Back in Lesson 2 of this level, you learned about the verb ending -고, which is used to connect independent clauses or actions together to form one sentence; even though the two clauses may not necessarily have a strong logical relation to each other. In this lesson, you will learn the verb ending -아/어/여+서 [-a/eo/yeo + seo] which connects two or more verbs in one sentence and can show a logical relationship between the verbs.

Do you remember the two conjunctions 그리고 [geu-ri-go] and 그래서 [geu-rae-seo] from Level 2 Lesson 3?

그리고 means “and”, and 그래서 means “therefore” or “so”.

The verb ending -고[-go] has the same meaning as 그리고, and the verb ending -아/어/여+서 is similar in meaning to 그래서.

Take a look at the construction and usages of -아/어/여+서 in more detail:

Conjugation:1. verb stems ending in vowels ㅏ or ㅗ + -아서2. verb stems ending in other vowels + -어서3. 하 + -여서

Ex)먹다 [meok-tta] = to eat먹 (verb stem) + -어서 = 먹어서 [meo-geo-seo]

만들다 [man-deul-da] = to make만들 (verb stem) + -어서 = 만들어서 [man-deu-reo-seo]

하다 [ha-da] = to do하 (verb stem) + -여서 = 해서 [hae-seo]

오다 [o-da] = to come오 (verb stem) + -아서 = 와서 [wa-seo]

Usages1. Reason + -아/어/여서 + result2. An action + -아/어/여서 + another action which takes place after the first action3. An action + -아/어/여서 + the purpose of or the plan after the action4. Fixed expressions

Usage #1:Reason + -아/어/여서 + result

Ex)비가 오다 (it rains) + 못 가다 (cannot go)[bi-ga o-da]               [mot ga-da]→ 비가 와서 못 가요. [bi-ga wa-seo mot ga-yo.] = It is raining, so I cannot go.→ 비가 와서 못 갔어요. [bi-ga wa-seo mot ga-sseo-yo.] = It rained, so I could not go.** Note that the tense was expressed only through the final verb.*

오늘은 바빠요. (Today, I am busy.) + 영화를 못 봐요. (I cannot see the movie.)[o-neu-reun ba-ppa-yo.]                     [yeong-hwa-reul mot bwa-yo.]→ 오늘은 바빠서 영화를 못 봐요. [o-neu-reun ba-ppa-seo yeong-hwa-reul mot bwa-yo.]= I am busy today, so I cannot see the movie.

만나다 (to meet) + 반갑다 (to be glad to see someone)[man-na-da]           [ban-gap-tta]→ 만나서 반갑습니다. [man-na-seo ban-gap-sseum-ni-da.]= I met you, so I am glad. / It is nice to meet you.→ 만나서 반가워요. [man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo.]= I am pleased to meet you. (Less formal than the sentence above)

Usage #2:An action + -아/어/여서 + another action that takes place after the first action

Ex)공원에 가다 (to go to the park) + 책을 읽다 (to read a book)[gong-wo-ne ga-da]                     [chae-geul ik-tta]→ 공원에 가서 책을 읽을 거예요. [gong-wo-ne ga-seo chae-geul il-geul kkeo-ye-yo.]= I am going to go to the park and read a book.** Note: This does NOT mean “I am going to the park, so I am going to read a book.”** Also note that the tense is only used with the final verb here as well.*

친구를 만나다 (to meet a friend) + 밥을 먹다 (to eat)[chin-gu-reul man-na-da] [ba-beul meok-tta]→ 친구를 만나서 밥을 먹었어요. [chin-gu-reul man-na-seo ba-beul meo-geo-sseo-yo.]= I met a friend, and (we) ate together.** This sentence COULD mean that you met a friend, so you ate together. In most cases, however, it means that you met a friend THEN ate together after you met up with him/her.*→ 친구를 만나서 밥을 먹을 거예요. [chin-gu-reul man-na-seo ba-beul meo-geul kkeo-ye-yo.]= I am going to meet a friend, and (we will) eat together.

Usage #3:An action + -아/어/여서 + the purpose of or the plan after the action.