And, But, So: 그리고, 그런데, -고, -지만
Link your ideas with 그리고, 그런데, 하지만, 그래서 and join two sentences into one with -고 and -지만.
Mr. Gaon · Grammar, vocabulary & TOPIKWhat you will learn in this lesson
- Connect two sentences with 그리고, 그래서, 하지만 and 그런데
- Join clauses with -고 (and, and then)
- Join clauses with -지만 (but)
- Tell a short story about your day with connected sentences
Hello! Until now, your Korean sentences have been short and separate, like single bricks. Today we learn the cement that holds them together. Your Korean will start to sound much more fluent.
Two tools: linking words and linking endings
Korean connects ideas in two ways.
1. Linking words stand at the start of the second sentence: 그리고 (and), 그래서 (so), 하지만 (but), 그런데 (but / by the way). You keep two full sentences with a period between them.
2. Linking endings attach to the verb of the first sentence and make one longer sentence: -고 (and), -지만 (but).
Both ways are correct. Linking words are very easy for beginners, because you do not change any verb. Linking endings sound smoother and are used a lot in speech and writing. Let’s learn the words first.
Four linking words
| Word | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 그리고 | and, and also | adds more information or the next action |
| 그래서 | so, therefore | the second sentence is a result of the first |
| 하지만 | but, however | a clear contrast; a little formal, common in writing |
| 그런데 | but; by the way | a softer contrast in speech, or a change of topic |
In fast speech, 그런데 is often shortened to 근데. It is fine with friends but less suitable in formal writing.
Linking words in action
- 아침에 운동을 했어요. 그리고 샤워를 했어요. [아치메 운동을 해써요. 그리고 샤워를 해써요] achime undongeul haesseoyo. geurigo syaworeul haesseoyo. I exercised in the morning. And then I took a shower.
- 비가 왔어요. 그래서 집에 있었어요. [비가 와써요. 그래서 지베 이써써요] biga wasseoyo. geuraeseo jibe isseosseoyo. It rained. So I stayed home.
- 한국어는 어려워요. 하지만 재미있어요. [한구거는 어려워요. 하지만 재미이써요] hangugeoneun eoryeowoyo. hajiman jaemiisseoyo. Korean is difficult. But it is fun.
- 이 식당은 맛있어요. 그런데 좀 비싸요. [이 식땅은 마시써요. 그런데 좀 비싸요] i sikdangeun masisseoyo. geureonde jom bissayo. This restaurant is tasty. But it is a bit expensive.
- 그런데 내일 시간 있어요? geureonde naeil sigan isseoyo? By the way, do you have time tomorrow? 그런데 can change the topic.
and; and then
- Add -고 to the stem of the first verb or adjective. The stem never changes: 듣다 → 듣고, 살다 → 살고.
- Listing: two facts or qualities. 이 방은 넓고 밝아요 (This room is big and bright).
- Order: first action, then the next. 손을 씻고 밥을 먹어요 (I wash my hands and then eat).
- Put the tense only on the last verb: 어제 영화를 보고 집에 갔어요 (Yesterday I watched a movie and went home).
- For nouns, use 이고/고: 저는 학생이고 제 친구는 회사원이에요.
- 이 카페는 조용하고 커피가 맛있어요. [이 카페는 조용하고 커피가 마시써요] i kapeneun joyonghago keopiga masisseoyo.This café is quiet, and the coffee is good.
- 숙제를 하고 잤어요. [숙쩨를 하고 자써요] sukjereul hago jasseoyo.I did my homework and then went to sleep.
- 저는 음악을 듣고 동생은 책을 읽어요. [저는 으마글 듣꼬 동생은 채글 일거요] jeoneun eumageul deutgo dongsaengeun chaegeul ilgeoyo.I listen to music, and my younger sibling reads a book.
- 형은 키가 크고 저는 키가 작아요. [형은 키가 크고 저는 키가 자가요] hyeongeun kiga keugo jeoneun kiga jagayo.My older brother is tall, and I am short.
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Here is the rule that surprises many learners: with -고, you normally put the past tense only at the end. 보고 갔어요 already means "watched and went". You don’t need 봤고 for a simple sequence.
but, although
- Add -지만 to the stem. The stem never changes: 춥다 → 춥지만, 듣다 → 듣지만.
- Past contrast: put the tense on the first verb too: 공부했지만 시험이 어려웠어요.
- Future: 갈 거지만 (I will go, but…).
- Nouns: 이지만/지만: 비싼 옷이지만 / 친구지만.
- A set phrase: 죄송하지만 … (I’m sorry, but …) — a polite way to start a request.
- 김치는 맵지만 맛있어요. [김치는 맵찌만 마시써요] gimchineun maepjiman masisseoyo.Kimchi is spicy, but it is tasty.
- 열심히 공부했지만 시험이 어려웠어요. [열씸히 공부핻찌만 시허미 어려워써요] yeolsimhi gongbuhaetjiman siheomi eoryeowosseoyo.I studied hard, but the exam was difficult.
- 오늘은 춥지만 내일은 따뜻할 거예요. [오느른 춥찌만 내이른 따뜨탈 꺼예요] oneureun chupjiman naeireun ttatteutal geoyeyo.Today is cold, but tomorrow will probably be warm.
- 죄송하지만 사진 좀 찍어 주세요. [죄송하지만 사진 좀 찌거 주세요] joesonghajiman sajin jom jjigeo juseyo.I’m sorry to ask, but could you take a photo for me?
Same idea, different style
- 피곤해요. 그리고 배고파요. pigonhaeyo. geurigo baegopayo. I’m tired. And I’m hungry. Two sentences with a linking word. Clear and easy.
- 피곤하고 배고파요. pigonhago baegopayo. I’m tired and hungry. One smooth sentence with -고.
- 비싸요. 하지만 좋아요. bissayo. hajiman joayo. It’s expensive. But it’s good. 하지만 makes a strong, clear contrast.
- 비싸지만 좋아요. bissajiman joayo. It’s expensive, but good. -지만 joins the contrast into one sentence.
그래서 vs -고: reason or just order?
Be careful: -고 only shows "and" or "and then". It does not clearly show a reason. If the second sentence is the result of the first, use 그래서: 배가 아팠어요. 그래서 병원에 갔어요 (My stomach hurt. So I went to the hospital).
In the intermediate level, you will learn -아서/어서, which joins a reason into one sentence. For now, 그래서 is a perfect and natural choice.
Talking about the weekend
Words from this lesson
- 그리고 geurigo and
- 그래서 geuraeseo so
- 하지만 hajiman but, however
- 그런데 geureonde but; by the way
- 하루 종일 haru jongil all day long
- 편하다 pyeonhada to be comfortable
Check quiz
Q1. "This room is big and bright." Fill in: 이 방은 넓___ 밝아요.
Q2. "Kimchi is spicy, but tasty."
Q3. It rained. ___ I stayed home. Choose the best word.
Q4. "Yesterday I ate dinner and then watched TV." Which is most natural?
Q5. Which word can also mean "by the way"?
Q6. "I studied hard, but the exam was difficult."
Well done! Try writing four or five sentences about yesterday using 그리고, 그래서, -고 and -지만. When you read them aloud, you will hear how natural your Korean has become.
Key points
- Linking words: 그리고 (and), 그래서 (so), 하지만 (but), 그런데 (but / by the way).
- -고 lists facts or actions in order; tense usually goes only on the last verb.
- -지만 shows contrast; mark past on both verbs: 했지만 …었어요.
- Use 그래서 for results, not -고.
- 죄송하지만 … is a polite way to begin a request.
Recommended official free resources
- Korean Basic Dictionary (multilingual) — National Institute of Korean Language
- Nuri-Sejong Hakdang (free e-textbooks) — King Sejong Institute Foundation
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