B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 6

Sequencing and Timing Actions

6 Règles totales
66 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

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!

Ce que tu vas apprendre

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.

Guide du chapitre

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.

Exemples clés (8)

1

내가 가기 전에 전화할게.

Je t'appellerai avant de partir.

Avant de faire... (-기 전에)
2

이 사진 지우기 전에 빨리 봐!

Regarde vite cette photo avant que je l'efface !

Avant de faire... (-기 전에)
3

숙제를 한 후에 게임을 했어요.

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

Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)
4

손을 씻은 후에 밥을 먹으세요.

Mange après t'être lavé les mains, s'il te plaît.

Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)
5

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

Je regarde Netflix après avoir fini tous mes devoirs.

Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)
6

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

Il ne faut pas s'allonger juste après avoir mangé.

Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)
7

한국어 공부한 지 1년 됐어요.

Ça fait un an que j'étudie le coréen.

Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)
8

담배 끊은 지 3년 넘었어요.

Ça fait plus de trois ans que j'ai arrêté de fumer.

Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Conseils et astuces (4)

⚠️

Le piège du passé

Ne mets jamais de passé sur le verbe avant 기 전에. On ne dit pas 갔기 전에, garde la racine pure : «공부하기 전에 놀았어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avant de faire... (-기 전에)
💡

Le raccourci du quotidien

Si t'es pressé ou que tu textes un ami, tu peux utiliser 고 나서, mais ㄴ/은 후에 reste plus structuré. «숙제하고 나서 놀아요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)
💡

Le piège du passé

Ne mets jamais de marqueur de passé sur le premier verbe ! On ne dit pas 먹었고 나서. Le temps se décide tout à la fin de la phrase : «먹고 나서 갔어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)
⚠️

Le piège de l'espace

N'oublie jamais l'espace avant '지'. '먹은지' sert pour les questions indirectes, alors que '먹은 지' parle du temps écoulé : «밥 먹은 지 10분 됐어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Vocabulaire clé (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

Erreurs courantes

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

Wrong: 먹기 후에 (Eating after)
Correct: 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)
Correct: 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)
Correct: 1년이 됐어요 (1 year has elapsed)

Règles dans ce chapitre (6)

1

Avant de faire... (-기 전에)

B1
Ajoute simplement «기 전에» à la racine du verbe pour dire 'avant de faire' quelque chose sans te soucier du temps. «기 전에»
내가 가기 전에 전화할게.
11 exemples
2

Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)

B1
Utilise «ㄴ/은 후에» pour mettre tes actions dans l'ordre, comme une petite flèche temporelle qui dit "une fois que c'est fini, je fais ça".
숙제를 한 후에 게임을 했어요.
10 exemples
3

Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)

B1
C'est ton outil magique pour dire 'après avoir fini de...'. Utilise «-고 나서» pour marquer une étape claire : "finir d'abord, puis passer à la suite".
Sukje-reul da ha-go naseo Netpeullikseu-reul bwayo...
12 exemples
4

Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

B1
Utilise -ㄴ/은 지 suivi d'une durée et du verbe 되다 pour dire 'ça fait... que'. Garde en tête les mots : «되다», «넘다» et «지나다».
한국어 공부한 지 1년 됐어요.
10 exemples
5

À chaque fois que : Actions répétées (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

B1
Utilise -ㄹ/을 때마다 pour lier un déclencheur à un résultat systématique. Pense aux badges : habitude, répétition, systématique.
Whenever I watch K-dramas, I want to eat tteokbokk...
12 exemples
6

Dès que / Selon (-ㄴ/은/는 대로)

B1
Utilise «-는 대로» pour une suite d'actions futures et «-ㄴ/은 대로» pour dire exactement comme quelque chose s'est passé.
도착하는 대로 전화해 줘.
11 exemples

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

Pratique rapide (10)

Complète la phrase avec la bonne forme de '읽다' (lire).

책을 ___ 커피를 마셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 읽은 후에
'읽다' se termine par une consonne, donc on ajoute '은 후에'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)

Quelle phrase insiste sur le fait de finir A avant B ?

Choisis la traduction pour : 'Je sors après avoir fini mes devoirs.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 숙제를 하고 나서 나가요.
'-고 나서' signifie 'après avoir fait'. '-면서' veut dire 'pendant que' et '-러' exprime le but.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)

Quelle phrase dit correctement 'Je me lave les mains avant de manger' ?

Choisis la phrase grammaticalement correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요.
먹다 (manger) + 기 전에 = 먹기 전에. L'ordre des mots est [Action] + 기 전에 + [Action suivante].

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avant de faire... (-기 전에)

Trouve l'erreur dans l'utilisation du passé.

영화를 봤고 나서 커피를 마셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 영화를 보고 나서 커피를 마셨어요.
N'utilise jamais le passé (봤) avant -고 나서. Utilise le radical (보) + 고 나서. Le temps se met à la fin de la phrase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)

Quelle phrase a le bon espacement ?

Choisis la version correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 밥 먹은 지 1시간 됐어요.
'지' est un nom dépendant ici, il doit donc y avoir un espace avant.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Complète la phrase pour dire 'après s'être lavé les mains'.

손을 ___ 밥을 먹어요. (laver - 씻다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 씻고 나서
On veut dire 'après avoir fini de laver'. '씻고 나서' insiste sur la fin de l'action avant de manger.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Séquence : Après avoir fini de... (-고 나서)

Trouve l'erreur dans la phrase.

서울에 살은 지 5년 됐어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 서울에 산 지 5년 됐어요.
Pour les verbes irréguliers en 'ㄹ' comme '살다', le 'ㄹ' tombe avant d'ajouter '-ㄴ 지'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Temps écoulé depuis... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase sur les voyages.

여행을 갈 때마나 사진을 찍어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 여행을 갈 때마다 사진을 찍어요.
L'orthographe correcte est '때마다', pas '때마나'. C'est une petite faute de frappe classique !

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: À chaque fois que : Actions répétées (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase.

샤워했은 후에 잠을 잤어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 샤워한 후에 잠을 잤어요.
On utilise le radical du verbe '샤워하-' + 'ㄴ 후에', pas le passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Faire les choses dans l'ordre : Après (ㄴ/은 후에)

Complète la phrase avec la bonne forme.

한국에 ___ 한국어를 조금 배웠어요. (Avant de venir en Corée, j'ai appris un peu le coréen.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오기 전에
Pour dire 'avant de venir', on attache 기 전에 à la racine de 오다 (venir). N'utilise pas le passé (왔기 전에).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avant de faire... (-기 전에)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Pas du tout ! C'est ce qui rend 기 전에 super facile. Que la racine finisse par une voyelle ou une consonne, tu colles juste la structure.
Non, jamais. C'est l'erreur classique. Le temps de la phrase est décidé uniquement par le dernier verbe. Même pour hier, dis : «어제 자기 전에...»
Non, jamais de '았/었' avant. La forme 'ㄴ/은' indique déjà que l'action est terminée. Dis «먹은 후에» et non «먹었은 후에».
C'est quasiment la même chose ! '후에' est un peu plus standard, alors que '다음에' signifie littéralement 'ensuite'. Tu peux utiliser les deux : «밥 먹은 다음에».
C'est très proche ! -(으)ㄴ 후에 insiste sur le moment (après), alors que -고 나서 souligne que l'action est *terminée*. Dans 95% des cas, tu peux utiliser les deux, comme dans «밥을 먹은 후에» ou «밥을 먹고 나서».
C'est rare. On l'utilise pour des actions. Tu entendras peut-être «성인이 되고 나서» (après être devenu adulte), mais pas avec 이다 directement.
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Contrasts and Formal Expressions
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Plans, Decisions, and Obligations
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