B1 · Mittelstufe Kapitel 6

Sequencing and Timing Actions

6 Gesamtregeln
66 Beispiele
5 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of timing and order to narrate your life in Korean with total precision.

  • Sequence events chronologically using before, after, and completion markers.
  • Calculate time durations since a specific life event or action.
  • Describe repeated habits and immediate reactions using natural native expressions.
Time your talk and own the conversation flow!

Was du lernen wirst

Hey friend! Ready to speak Korean effortlessly and never get stuck on the timing and order of actions again? This chapter is your key to more natural conversations! Here, you'll master how to precisely sequence actions using structures like _기 전에 (before doing...), _ㄴ/은 후에 (after doing...), and _고 나서 (after one task is completely finished...). This way, when you want to say 'I ate breakfast before going to school' or 'I'll call you after work,' your words will be clear and accurate. You'll also learn to express how much time has passed since an action with _ㄴ/은 지 + time + 되다, allowing you to say things like 'It's been two years since I came to Korea.' Plus, you'll articulate repeated actions using _ㄹ/을 때마다 (whenever...) and sound more advanced by using _ㄴ/은/는 대로 to mean 'as soon as...' or 'exactly according to...' Imagine narrating your day or giving cooking instructions; without these essential structures, your explanations would be vague and disjointed. By the end of this chapter, you'll fluently and confidently describe events with perfect chronological order and detail. Get ready to elevate your Korean and sound just like a native speaker! Let's dive in!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Narrate a daily routine using complex sequencing markers.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Express personal history and habits using time-elapsed and repeated action structures.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

Welcome, future Korean language masters! Are you ready to unlock a whole new level of fluency and express yourself with crystal-clear precision? This chapter is your ultimate guide to mastering sequencing and timing actions in Korean, a crucial skill for any B1 level learner aiming for natural conversations.
No more vague descriptions – you'll learn to articulate exactly when things happen, making your narratives engaging and easy to follow.
Understanding how to properly order events is fundamental to sounding like a native speaker. Whether you're recounting your day, giving directions, or sharing future plans, these Korean grammar B1 structures will equip you to speak with confidence. We'll delve into essential patterns that allow you to say before doing X, after doing Y, "it's been Z time since A happened, and even whenever B occurs."
By the end of this journey, you’ll effortlessly use grammar points like -기 전에, -ㄴ/은 후에, -고 나서, -(으)ㄴ 지, -ㄹ/을 때마다, and -ㄴ/은/는 대로. These aren't just rules; they're your tools to transform simple sentences into sophisticated expressions, enhancing your overall communicative competence in Korean. Let's make your Korean sound more natural and precise than ever before!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the core grammar structures that will help you perfectly sequence and time actions in Korean.
First up, -기 전에 means before doing... You attach it to a verb stem to indicate an action that precedes another.
* 밥 먹기 전에 손을 씻으세요. (Please wash your hands before eating.)
* 자기 전에 책을 읽어요. (I read a book before sleeping.)
Next, for actions that happen after doing..., we have -ㄴ/은 후에. Use -ㄴ 후에 if the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ, and -은 후에 if it ends in a consonant.
* 숙제를 한 후에 친구를 만났어요. (I met a friend after doing homework.)
* 점심을 먹은 후에 산책했어요. (I took a walk after eating lunch.)
Closely related is -고 나서, which also means
after finishing A, then B.
The key difference is that -고 나서 emphasizes the completion of the first action before the second one begins, often implying a slight pause or deliberate transition.
* 영화를 보고 나서 저녁을 먹었어요. (I ate dinner after watching the movie [and finishing it].)
* 졸업하고 나서 바로 취직했어요. (I got a job right after graduating.)
To express "it's been [time] since...", we use -(으)ㄴ 지. Attach -ㄴ 지 to verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -은 지 to those ending in a consonant, followed by a time duration and 되다.
* 한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요. (It's been one year since I came to Korea.)
* 그 사람을 만난 지 오래됐어요. (It's been a long time since I met that person.)
For whenever... or every time..., use -ㄹ/을 때마다. Attach -ㄹ 때마다 to verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ, and -을 때마다 to those ending in a consonant.
* 저는 피곤할 때마다 커피를 마셔요. (Whenever I'm tired, I drink coffee.)
* 주말마다 공원에 가요. (I go to the park every weekend.)
Finally, -ㄴ/은/는 대로 can mean as soon as... or exactly according to.... For as soon as, use -는 대로 with present tense verbs. For according to, use -ㄴ/은 대로 with past tense verbs or -대로 with nouns.
* 도착하는 대로 연락 주세요. (Please contact me as soon as you arrive.)
* 들은 대로 말해 주세요. (Please tell me exactly as you heard it.)
* 계획대로 진행합시다. (Let's proceed according to the plan.)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 숙제하는 후에 게임을 할 거예요. (I will play games after doing homework.)
✓ Correct: 숙제를 한 후에 게임을 할 거예요. (I will play games after doing homework.)
*Explanation:* When using -ㄴ/은 후에, the verb before it should be in its past participial form (-ㄴ/은), not the present progressive (-는). This correctly indicates the completion of the first action.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 한국에 오는 지 1년 됐어요. (It's been one year since I came to Korea.)
✓ Correct: 한국에 온 지 1년 됐어요. (It's been one year since I came to Korea.)
*Explanation:* The -(으)ㄴ 지 construction requires the past participial form of the verb (-ㄴ/은), not the present progressive (-는). This correctly marks the starting point of the time elapsed.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 점심을 먹은 고 나서 커피 마셨어요. (I drank coffee after eating lunch.)
✓ Correct: 점심을 먹고 나서 커피 마셨어요. (I drank coffee after finishing lunch.)
*Explanation:* -고 나서 attaches directly to the verb stem, not to the past participial form. The -고 itself implies the completion of the first action.

Real Conversations

A

A

우리 영화 보기 전에 저녁 먹을까요? (Shall we eat dinner before watching the movie?)
B

B

네, 좋아요! 저녁 먹은 후에 영화 보러 가요. (Yes, sounds good! Let's go watch the movie after eating dinner.)
A

A

한국어 공부한 지 얼마나 됐어요? (How long has it been since you started studying Korean?)
B

B

한국어 공부한 지 6개월 됐어요. 새로운 단어를 배울 때마다 재미있어요! (It's been 6 months since I started studying Korean. It's fun whenever I learn new words!)
A

A

도착하는 대로 바로 회의실로 와 주세요. (Please come to the meeting room as soon as you arrive.)
B

B

네, 알겠습니다. 회의 준비 다 하고 나서 바로 갈게요. (Yes, understood. I'll go right after finishing all the meeting preparations.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -ㄴ/은 후에 and -고 나서?

While both mean after, -고 나서 often emphasizes a more complete finish of the first action and can imply a slight pause before the second, whereas -ㄴ/은 후에 is a more general after.

Q

Can -기 전에 be used with nouns?

Yes, you can use 명사 + 전에 to mean before [noun/event], like 수업 전에 (before class) or 식사 전에 (before meal).

Q

How is -ㄹ/을 때마다 different from just -ㄹ/을 때?

-ㄹ/을 때 means when or

at the time of,
referring to a specific instance or period. -ㄹ/을 때마다 specifically means whenever or every time, indicating a repeated action or occurrence.

Q

Is -ㄴ/은/는 대로 only for immediate actions?

Not always. While -는 대로 is often used for as soon as, -ㄴ/은 대로 (with past tense verbs) and -대로 (with nouns) mean exactly as or according to, referring to conformity rather than immediacy.

Cultural Context

Mastering these sequencing structures is key to clear and polite communication in Korean. Native speakers use these patterns constantly to provide precise instructions, narrate events, and express expectations. For instance, when asking someone to do something, specifying the order with -기 전에 or -ㄴ/은 후에 adds clarity and shows consideration.
These structures are integral to the logical flow of thought, making your speech sound organized and intelligent. There are no significant regional variations in the usage of these specific grammar points, making them universally understood across Korea.

Wichtige Beispiele (8)

1

내가 가기 전에 전화할게.

Ich rufe dich an, bevor ich gehe.

Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)
2

이 사진 지우기 전에 빨리 봐!

Schau dir das Foto schnell an, bevor ich es lösche!

Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)
3

숙제를 한 후에 게임을 했어요.

Nachdem ich Hausaufgaben gemacht hatte, habe ich gezockt.

Dinge nacheinander tun: Nachdem (ㄴ/은 후에)
4

손을 씻은 후에 밥을 먹으세요.

Bitte iss erst, nachdem du dir die Hände gewaschen hast.

Dinge nacheinander tun: Nachdem (ㄴ/은 후에)
5

Sukje-reul da ha-go naseo Netpeullikseu-reul bwayo.

Ich schaue Netflix, nachdem ich alle Hausaufgaben fertig gemacht habe.

Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)
6

Bab-eul meok-go naseo baro nu-umyeon an dwaeyo.

Man sollte sich nicht direkt nach dem Essen hinlegen.

Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)
7

Whenever I watch K-dramas, I want to eat tteokbokki.

Jedes Mal, wenn ich K-Dramen schaue, bekomme ich Lust auf Tteokbokki.

Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)
8

Whenever I listen to this song, I think of my first love.

Wann immer ich dieses Lied höre, muss ich an meine erste Liebe denken.

Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

⚠️

Die Zeitform-Falle

Setz niemals eine Vergangenheitsform vor 기 전에. 갔기 전에 gibt es nicht. Nutze immer den reinen Stamm: «가기 전에».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)
💡

Der 'And Then' Shortcut

Wenn du es eilig hast oder SMS schreibst, kannst du auch «고 나서» nutzen, aber «ㄴ/은 후에» klingt strukturierter: «숙제를 한 후에 게임을 해요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dinge nacheinander tun: Nachdem (ㄴ/은 후에)
💡

Vergangenheit-Trick

Setze niemals den Vergangenheits-Marker (았/었) an das erste Verb. «먹었고 나서» ist falsch. Sag einfach: «먹고 나서».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)
⚠️

Die Leerzeichen-Falle

Vergiss niemals das Leerzeichen vor '지'. '먹은지' (ohne Leerzeichen) ist für indirekte Fragen, aber '먹은 지' bedeutet 'seit ich gegessen habe'. Ein kleiner Platz macht einen riesigen Unterschied: «점심 먹은 지 30분 됐어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Vergangene Zeit seit... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Wichtige Vokabeln (5)

식사하다 (siksahada) to eat a meal 졸업하다 (joreophada) to graduate 퇴근하다 (toegeunhada) to get off work 운동하다 (undonghada) to exercise 도착하다 (dochakhada) to arrive

Real-World Preview

utensils

Planning a Dinner

Review Summary

  • Verb + 기 전에
  • Verb + (으)ㄴ 후에
  • Verb + 고 나서
  • Verb + (으)ㄴ 지 + Time + 되다
  • Verb + ㄹ/을 때마다
  • Verb + (으)ㄴ/는 대로

Häufige Fehler

You must use the past modifier form (은/ㄴ) before 후에, not the base form.

Wrong: 먹기 후에 (Eating after)
Richtig: 먹은 후에 (After eating)

Whenever is for repeated habits, not for a one-time future event.

Wrong: 도착할 때마다 전화할게요 (I will call whenever I arrive)
Richtig: 도착하는 대로 전화할게요 (I will call as soon as I arrive)

In Korean, when talking about time since an event, we use the verb '되다' (to become).

Wrong: 1년 지났어요 (1 year passed)
Richtig: 1년이 됐어요 (1 year has elapsed)

Regeln in diesem Kapitel (6)

1

Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)

B1
Häng «기 전에» direkt an den Verbstamm, um Handlungen zu ordnen. Nutze «기 전에» für Verben und nur «전에» für Nomen.
내가 가기 전에 전화할게.
11 Beispiele
2

Dinge nacheinander tun: Nachdem (ㄴ/은 후에)

B1
Mit «ㄴ/은 후에» bringst du Ordnung in deine Sätze. Deine Tools sind «ㄴ/은 후에» für Verben und das simple «후e» für Nomen.
숙제를 한 후에 게임을 했어요.
10 Beispiele
3

Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)

B1
Nutze «-고 나서», wenn du betonen willst, dass Aktion A zu 100% fertig ist, bevor B startet. Deine Keywords: Abschluss, Reihenfolge, Fokus.
Sukje-reul da ha-go naseo Netpeullikseu-reul bwayo...
12 Beispiele
4

Vergangene Zeit seit... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

B1
Verwende die Formel -ㄴ/은 지 + Zeitdauer + 되다, um über die Zeit seit einer Aktion zu sprechen. Merk dir: «공부한 지», «1년», «됐어요».
한국어 공부한 지 1년 됐어요.
10 Beispiele
5

Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

B1
Nutze «-ㄹ/을 때마다», um einen wiederkehrenden Auslöser mit einem festen Ergebnis zu verbinden – quasi dein Grammatik-Tool für Jedes Mal oder Wann immer.
Whenever I watch K-dramas, I want to eat tteokbokk...
12 Beispiele
6

Sobald / Gemäß (-ㄴ/은/는 대로)

B1
Nutze «-는 대로» für Dinge, die du bald erledigst, und «-ㄴ/은 대로», um etwas genau so zu kopieren, wie es war.
도착하는 대로 전화해 줘.
11 Beispiele

Next Steps

You've successfully mastered the timeline of Korean! Keep practicing these structures in your daily speech.

Write a 5-sentence paragraph about your morning routine.

Continue to: Plans, Decisions, and Obligations

Schnelle Übung (10)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form aus.

한국에 ___ 한국어를 조금 배웠어요. (Bevor ich nach Korea kam, habe ich ein wenig Koreanisch gelernt.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오기 전에
Für 'bevor ich komme' hängst du '기 전에' an den Stamm von 오다. Nutze keine Vergangenheit (왔기 전에).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)

Welcher Satz betont, dass A komplett vor B erledigt wird?

Wähle die beste Übersetzung für: 'Ich gehe aus, nachdem ich meine Hausaufgaben gemacht habe.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 숙제를 하고 나서 나가요.
'-고 나서' bedeutet 'nachdem man etwas getan hat'. '-면서' ist 'während' und '-러' ist 'um zu'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler in diesem Satz über das Reisen.

여행을 갈 때마나 사진을 찍어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 여행을 갈 때마다 사진을 찍어요.
Die Schreibweise ist '때마다', nicht '때마나'. Ein klassischer Tippfehler am Anfang!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von '읽다' (lesen).

책을 ___ 커피를 마셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 읽은 후에
'읽다' endet auf einen Konsonanten, also fügen wir '은 후에' hinzu.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dinge nacheinander tun: Nachdem (ㄴ/은 후에)

Welcher Satz hat die richtige Zeichensetzung?

Wähle die richtige Version:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 밥 먹은 지 1시간 됐어요.
'지' ist hier ein gebundenes Nomen und braucht daher ein Leerzeichen davor.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Vergangene Zeit seit... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von '가다' (gehen).

한국에 ____ 지 2년 됐어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 간
'가다' endet auf einen Vokal, also fügen wir '-ㄴ 지' hinzu. '간 지' ist die korrekte Form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Vergangene Zeit seit... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Fülle die Lücke aus, um zu sagen: 'Immer wenn ich esse...'

매운 음식을 _______ 물을 많이 마셔요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹을 때마다
Um 'jedes Mal' mit dem Verb 먹다 (essen) auszudrücken, fügst du -을 때마다 hinzu, weil der Stamm auf einen Konsonanten endet.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Fülle die Lücke aus, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

손을 ___ 밥을 먹어요. (waschen - 씻다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 씻고 나서
Du willst 'nach dem Waschen' sagen. '씻고 나서' betont, dass das Waschen vor dem Essen abgeschlossen ist.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reihenfolge: Nachdem man etwas beendet hat (-고 나서)

Welcher Satz bedeutet: 'Ich wasche mir vor dem Essen die Hände'?

Wähle den grammatikalisch korrekten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요.
먹다 (essen) + 기 전에 = 먹기 전에. Die Satzstellung ist [Aktion] + 기 전에 + [Nächste Aktion].

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Bevor man etwas tut... (-기 전에)

Welcher Satz drückt korrekt aus: 'Jedes Mal, wenn ich meine Katze sehe, bin ich glücklich'?

Wähle den besten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 고양이를 볼 때마다 행복해요.
Du nutzt den Basis-Stamm (보-) + ㄹ 때마다. Keine Vergangenheitsform und kein direktes Anhängen von 마다 an ein Verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Jedes Mal, wenn: Wiederholte Aktionen (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

Überhaupt nicht! Das macht 기 전에 so einfach. Egal ob der Stamm auf Vokal (가다) oder Konsonant (먹다) endet, häng es einfach dran.
Nein, niemals. Das ist ein häufiger Fehler. Die Zeitform des ganzen Satzes wird nur am Ende entschieden: «어제 자기 전에...» (Gestern vor dem Schlafen...).
Nein. Nutze niemals '았/었' vor '후에'. Die Endung 'ㄴ/은' zeigt schon, dass die Aktion fertig ist. Richtig ist «먹은 후에», falsch wäre «먹었은 후에».
Sie sind fast zu 100 % austauschbar. «후에» ist etwas formeller, während «다음에» wörtlich 'als Nächstes' bedeutet. Beides ist im Alltag okay.
Fast keiner! «-(으)ㄴ 후에» betont eher den Zeitpunkt, während «-고 나서» den Abschluss der Handlung hervorhebt. «밥을 먹고 나서» ist im Alltag super natürlich.
Eher selten. Man sagt vielleicht «성인이 되고 나서» (nachdem man erwachsen wurde), aber bei Zuständen klingt es meistens etwas komisch.
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Contrasts and Formal Expressions
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Plans, Decisions, and Obligations
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