고 connective ending (and, and then)

Using 고 is surprisingly easy. You do not have to worry about complex conjugation rules here. Unlike other endings, it does not care about vowels or consonants. It is a "plug-and-play" grammar point. You simply take the verb or adjective you want to use. You find its stem. Then, you slap 고 right onto the end. That is it! It works the same for action verbs like 먹다 (to eat) and descriptive verbs like 예쁘다 (to be pretty). It even works with the verb 이다 (to be) for nouns. Think of it like a grammar high-five. One verb reaches out, 고 connects them, and the next verb follows. It is the ultimate connector for people who hate memorizing irregular rules. Yes, even those tricky ㅂ or ㄷ irregulars behave themselves with 고. It is a very friendly neighbor in the grammar world.

1. 1Start with the dictionary form of the verb or adjective (e.g., 가다, 먹다, 싸다).
2. 2Remove the final syllable 다 to find the stem (e.g., 가, 먹, 싸).
3. 3Attach 고 directly to that stem (e.g., 가고, 먹고, 싸고).
4. 4Add your second verb or adjective to finish the thought.
5. 5For 이다 (to be): If the noun ends in a vowel, use 고 (e.g., 의사고). If it ends in a consonant, use 이고 (e.g., 학생이고).
6. 6For past tense: Usually, you only put the past tense on the final verb of the sentence. The first verb stays in its basic 고 form. It is like the second verb is carrying the heavy lifting for the whole sentence. Don't be a tense-hoarder!

Use 고 when you want to list facts or actions.

Scenario 1: Ordering Food. You are at a cafe. You want a latte and your friend wants tea. You say: "저는 라떼를 마시고 친구는 차를 마셔요." It keeps the order clear and organized.

Scenario 2: Describing Someone. You are talking about a new date. "He is tall and kind." You use 고 to link "tall" and "kind." It flows much better than two separate sentences.

Scenario 3: Daily Routine. "I wake up and wash my face." Here, 고 shows a simple sequence of events. It is like a chronological breadcrumb trail.

Scenario 4: Job Interviews. You want to sound professional. "I speak English and I am good at computers." 고 helps you stack your skills like a pro. It shows you can handle more than one thought at a time.

Do not use 고 to connect two nouns directly. If you want to say "Apples and bananas," use 하고 or 와/과. 고 is strictly for verbs and adjectives.

Also, avoid 고 if the first action is the reason for the second action. For example, if you went to the park *because* the weather was good, 고 is too weak. It just says "The weather was good and I went to the park." It doesn't show the "because" link.

Finally, don't use it if the two actions are tightly physically linked. If you are sitting *in* a chair and reading, 고 might make it sound like you sat down, then later you read. For overlapping actions, there are other tools in your belt. Think of 고 as a "this then that" or "this plus that" connector.

The biggest mistake is "Double Tense Syndrome." Learners often say 갔고 먹었어요 (went and ate). In Korean, the tense at the end of the sentence covers everything before it. Just say 가고 먹었어요. It is cleaner and more natural.

Another mistake is using it for "but." Remember, 고 is a friendly addition. It is not for contrasting. If you say "The food is cheap and delicious," 고 is perfect. If you want to say "The food is cheap but bad," 고 will confuse your listener.

Lastly, watch out for the 이다 conjugation. Forgetting the 이 in 학생이고 is a common slip-up for beginners. It is like forgetting the salt in a recipe—the result is just a bit flat.

고 vs. 아/어서: This is the classic struggle. 고 is just a list or a sequence. 아/어서 implies a cause or a very tight connection. If you use 고, the two actions are like two separate cars on a train. If you use 아/어서, they are like the flour and water in bread—you can't easily separate them.

고 vs. 하고: This is easy! 고 is for verbs (actions/descriptions). 하고 is for nouns (things/people). Don't mix them up or you'll sound like a grammar blender.