TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-(으)면서
-(으)면서 links two actions or states that one person does or has at the same time: "while doing A, (also) B."
시간·순서Time & sequenceHan: For two actions at the same time, the past tense goes only on the last verb. -았/었으면서 is used for the contrast meaning "even though (I) did", not for simultaneity.
Examples
이 식당은 음식이 싸면서 맛있어요.The food at this restaurant is both cheap and tasty.
저는 음악을 들으면서 공부해요.I study while listening to music.
친구하고 커피를 마시면서 이야기했어요.I chatted with my friend while drinking coffee.
운전하면서 전화하지 마세요.Don't talk on the phone while driving.
Don’t mix up
-(으)면서vs-고-고 usually lists actions or shows order (A, then B); -(으)면서 means A and B happen at the same time: 밥을 먹고 커피를 마셨어요 (after) vs 밥을 먹으면서 TV를 봤어요 (during).-(으)면서vs-는 동안-는 동안 allows different subjects in the two clauses; -(으)면서 needs the same subject: 제가 요리하는 동안 동생은 청소했어요.How to build it
V/A+(으)면서 (consonant stem: 으면서; vowel or ㄹ stem: 면서)
N+(이)면서
먹다 → 먹으면서, 보다 → 보면서, 살다 → 살면서, 듣다 → 들으면서
- Both clauses must have the same subject. If two different people act at the same time, use -는 동안 instead.
- For simultaneous actions, do not put past tense on -(으)면서; the tense goes on the final verb: 보면서 먹었어요, not 봤으면서 먹었어요.
- With adjectives and 이다 it means "both A and B": 싸면서 맛있어요 (cheap and tasty), 학생이면서 가수예요.
- With verbs like 알다 it can show contrast, "even though": 알면서 모르는 척해요.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 어제 영화를 봤으면서 팝콘을 먹었어요.
Right: 어제 영화를 보면서 팝콘을 먹었어요.
For two actions at the same time, the past tense goes only on the last verb. -았/었으면서 is used for the contrast meaning "even though (I) did", not for simultaneity.
Practise -(으)면서 on real TOPIK questions
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)ㄴ 지Shows how much time has passed since an action happened.
- -(으)ㄹ 때Attaches to a verb or adjective to say at what time or in what situation something happens: 'when …'.
- -(으)ㄴ 후에Shows that the second action happens after the first action is finished.
- -기 전에-기 전에 means 'before doing': the main action happens before the action of the verb that -기 전에 attaches to.
- -다가-다가 means you were doing one thing and then stopped or switched to another: 'while doing A, (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)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)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.