고 나서

Overview

The connective ending -고 나서 is used to indicate a sequential relationship between two actions or events. It signifies that the first action is completed before the second action begins. The nuance of 나서 specifically emphasizes the completion of the preceding action, making it a stronger indicator of "after doing X, then Y" than simply using -고.

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Usage

-고 나서 is employed when the speaker wants to highlight that the first action must be entirely finished or brought to a conclusion before the subsequent action can commence. It implies a clear temporal order where the completion of the first event is a necessary condition or precursor for the second. This ending is commonly used in daily routines, instructions, or any situation where a definite sequence of completed actions is important. The subjects of both clauses are typically the same.

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Conjugation Rules

-고 나서 is straightforward to conjugate as it attaches directly to the verb stem regardless of whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.

• Verb Stem + 고 나서

  • 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹고 나서 (after eating)
  • 가다 (to go) -> 가고 나서 (after going)
  • 공부하다 (to study) -> 공부하고 나서 (after studying)
  • 읽다 (to read) -> 읽고 나서 (after reading)

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Knowledge Plus

• Distinction from -고: While -고 can also indicate a sequence of actions (e.g., 밥을 먹고 커피를 마셨어요 - I ate and drank coffee), -고 나서 places a stronger emphasis on the completion of the first action. -고 can sometimes just list actions or indicate a looser sequence, whereas -고 나서 explicitly states "having finished X, then Y." For example, "문을 열고 들어갔어요" (I opened the door and went in) vs. "문을 열고 나서 들어갔어요" (After opening the door, I went in). The latter emphasizes the completion of opening the door.

• Distinction from -아/어서: The ending -아/어서 also indicates a sequence, but it often implies a causal relationship (e.g., 배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요 - I was hungry, so I ate) or that the first action is the means to the second. -고 나서, on the other hand, focuses purely on the temporal completion of the first action before the second, without necessarily implying cause or means.

• Omission of 나서: In some contexts, 나서 can be omitted, leaving just -고. However, including 나서 adds a clearer and more emphatic sense of "after completing" or "having done." For instance, "숙제를 하고 게임을 할 거예요" is acceptable, but "숙제를 하고 나서 게임을 할 거예요" more strongly conveys that the homework must be finished first.

• Tense Marker Placement: The past tense marker (았/었) is only attached to the final verb of the sentence, not to the verb preceding -고 나서.

  • Correct: 밥을 먹고 나서 잠을 잤어요. (After eating, I slept.)
  • Incorrect: 밥을 먹었 고 나서 잠을 잤어요.