V + -다가 (-았/었다가)V + -daga (-at/eotdaga)
Intermediate 3 · #15Lesson 5: 쇼핑 – Shopping

V + -다가 (-았/었다가) – While Doing... (Interrupted) / After Doing, Then...

Meaning: While doing... (another action interrupts); did... and then reversed/changed

Conjugation & Pattern

  • Ongoing action interrupted or shifted: V + -다가 (contracted: -다)
  • Completed action followed by a reversal/new event: V + -았/었다가

Detailed Usage

(1) 'V + -다가': An ongoing action in the first clause is interrupted or shifts to another action/event in the second clause. (2) 'V + -았/었다가': The first action is completed, and then another (often opposite) action takes place (e.g., wrote a letter and then tore it up).

Example Sentences

  1. 1

    집을 청소하다가 잃어버린 열쇠를 찾았어요.

    Jibeul cheongsohadaga ileobeorin yeolsoereul chajasseoyo.

    While cleaning the house, I found the lost key.

  2. 2

    그 친구는 편지를 썼다가 마음에 안 들어서 찢어 버렸어요.

    Geu chinguneun pyeonjireul sseotdaga maeume an deureoseo jjijeo beoryeosseoyo.

    My friend wrote the letter and then tore it up because he didn't like it.

  3. 3

    전화를 걸려다가 너무 늦어서 못 걸었습니다.

    Jeonhwareul geollyeodaga neomu neujeoseo mot georeotseumnida.

    I was about to make a phone call, but it was too late so I couldn't.

Important Notes

Typically, the subject of both clauses must be the same. A common related contraction is '-(으)려다가' (was about to do something, but ended up not doing it).

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