ABSTRACT
The one-form conjunctive ~고 has two functions. First, it simply connects two different clauses, regardless of their sequence. Consider the following examples:
제가 청소하고 제 아내가 요리해요.
“I clean up, and my wife cooks.”
제 아내가 요리하고 제가 청소해요.
“My wife cooks, and I clean up.”
Notice that the meanings of the previous sentences are the same even if the sequences of the clauses are different. Here are more examples:히사꼬는 일본으로 가고 상필이는 한국으로 가요.
“As for Hisako, (she) goes to Japan, and as for Sangpil, (he) goes to Korea.”
희연이는 미술사를 전공하고 주영이는 회계학을 공부해요.
“As for Heeyeon, (she) majors in art history, and as for Jooyoung, (she) studies accounting.”
Second, the conjunctive ~고 links two sequential actions or events; equivalent to “and then” in English. Consider the following examples:먼저 집 청소를 하고 요리를 시작할 거예요.
“(I) will clean up the house first and then start cooking.”
일단 뭐 좀 주문하고 전화해 봅시다.
“(Let us) order something for now and then try calling (her).”
Notice that the conjunctive ~고 indicates the order of the action in these situations. In other words, changing the sequence of the clauses generates a different meaning. Here are more examples:잠옷을 입고 주무세요.
“Wear (your) pajamas and then go to sleep.”
친구를 만나고 집에 갈 거예요.
“(I) will meet (my) friends and then go home.”
샤워 하고 잘 거지요?
“(You) will take a shower and then go to bed, right?”
저녁을 먹고 공원에 산책하러 나갑시다.
“(Let’s) eat dinner and then go out to the park for a walk.”
The conjunctive ~고 is subject to one restriction: it is not conjugated for the tense. Consider the following examples:지난 금요일은 눈이 많이 오고 아주 추웠어요.
“As for last Friday, it snowed a lot and was very cold.”
점심 먹고 떠났어요.
“(They) ate lunch and then left.”
95Notice that both sentences are about the past action and state. However, the past tense is not marked by the ~고 ending clauses but by the main clauses.