Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 4 - Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 91 to 120) ᚛ Lesson 101 - During, while in Korean #2 [-(으)면서]
During, while in Korean #2 [-(으)면서]
In the previous lesson, we saw how to express the fact that two actions take place at the same time with the -는 동안 form. It is also possible to express the simultaneity of two actions with the suffix -(으)면서, which is attached to a verb. Be careful however, using -(으)면서 is only possible if the subject of the two actions is the same.
While + verb with -(으)면서
The -(으)면서 structure is used in the following manner:
[Action 1: ... Present stem](으)면서 [Action 2]
- If the stem ends in a vowel: [Stem]면서
- If the stem ends in a consonant: [Stem]으면서
Be careful, the suffix -(으)면서 always attaches to a present stem. If the sentence is in the past or in the future, it is the verb of action 2 that marks the tense.
The exceptions related to the -(으)면서 structure are the same as those of the conditional form -(으)면.
공부하면서 티비 보지 마.
→ Don’t watch TV while you study.
에스컬레이터를 타면서 뛰지 마세요.
→ Don’t run while riding the escalator.
노래하면서 춤을 출 수 있어요?
→ Can you dance while singing?
여행하면서 사진을 많이 찍었어요.
→ I took a lot of pictures while traveling.
기차가 연기를 내면서 달리고 있어.
→ The train is running while giving off smoke.
Summary table of structure
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Exercises
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Particles are omnipresent in Korean. They indicate the role of words in a sentence, nuance meaning, and make it possible to understand who does what, where, how, and why.
Particles are also often the aspect that causes the most difficulty for Korean learners. In grammar books, they are usually presented in the middle of long sentences, with complex vocabulary, without being clearly highlighted.
With Korean Particles, we made the opposite choice:
taking the time to explain each particle, one by one, using very simple sentences, accessible even to beginners.
