Korean grammar patterns › Level 2
-고 나서
after (finishing) doing
Level 2 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
The first action is completely finished, then the second follows. It stresses completion more than plain -고. Only with verbs.
Forming it
| 먹다 | → 먹고 나서 |
| 끝나다 | → 끝나고 나서 |
| 씻다 | → 씻고 나서 |
No past tense before it: ✗ 먹었고 나서 → 먹고 나서. Not used with adjectives or 이다.
Examples
숙제를 다 하고 나서 게임을 해요.
After I finish all my homework, I play games.
영화가 끝나고 나서 저녁을 먹었어요.
After the movie ended, we had dinner.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄴ 후에 is similar and also works with time nouns (식사 후에); -고 only lists actions in order; -자마자 means immediately after.