Example Sentences#

1. “아니에요, 저는 그러지 않았어요.¹
   “No, I didn’t do that.
   • 그러다 is a verb meaning ‘to do so’.
   • -지 않다 is a negation pattern, with 지 attached to the verb stem and 않다 as an auxiliary verb for negation.
2. “그러고 싶지만, 나는 시간이 많지 않아.²
   “I would like to, but I don’t have much time.
   • 그러다 means ‘to do so’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
3. 그러다 도둑은 나뭇가지를 붙잡고 겨우 나무 위로 올라갔습니다.³
   At that moment, the thief grabbed a tree branch and barely managed to climb up the tree.
   • 그러다 is a shortened form of 그러다가, formed from 그러다 (to do so) and -다가, a connective ending indicating the interruption, shift, or progression from one action or state to another, here conveying ‘while doing so…’ or ‘and then…’.
4. 그러면서 날마다 조금씩 더 내게 가까이 앉으면 돼…”²
   And as you do so, you can sit a little closer to me each day…”
   • 그러다 is a verb meaning ‘to do so’.
   • -면서 is a connective ending indicating simultaneous actions.