고 나면

Overview

The Korean connective ending -고 나면 is used to express that once a preceding action is completely finished, a certain subsequent action, state, or condition will follow. It combines the sequential meaning of -고 with the sense of completion from -나다 (to finish/complete) and the conditional aspect of -으면 (if/when).

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Usage

-고 나면 is employed when the completion of the first action is a prerequisite for the second action or situation to occur. It implies a predictable or conditional outcome that happens after the preceding event has fully concluded. Think of it as "IF and WHEN the first action is completed, THEN the second will happen." It's stronger than a simple sequential -고 because it emphasizes the completion as the trigger. This pattern is often used for habitual actions, general truths, or specific instructions that depend on a prior task being done.

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Conjugation Rules

-고 나면 attaches directly to the verb stem without any changes based on whether the stem ends in a consonant or a vowel.

• Verb Stem + -고 나면

  • 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹고 나면
  • 하다 (to do) -> 하고 나면
  • 가다 (to go) -> 가고 나면
  • 읽다 (to read) -> 읽고 나면

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Knowledge Plus

The structure -고 나면 is a combination of three elements:

1. -고: Indicates sequence, listing, or cause/reason.
2. -나다: A verb meaning "to finish," "to complete," or "to come out." In this context, it strongly emphasizes the completion of the preceding action.
3. -으면: A conditional ending meaning "if" or "when."

Together, they form "if/when [the action] is finished."

While similar to -고 나서 (after doing something), -고 나면 carries a stronger nuance of conditionality or predictability. -고 나서 simply states a sequence after completion, whereas -고 나면 suggests that the second event will or can happen only after the first is done. For instance, "숙제를 하고 나서 놀았다" (I played after finishing homework) is a simple past sequence. "숙제를 하고 나면 놀 수 있다" (Once I finish homework, I can play) implies a condition for playing.

This expression is frequently used in sentences describing future plans, general habits, or instructions. The second clause often contains future tense markers (-(으)ㄹ 거예요), modal expressions (-(으)ㄹ 수 있다), or imperative/propositive forms (-(으)세요, -(으)ㅂ시다).

Consider the difference:

• 밥을 먹고 나서 커피를 마셨어요. (I drank coffee after eating.) - Simple sequence.
• 밥을 먹고 나면 커피를 마셔요. (Once I eat, I drink coffee / I drink coffee after I eat.) - Habitual or general truth, implying the eating is a prerequisite for the coffee.