A2 · Élémentaire Chapitre 6

Conditions and Step-by-Step Actions

4 Règles totales
45 exemples
6 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of sequencing your day and setting conditions for your future plans.

  • Sequence events precisely using -고 나서 (after doing).
  • Express conditions and hypotheses with -(으)면 (if/when).
  • Connect daily tasks and future intentions effortlessly.
Connect your actions and master your conditions!

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey there, language explorer! You've done an amazing job with Korean so far, and I'm really proud of your progress! Now it's time to supercharge your conversations, letting you speak with more precision and detail, just like a native. In this exciting chapter, we're giving you two incredibly powerful tools to help you plan, give instructions, and talk about events that are linked together. First up, you'll master '-고 나서'. This structure is your secret weapon for emphasizing that one action must be completely finished before the next one can even begin. Imagine telling a friend, 'After I finish my homework, I'll call you,' or 'After I cook dinner, we'll eat together.' With this, you'll never skip a beat and can describe sequential tasks with perfect clarity. Next, we dive into '면/으면', your go-to for expressing conditions. This means you'll be able to say things like, 'If X happens, then Y will follow,' or 'When this event occurs, it will have this result.' For instance, you can confidently state, 'If it rains, we'll stay home,' or 'When I get hungry, I'll make food.' Pretty useful, right? By the end of this chapter, planning and giving instructions will feel effortless. You'll be able to confidently sequence events, set conditions, and describe interconnected situations. Ready to transform your Korean conversations? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe a clear sequence of events for your daily routine.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: State conditional plans, such as 'If it rains, I will study'.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Hey there, language explorer! You've done an amazing job with Korean so far, and I'm really proud of your progress! Now it's time to supercharge your conversations, letting you speak with more precision and detail, just like a native.
This chapter is a game-changer for your Korean grammar A2 journey, unlocking the ability to express complex ideas and link events logically. Mastering these structures is crucial for moving beyond basic sentences and truly engaging in dynamic conversations. We're giving you two incredibly powerful tools to help you plan, give instructions, and talk about events that are linked together, greatly enhancing your CEFR A2 Korean communication skills.
First up, you'll master -고 나서. This structure is your secret weapon for emphasizing that one action must be completely finished before the next one can even begin. Imagine telling a friend, "After I finish my homework, I'll call you, or After I cook dinner, we'll eat together." With this, you'll never skip a beat and can describe sequential tasks with perfect clarity, making your descriptions of sequencing actions in Korean much more accurate.
Next, we dive into (으)면, your go-to for expressing conditions. This means you'll be able to say things like,
If X happens, then Y will follow,
or
When this event occurs, it will have this result.
For instance, you can confidently state, "If it rains, we'll stay home, or When I get hungry, I'll make food." This is essential for understanding and using Korean conditionals effectively. By the end of this chapter, planning and giving instructions will feel effortless.
You'll be able to confidently sequence events, set conditions, and describe interconnected situations. Ready to transform your Korean conversations? Let's go!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces two fundamental Korean grammar patterns that add depth and clarity to your sentences: -고 나서 for sequential actions and (으)면 for conditions.
First, let's explore -고 나서, which translates to after doing... or having done.... This structure is used to indicate that the first action is fully completed before the second action begins. It emphasizes the sequential nature and completion of the first task.
To use it, simply attach -고 나서 directly to the stem of a verb. There are no special batchim (final consonant) rules to worry about, making it quite straightforward.
* Verb stem + -고 나서
* 밥을 먹고 나서 이를 닦았어요. (After eating a meal, I brushed my teeth.)
* 숙제를 하고 나서 친구를 만날 거예요. (After finishing homework, I will meet a friend.)
* 텔레비전을 보고 나서 잠이 들었어요. (After watching TV, I fell asleep.)
This pattern clearly signifies a completed action followed by another, making it perfect for describing step-by-step processes or plans.
Next, we have (으)면, your essential tool for expressing Korean conditionals, meaning if or when. This versatile ending connects a conditional clause to a result clause. The form you use depends on whether the verb or adjective stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
* If the verb/adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ (the 'l' sound), you use -면.
* 가다 (to go) → 가면 (If/When you go)
* 보다 (to see) → 보면 (If/When you see)
* 만들다 (to make) → 만들면 (If/When you make)
* If the verb/adjective stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ), you use -으면.
* 먹다 (to eat) → 먹으면 (If/When you eat)
* 읽다 (to read) → 읽으면 (If/When you read)
* 없다 (to not exist/have) → 없으면 (If/When there isn't/you don't have)
Examples:
* 비가 오면 집에 있을 거예요. (If it rains, I will stay home.)
* 배가 고프면 빵을 먹으세요. (If you are hungry, please eat bread.)
* 열심히 공부하면 좋은 성적을 받을 수 있어요. (If you study hard, you can get good grades.)
This (으)면 ending is fundamental for describing hypothetical situations, general truths, or conditions that lead to certain outcomes, greatly expanding your A2 Korean communicative range.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 숙제를 하고 게임을 했어요. (I did homework and played games.)
✓ Correct: 숙제를 하고 나서 게임을 했어요. (After doing homework, I played games.)
*Explanation:* While -고 can simply list actions, -고 나서 specifically emphasizes that the first action was *completed* before the second one began. Using -고 나서 makes the sequence clearer and implies a stronger completion requirement for the first action.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 책을 읽으면 재미있다. (If/When you read books, it is interesting.)
✓ Correct: 책을 읽으면 재미있어요. (If/When you read books, it is interesting.)
*Explanation:* When using (으)면 to express a condition, the main clause (the result) still needs a proper sentence ending, such as a politeness level like -어요/-아요, -습니다/-ㅂ니다, or other appropriate endings. Omitting it makes the sentence sound incomplete or overly blunt in most conversational contexts.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 돈이 없으면, 나에게 말해. (If you don't have money, tell me.)
✓ Correct: 돈이 없으면, 저에게 말해주세요. (If you don't have money, please tell me.)
*Explanation:* While the conditional clause with (으)면 is grammatically correct, the imperative (command) or suggestion in the main clause often requires a more polite or complete ending, especially when speaking to someone you're not extremely close to. Using -아/어 주세요 (please do X) or -세요 (please do X) is much more natural and polite.

Real Conversations

A

A

오늘 저녁에 뭐 할 거예요? (What are you going to do tonight?)
B

B

음... 먼저 밥을 먹고 나서 영화를 볼 거예요. (Hmm... First, after eating dinner, I'm going to watch a movie.)
A

A

주말에 비가 오면 어떡하죠? (What should we do if it rains this weekend?)
B

B

비가 오면 집에서 책을 읽거나 게임을 해요. (If it rains, let's read books or play games at home.)
A

A

이 케이크를 만들려면 어떻게 해야 해요? (How do I make this cake?)
B

B

먼저 밀가루를 섞고 나서 우유를 넣으세요. (First, mix the flour, and then add the milk.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -고 and -고 나서 when talking about sequential actions?

-고 simply lists actions in order (e.g.,

I ate and then went
). -고 나서 emphasizes that the first action was *fully completed* before the second one began, often implying a stronger cause-and-effect or necessary completion.

Q

Can I use (으)면 with adjectives to express conditions?

Yes, absolutely! You can use (으)면 with adjectives just like with verbs. For example, 바쁘면 (if you're busy), 예쁘면 (if it's pretty), or 좋으면 (if it's good).

Q

Are there other ways to say if in Korean besides (으)면?

Yes, there are, but (으)면 is the most common and versatile for A2 learners. Other forms like -다면 (if [hypothetical/reported]) or -아/어야 (only if/must) exist, but (으)면 covers most general conditional situations.

Q

How do I form a negative conditional using (으)면?

To make a negative conditional, you simply make the verb or adjective negative *before* attaching (으)면. For example, 안 오면 (if it doesn't come), 먹지 않으면 (if you don't eat), or 없으면 (if there isn't/you don't have).

Cultural Context

These two patterns, -고 나서 and (으)면, are deeply embedded in daily Korean communication. You'll hear -고 나서 frequently in instructions, recipes, and when people describe their plans, emphasizing the step-by-step nature of tasks. Its use reflects a culture that often values clear sequence and thoroughness.
Similarly, (으)면 is ubiquitous in everyday conversations, from making polite suggestions (
피곤하면 쉬세요
- "If you're tired, please rest") to discussing plans or predicting outcomes. It's a cornerstone of logical thought expression in Korean, essential for navigating social interactions and understanding cause-and-effect relationships. Mastering them helps you sound more natural and precise.

Exemples clés (8)

1

밥을 먹고 나서 이를 닦아요.

Je me brosse les dents après avoir mangé.

Compléter des actions avec -고 나서 (Après avoir fait...)
2

숙제를 다 하고 나서 넷플릭스를 볼 거야.

Je regarderai Netflix après avoir fini tous mes devoirs.

Compléter des actions avec -고 나서 (Après avoir fait...)
3

숙제를 다 하고 나서 게임을 했어요.

Après avoir fini tous mes devoirs, j'ai joué aux jeux vidéo.

Après avoir fait... (고 나서)
4

우버를 부르고 나서 밖으로 나갔어요.

Après avoir commandé un Uber, je suis sorti.

Après avoir fait... (고 나서)
5

Si j'ai beaucoup d'argent, je veux acheter une Ferrari.

Si j'ai beaucoup d'argent, je veux acheter une Ferrari.

Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)
6

Si tu as du temps, on regarde Netflix ensemble ?

Si tu as du temps, on regarde Netflix ensemble ?

Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)
7

돈이 `있으면` 이 가방을 사고 싶어요.

Si j'ai de l'argent, je veux acheter ce sac.

Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면
8

유튜브를 `보면` 시간이 정말 빨리 가요.

Quand je regarde YouTube, le temps passe vraiment vite.

Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

L'astuce de la coche ✅

Imagine une petite coche mentale après le premier verbe. Si tu peux dire 'C'est fait !', alors c'est parfait : «숙제하고 나서 놀아요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compléter des actions avec -고 나서 (Après avoir fait...)
🎯

Le mot magique 'Tout'

Ajoute «다» (tout) juste avant le verbe pour insister sur le fait que tu as fini à 100% : «숙제를 다 하고 나서 놀아요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Après avoir fait... (고 나서)
💡

Quand ou Si ?

En coréen, on ne chipote pas : c'est le même mot ! Si l'événement est certain, comme le soleil qui se lève, traduis-le par 'quand' : «해 가 뜨면 일어날 거예요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)
🎯

L'astuce du 'Si vs Quand'

Si l'événement est garanti (comme le lever du soleil), c'est 'Quand'. Si c'est un pari (comme gagner un jeu), c'est 'Si'. En coréen, on utilise (으)면 pour les deux ! «내일 해가 뜨면...»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면

Vocabulaire clé (6)

숙제(sukje) homework 끝나다(kkeutnada) to finish 비가 오다(biga oda) to rain 만나다(mannada) to meet 시간이 있다(sigani itda) to have time 요리하다(yorihada) to cook

Real-World Preview

calendar

Weekend Planning

Review Summary

  • Verb + -고 나서
  • Verb/Adj + -(으)면

Erreurs courantes

You used a sequence connector instead of a conditional. Use (으)면 for 'if'.

Wrong: 비가 오고 나서 집에 갈 거예요. (If it rains, I will go home.)
Correct: 비가 오면 집에 갈 거예요. (If it rains, I will go home.)

Don't forget the object marker '를' for natural flow.

Wrong: 숙제하고 나서 먹어요. (I eat after doing homework.)
Correct: 숙제를 하고 나서 먹어요. (I eat after doing homework.)

The grammar is -고 나서, not the other way around.

Wrong: 먹으면 나서 갈 거예요.
Correct: 먹고 나서 갈 거예요.

Next Steps

You've successfully mastered the logic of Korean sentences! Keep practicing these structures in your daily life, and you'll be speaking fluently in no time.

Write a 5-sentence plan for tomorrow using -고 나서 and (으)면.

Continue to: Wants, Abilities, and Goals

Pratique rapide (10)

Quelle phrase est grammaticalement correcte ?

Choisis la phrase conditionnelle correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 책을 읽으면 재미있어요.
'읽다' finit par une consonne (sauf ㄹ), donc tu dois utiliser '으면'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면

Remplis le vide avec la bonne forme de '자다' (dormir).

피곤하____ 일찍 자세요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 면
'피곤하다' se termine par une voyelle, donc on ajoute simplement '면'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)

Remplis le blanc avec la forme correcte de '가다' (aller).

학교에 ____ 친구를 만나요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가면
Puisque '가다' finit par une voyelle, on ajoute simplement '면' au radical.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면

Trouve et corrige l'erreur de conjugaison.

Find and fix the mistake:

한국에 살으면 한국말을 잘 해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 한국에 살면 한국말을 잘 해요.
Les verbes finissant en 'ㄹ' comme '살다' ne prennent pas de '으'. Ils prennent juste '면'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : La terminaison (으)면

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

숙제를 했고 나서 티비를 봤어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 숙제를 하고 나서 티비를 봤어요.
On ne peut pas mettre de passé (했) avant '고 나서'. On utilise le radical de base (하).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Après avoir fait... (고 나서)

Quelle phrase est correctement conjuguée pour '먹다' (manger) ?

Choisis la bonne phrase avec 'si' :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 밥을 먹으면 배가 불러요.
'먹다' a un batchim (ㄱ), donc '으면' est obligatoire pour faire le pont.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)

Complète la phrase pour dire : 'Après m'être lavé les mains, je mange.'

손을 ___ 밥을 먹어요. (씻다 - laver)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 씻고 나서
On a besoin de la suite 'après avoir lavé'. La racine de 씻다 est 씻, donc on ajoute 고 나서.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compléter des actions avec -고 나서 (Après avoir fait...)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur de conjugaison pour '만들다' (fabriquer).

케이크를 만들으면 친구를 줄 거예요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 케이크를 만들면
Les radicaux finissant par 'ㄹ' n'ont pas besoin du 'eu' ; ils prennent directement '면'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Si et Quand : Les conditionnels coréens (면/으면)

Complète la phrase avec la forme correcte de '가다' (aller).

집에 ___ 손을 씻어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 가고 나서
On prend le radical '가' et on ajoute '고 나서' pour dire 'après être rentré'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Après avoir fait... (고 나서)

Quelle phrase dit correctement : 'J'ai rencontré un ami après avoir fini le travail' ?

Choisis la phrase naturelle :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 일을 끝내고 나서 친구를 만났어요.
La première option est la bonne. La deuxième fait l'erreur de conjuguer le premier verbe au passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compléter des actions avec -고 나서 (Après avoir fait...)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

C'est très proche ! -(으)ㄴ 후에 est un peu plus formel et écrit. -고 나서 insiste plus sur l'action de *finir* quelque chose : «밥을 먹고 나서 공부해요.»
En général, non. On ne 'finit' pas d'être mignon pour faire autre chose. Utilise plutôt -(으)ㄴ 후에 pour les états : «부자가 된 후에.»
Ça veut dire 'après avoir fait' quelque chose. Ça insiste sur le fait que la première action est bien finie avant la suivante, comme dans «밥을 먹고 나서» (après avoir fini de manger).
En général, non. On l'utilise presque uniquement avec des verbes d'action. Pour les adjectifs, on préfère '-아/어서' ou juste '-고'.
면 est pour les conditions générales. 거든 s'utilise surtout à l'oral pour introduire un ordre ou un plan précis, comme dans «라면을 먹거든 물을 많이 넣어.»
Non ! Pour le passé, utilise ~었을 때. 면 est réservé au futur ou aux vérités générales comme «봄이 오면 꽃이 피어요.»
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