TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-거나
-거나 links two actions or states as alternatives, like 'or': you do A or B.
나열·첨가Listing & addingHan: 커피 and 차 are nouns, so they are joined with (이)나; -거나 attaches to verb and adjective stems.
Examples
날씨가 춥거나 비가 오면 택시를 타요.When it's cold or raining, I take a taxi.
모르는 단어가 있으면 사전을 찾아보거나 선생님께 물어보세요.If there's a word you don't know, look it up in a dictionary or ask the teacher.
주말에는 보통 집에서 쉬거나 친구를 만나요.On weekends I usually rest at home or meet friends.
스트레스를 받으면 음악을 듣거나 산책을 해요.When I'm stressed, I listen to music or go for a walk.
Don’t mix up
-거나vs-고-고 means 'and' (you do both); -거나 means 'or' (you do one): 밥을 먹고 커피를 마셔요 vs 밥을 먹거나 커피를 마셔요.-거나vsN(이)나(이)나 joins nouns, -거나 joins verbs and adjectives: 커피나 차를 마셔요 vs 커피를 마시거나 차를 마셔요.
-거나vs-든지-든지 also means 'or' but stresses that the choice doesn't matter: 가든지 말든지 마음대로 하세요.How to build it
V/A+거나
보다 → 보거나, 먹다 → 먹거나, 춥다 → 춥거나
- Between two nouns use (이)나, not -거나: 커피나 차, not 커피거나 차.
- Tense and politeness are usually marked only on the last verb: 쉬거나 운동했어요.
- To list typical choices, Koreans often say A-거나 B-거나 하다: 자거나 TV를 보거나 해요.
- The sentence can end with a request or suggestion: 전화하거나 문자를 보내세요.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 아침에 커피거나 차를 마셔요.
Right: 아침에 커피나 차를 마셔요.
커피 and 차 are nouns, so they are joined with (이)나; -거나 attaches to verb and adjective stems.
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All TOPIK grammar- -고-고 links two actions or states like "and": it either lists them side by side or puts actions in order ("do A, and then B").
- -(으)면-(으)면 attaches to a verb or adjective to set a condition: "if X happens or is true, then Y," and it can also mean "whenever X" for things that regularly happen.
- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.
- -(으)ㄹ 것Ends a written instruction or rule with a noun-like command: 'do X; X is to be done'. Impersonal and firm; used in notices, exam instructions, memos and rule lists.
- -(으)ㄹ 때Attaches to a verb or adjective to say at what time or in what situation something happens: 'when …'.
- -(으)면 안 되다States that an action is not allowed or not acceptable: 'you must not… / it's not okay to…'.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다Attach it to a verb to say that someone can or cannot do something, either because of their ability or because the situation allows or prevents it.
- -(으)ㄹ 줄 알다/모르다Use it to say whether someone knows how to do something, meaning a skill or method they have learned.
- -(으)ㄴ 후에Shows that the second action happens after the first action is finished.