‘to break’ or ‘to destroy’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

14. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.¹⁴
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.

    • 살다 means ‘to live’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

15. 나 떡볶이 먹고 싶어.¹⁵
    I want to eat tteokbokki.

    • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

16. 민준: 오케이, 그럼 이번 주말엔 한강에서 자전거 타고 치맥 먹는 걸로!¹
    Minjun: Okay, then this weekend, let’s ride bikes at the Han River and have chicken and beer!

    • 타다 means ‘to ride’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

17. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.²
    At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.

    • 두렵다 means ‘to be afraid’.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

18. 멈추지 않고 나아가고 싶어³
    I want to keep moving forward

    • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

19. “여기에는 어떤 사람들이 살고 있나요?”⁴
    “What kind of people live here?”

    • 살다 means ‘to live’.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.

20. 몇 달 후 그 말이 돌아왔고, 몇 마리의 다른 말도 데리고 왔습니다.⁵
    A few months later, the horse returned, bringing a few other horses.

    • 돌아오다 is a compound verb formed by 돌다 (to turn) and 오다 (to come), meaning ‘to return’.
    • 았 is a past tense marker.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.