It's good to share meeting minutes or send materials in advance (Listing actions with ~ㄴ다거나)

These patterns help you list possibilities and state your intentions, which are crucial for clear communication.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning of -(느)ㄴ다거나: This pattern is used to list two or more actions, states, or situations as examples from a range of possibilities. It's similar to saying "doing this, or doing that, or..." in English. It implies that the listed items are not exhaustive.

When to use -(느)ㄴ다거나: Use it when giving suggestions, describing habits, or explaining a situation by providing a few examples. For example, "To relax, I do things like listen to music or watch a movie." (음악을 듣는다거나 영화를 봐요.)

Meaning of ~고자: This pattern expresses the speaker's intention or purpose for performing an action. It's a more formal and literary equivalent of -(으)려고 and often conveys a stronger sense of will or a more significant goal. It translates to "in order to," "with the intention of," or "so as to."

When to use ~고자: It is most common in written language, formal speeches, or when you want to sound particularly determined about a goal. For example, "In order to win this competition, I practiced every day." (이번 대회에서 우승하고자 매일 연습했습니다.)

Conjugation Rules

Rule for -(느)ㄴ다거나:

Action Verbs: Add -는다거나 after a stem ending in a consonant (e.g., 먹다 → 먹는다거나). Add -ㄴ다거나 after a stem ending in a vowel (e.g., 가다 → 간다거나). For stems ending in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ and add -ㄴ다거나 (e.g., 만들다 → 만든다거나).

Descriptive Verbs & Nouns: Add -다거나 directly to the verb stem (e.g., 예쁘다 → 예쁘다거나) or after the noun + copula (e.g., 학생이다 → 학생이라거나).

Rule for ~고자:

Simply attach -고자 to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. (e.g., 가다 → 가고자, 먹다 → 먹고자, 만들다 → 만들고자).

먹는다거나 / 간다거나 / 만든다거나 / 예쁘다거나 / 학생이라거나 / 가고자 / 먹고자

While both express intention, their usage differs significantly in formality and nuance.

Formality and Context

Context for ~고자: This particle is primarily used in formal, written, or public speaking contexts. You'll often see it in official documents, news reports, academic papers, or formal presentations. Using it in casual, everyday conversation can sound stiff, overly dramatic, or even a bit old-fashioned. It's perfect for expressing a serious, significant goal, like in a job interview or a project proposal.