Grammar
-고
Meaning
Beginner-go
A basic connective ending that joins two clauses of similar structure, meaning 'and'. It's often used to simply list two facts, or to show two actions happening in order, without implying that one causes the other.
Form
Attaches directly to a verb or adjective stem regardless of the final sound: 가다 → 가고, 먹다 → 먹고, 좋다 → 좋고. Unlike -아서/어서, a past-tense marker can optionally attach before -고 in the first clause (밥을 먹었고 학교에 갔다), though it's common to leave tense out of the first clause and mark it only in the final one. Doesn't require the same subject in both clauses.
Examples
여자는 치마를 입고, 남자는 바지를 입습니다.
Women wear a chima, and men wear baji.
낮에도 덥고 밤에도 덥습니다.
It's hot during the day, and it's hot at night too.
아이들은 세배를 하고 세뱃돈을 받아요.
Children bow to their elders and receive New Year's money.
Common mistakes & nuance
-고 doesn't imply a causal relationship between the two clauses — it just presents two facts or actions together. Don't confuse the connector -고 with the fixed patterns -고 있다 (progressive, 'is doing') or -고 싶다 ('want to') — those are separate expressions that happen to also use -고.
Similar grammar
- -아서/어서
-아서/어서 implies the first clause is the reason or a necessary step for the second, and can't take a past-tense marker before it, while plain -고 simply lists or sequences two facts or actions without that implication.
- -지만
-지만 connects two clauses that contrast with each other ('but'), while -고 connects clauses that simply go together or get listed side by side ('and').
- -고 있다
-고 있다 is a separate, fixed pattern meaning an action is in progress ('is doing') — it isn't just the connector -고 attached in front of the verb 있다, so don't confuse the two uses of -고.