Learning Korean Grammar(3) - Connecting Sentences

In Korean, there are two methods to connect sentences. The first one is by using conjunctive adverbs (ex, 그리고 (and), 그렇지만 (but), 그런데 (so/therefore)), and the second is by using conjunctive endings.

 

(1)  And

conjunctive adverb connection	비가 와요. 그리고 추워요 It’s rainy. And it’s cold
conjunctive ending connection	비가 오고 추워요. It’s rainy and cold

 

(2)  But

conjunctive adverb connection	레몬은 십니다. 그렇지만 맛있습니다. Lemon is sour. But it tastes good.
conjunctive ending connection	레몬은 시지만 맛있습니다. Lemon is sour but tastes good

 

(3)  So / Therefore

conjunctive adverb connection	눈이 와요. 그래서 길이 많이 막혀요. It’s snowing. Therefore the traffic is bad.
conjunctive ending connection	눈이 와서 길이 많이 막혀요. It’s snowing, so the traffic is bad.

 

 

When connecting two sentences with conjunctive adverb, it is sufficient simply to place the conjunctive adverb between the two sentences. However, when using a conjunctive ending, the ending must be attached to the word stem of the predicate of the preceding sentence to connect the two sentences.

 

(1)  비가 오다 + ~고 + 추워요 -> 비가 오고 추워요.

(2)  레몬은 시다 + ~지만 + 맛있어요 -> 레몬은 시지만 맛있어요

(3)  눈이 오다 + ~아서 + 길이 많이 막혀요 -> 눈이 와서 길이 많이 막혀요