TOPIK I · LEVEL 2
-다가
-다가 means you were doing one thing and then stopped or switched to another: 'while doing A, (then) B'.
시간·순서Time & sequenceHan: With -다가 both clauses need the same subject; for a different subject use -(으)ㄹ 때.
Examples
책을 읽다가 잠이 들었어요.I fell asleep while reading a book.
집에 가다가 친구를 만났어요.I ran into a friend on my way home.
텔레비전을 보다가 전화를 받았어요.I was watching TV and then answered a phone call.
Don’t mix up
-다가vs-(으)면서-(으)면서 = two actions at the same time; -다가 = the first action is interrupted by the second: 음악을 들으면서 걸어요 vs 걷다가 넘어졌어요.How to build it
V+다가
가다 → 가다가, 공부하다 → 공부하다가
- The subject of both clauses is the same.
- -았/었다가 means A was completed first, then B happened: 갔다가 왔어요 'went and came back'.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 저는 운동하다가 동생이 왔어요.
Right: 제가 운동하고 있을 때 동생이 왔어요.
With -다가 both clauses need the same subject; for a different subject use -(으)ㄹ 때.
Practise -다가 on real TOPIK questions
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Start 7-day free trialMore level 2 grammar
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.
- -(으)면서-(으)면서 links two actions or states that one person does or has at the same time: "while doing A, (also) B."
- -기 전에-기 전에 means 'before doing': the main action happens before the action of the verb that -기 전에 attaches to.
- -(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.
