Just Attach -고 and -지만

Some Korean verb endings are incredibly easy to use.

You do not need to check the last vowel. You do not need to check for a batchim (bottom consonant).

You simply drop -다 from the dictionary form and attach the ending directly to the stem. Two of the most common endings that work this way are -고 (and) and -지만 (but).

-고 connects two actions or states, meaning "and".

How to attach -고

Take the dictionary form: 가다 (to go)

Drop -다 to get the stem: 가

Attach -고 : 가고 (go and...)

Whether the stem ends in a vowel ( 가다 → 가고 ) or a consonant ( 먹다 → 먹고 ), the rule is exactly the same.

-지만 connects two contrasting ideas, meaning "but".

How to attach -지만

Take the dictionary form: 예쁘다 (to be pretty)

Drop -다 to get the stem: 예쁘

Attach -지만 : 예쁘지만 (pretty but...)

Just like -고 , it does not matter if the stem has a batchim or not. You simply attach -지만 .

Here is how different types of words look with these simple endings. Notice how the stem never changes. You only swap -다 for the new ending.

Dictionary Form · Stem + 고 · Stem + 지만

가다 · 가고 · 가지만

먹다 · 먹고 · 먹지만

배우다 · 배우고 · 배우지만

예쁘다 · 예쁘고 · 예쁘지만

Because learners practice the -아요 / -어요 forms so much, they sometimes try to add -고 or -지만 to the conjugated form instead of the basic stem.

Wrong: 가요고, 먹어요지만

Right: 가고, 먹지만

Remember, these endings attach directly to the original dictionary stem. Do not conjugate with 아 or 어 first!

Quick review

attach to stem, not conjugated form

wrong: 가요고

right: 가고