TL;DR 📝
- -고 connects two actions or states happening in sequence or at the same time, like "and" in English
- -아/어/여서 shows that one action is the reason or cause for another action, similar to "so" or "because"
- Choose -아서 after ㅏ/ㅗ vowels, -어서 after other vowels, and -여서 after 하다 verbs
What are linking verbs? 🔗
Sometimes you want to say more than one thing in a sentence! In Korean, we use special endings to connect verbs and adjectives together smoothly. The two most common ones are -고 and -아/어/여서.
Think of them as little bridges between your actions! 🌉
Using -고 (and) ➕
Add -고 to the verb stem when you want to connect two actions or descriptions.
Structure: Verb stem + 고
→ 저는 커피를 마시고 책을 읽어요.
(I drink coffee and read a book.)
→ 오늘은 날씨가 좋고 따뜻해요.
(Today the weather is nice and warm.)
→ 친구를 만나고 영화를 봤어요.
(I met my friend and watched a movie.)
-고 is super straightforward — just attach it to any verb stem! No vowel harmony needed. 😊
Using -아/어/여서 (so, because) 💡
Use -아/어/여서 when the first action causes or leads to the second action.
Structure:
- Verb stem + 아서 (after ㅏ or ㅗ vowels)
- Verb stem + 어서 (after other vowels)
- 하다 → 해서
→ 배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요.
(I was hungry, so I ate.)
→ 피곤해서 일찍 잤어요.
(I was tired, so I slept early.)
→ 비가 와서 집에 있었어요.
(It rained, so I stayed home.)
→ 재미있어서 또 봤어요.
(It was fun, so I watched it again.)
Quick comparison 🤔
-고 = neutral connection (and)
-아/어/여서 = cause and effect (so/because)
→ 음악을 듣고 공부해요.
(I listen to music and study.) — just two actions
→ 음악을 들어서 기분이 좋아요.
(I listen to music, so I feel good.) — music causes good mood
Important exceptions ⚠️
You can't use -아/어/여서 with commands or suggestions!
❌ 배고파서 빵을 드세요. (Wrong!)
✅ 배고프니까 빵을 드세요. (Use -니까 instead for commands)
Also, -아/어/여서 can't be used in past tense in the first clause:
❌ 어제 아팠어서 병원에 갔어요. (Wrong!)
✅ 어제 아파서 병원에 갔어요. (Correct!)
The reason part stays in present tense form, even if it happened in the past. The final verb shows the overall tense! ⏰
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