Lesson 77 · After Finishing: -고 나서
Hyeju Language Lab · Beginner · Lesson 77 · Grammar
After Finishing: -고 나서
Learn the form, compare its meaning, and practice with six examples and six questions.
BeginnerEnglishIntroduction
Use -고 나서 when the first action is completed before the next action. 텐트를 치고 나서 쉬어요 means you finish putting up the tent, then rest. The completion of the first task is the focus.
Romanization is an approximate reading aid. Read the Korean spelling first.
Form & Meaning
- Remove 다 and add 고 나서: 먹다 → 먹고 나서; 하다 → 하고 나서. There is no consonant-or-vowel choice.
- The later predicate gives the overall tense: 먹고 나서 잤어요, “I slept after eating”; 먹고 나서 잘 거예요, “I will sleep after eating.”
- Compare -고, which can simply list actions, and -(으)ㄴ 후에, another way to express after. -고 나서 makes the completed first action especially clear.
Examples
After pitching the tent, we light a fire.
I will play games after finishing all my homework.
You should not lie down right after eating.
I rested after putting away my gear.
I slept after taking a shower.
After the movie ended, I ate a meal.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 54
-(으)ㄴ 후에
졸업한 후에 취직했어요.A neutral “after” that also works with nouns (수업 후에). -고 나서 stresses finishing the first action.
Review Lesson 54 →LESSON 17
-고
숙제하고 놀아요.-고 simply lists actions. -고 나서 makes it clear the first is finished.
Review Lesson 17 →LESSON 58
-아/어서
마트에 가서 우유를 샀어요.-아/어서 links steps that belong together (you bought milk at the store). -고 나서 is just “after finishing”.
Review Lesson 58 →RELATED PATTERN
-자마자
집에 오자마자 잤어요.Right after, with no gap at all.
| Pattern | Gap | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -고 나서 | Any | finishing A first | 숙제하고 나서 놀아요 |
| -(으)ㄴ 후에 | Any | a neutral “after” | 숙제한 후에 놀아요 |
| -고 | — | just listing | 숙제하고 놀아요 |
| -자마자 | None | immediately | 숙제하자마자 놀아요 |
Hyeju’s Note
Do not use this sequence pattern as the normal way to count elapsed time. “It has been two years since I came to Korea” is 한국에 온 지 2년 됐어요. Also, not every English “after” describes a deliberate action; choose examples with a clear first event and a later event.
Common mistakes
먹었고 나서 → 먹고 나서. In the basic sequence pattern, attach 고 나서 to the stem.
No past tense before -고 나서. The last verb shows the time.
-고 나서 needs a verb. With a noun, say 수업 후에.
You studied at the place you went to → -아/어서.
고 attaches to the stem: 읽고 나서.
Say It, Then Write It
Choose one example that fits your day. Say it aloud, change one detail, and write the new sentence. Check both the connecting form and the final tense.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank숙제를 다 ______ 게임을 해요. (하다)
Check answer
숙제를 다 하고 나서 게임을 해요.
Finish homework first → 하고 나서.
- Fill in the blank영화가 ______ 밥 먹으러 가요. (끝나다)
Check answer
영화가 끝나고 나서 밥 먹으러 가요.
끝나 + 고 나서.
- Choose the better form시장에 (가서 / 가고 나서) 과일을 샀어요.
Check answer
가서
You bought fruit at the market → linked steps: -아/어서.
- Choose the correct form이 약은 밥을 (먹고 나서 / 먹었고 나서) 드세요.
Check answer
먹고 나서
No past tense before -고 나서.
- Find and fix the mistake회의 나서 전화할게요.
Check answer
회의가 끝나고 나서 전화할게요.
Use a verb before -고 나서 (or say 회의 후에).
- Say it in KoreanI brush my teeth after I finish breakfast.
Check answer
아침을 먹고 나서 이를 닦아요.
먹 + 고 나서 → 먹고 나서.
Today’s Key Point
Remove 다 and add 고 나서: 먹다 → 먹고 나서; 하다 → 하고 나서. There is no consonant-or-vowel choice. Keep the meaning and the context together when you choose the form.
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