Soon as: -ㄴ/은/는 대로

This pattern attaches to action verbs. It tells the listener that Action B is waiting for Action A. As soon as Action A hits the finish line, Action B starts. It is most commonly used for future plans. You are making a promise about what comes next. It feels a bit more formal than other "as soon as" patterns. You might use it with your boss or a new client. But you can also use it with friends to sound reliable. It is all about that instant connection between two events. No coffee breaks between them!

1. 1Find the verb stem of your action verb.
2. 2For the "as soon as" meaning, we almost always use -는 대로.
3. 3Attach -는 대로 directly to the stem.
4. 4It does not matter if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
5. 5Example: 가다 (to go) becomes 가는 대로.
6. 6Example: 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹는 대로.
7. 7Keep the second half of the sentence in the tense you need.
8. 8Usually, the second half is in the future or a command.

Use this when you want to sound efficient. It is perfect for business emails. Imagine you are waiting for a report. You can say, "I will send it as soon as I finish." In a job interview, it shows you are proactive. Use it when giving directions too. "Turn left as soon as you see the pharmacy." It is also great for travel. "Let's check in as soon as we get to the hotel." It implies a sense of duty or a logical next step. It is the grammar equivalent of a "Fast Pass" at a theme park.

Do not use this for things that happened in the past. If you want to say "I fell asleep as soon as I got home yesterday," use -자마자 instead. -는 대로 looks forward, not backward. Also, avoid using it with adjectives like "pretty" or "big." You cannot "as soon as big." It only works with actions. Do not use it for things that happen by pure coincidence. It usually implies a planned or expected sequence. If a bird poops on your head the moment you walk outside, -는 대로 is too formal for that tragedy!

One big mistake is adding past tense to the first verb. People often try to say 갔는 대로 for "as soon as I went." This is wrong. Always use the present form -는 대로 even if the overall context is future. Another mistake is confusing it with the other meaning of 대로. 대로 can also mean "in accordance with." But when we talk about time, we focus on the "as soon as" vibe. Don't forget the space! It is verb + 는 (space) 대로. Yes, even native speakers forget that space sometimes.

How is this different from -자마자? Great question! -자마자 is the casual, high-energy cousin. You use -자마자 for sudden, spontaneous things. "I screamed as soon as I saw the spider." -는 대로 is more composed and professional. It is for things that are supposed to happen. Think of -자마자 as a surprise party. Think of -는 대로 as a scheduled meeting. There is also -고 나서, which just means "after." -고 나서 allows for a little break. -는 대로 says "Right now!"