While / Then

The pattern -다가 is used to indicate that an action was in progress when it was interrupted by another action or event. The first action is not completed.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: It translates to "while doing (something), then..." or "in the middle of doing (something), ...happened."

When to use: Use it to connect two events where the second event interrupts the first. The subject of both clauses must be the same.

Formation

Simply attach -다가 to the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Vowel stem: 가다 (to go) → 가다가

Consonant stem: 먹다 (to eat) → 먹다가

하다 verbs: 공부하다 (to study) → 공부하다가

The tense of the entire sentence is determined by the final verb. All the examples in this lesson are in the past tense.

가다가 넘어졌어. / 먹다가 흘렸어요. / 생각하다가 잠들었어.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between -다가 and -아/어서. The key is whether the first action was completed or interrupted.

-다가 (Interruption)

This pattern implies the first action stopped because the second action occurred. The first action is incomplete.

공부하다가 잠들었어요.

I fell asleep while studying. (The studying stopped when I fell asleep.)

-아/어서 (Sequence/Reason)

This pattern implies the first action was completed, and then the second action followed. It shows a sequence of events.

공부하고 (나서) 잠들었어요.

I studied and then I fell asleep. (The studying was finished.)

Think of -다가 for unexpected events that change your course of action.

길을 가다가 친구를 만났어. / 청소하다가 돈을 찾았어요. / 요리하다가 손을 데었어.

The -다가 connector itself is neutral in terms of politeness. The overall formality of the sentence is determined by the final verb ending.