진행되다

§ Using the wrong particles with 진행되다

Many learners get confused with which particles to use with 진행되다. This verb often takes particles like ~이/가 or ~에/에서, depending on the nuance you want to convey. It's a passive verb, meaning something is progressed or proceeds itself, rather than someone progressing something. Therefore, you won't typically see an object particle (을/를) directly with 진행되다.

DEFINITION

Use ~이/가 for the subject that is progressing.

Here, '회의' (the meeting) is the subject that is progressing smoothly.

DEFINITION

Use ~에/에서 to indicate the place or context where something is progressing.

In this case, '회사에서' (at the company) specifies the location where the project is progressing.

§ Confusing 진행되다 with 진행하다

This is a very common pitfall! While both relate to 'progress' or 'proceeding,' their roles are opposite:

• 진행되다 (passive): Something is progressing/proceeding on its own or by external influence.
• 진행하다 (active): Someone is progressing/proceeding with something; they are actively doing it.

DEFINITION

Use 진행되다 when the subject is not the one actively causing the progress.

The '새로운 계획' (new plan) isn't actively doing anything; it's the thing that is progressing.

DEFINITION

Use 진행하다 when there's an agent actively making something progress.

Here, '우리' (we) are the ones actively progressing with the new plan.

§ Overusing it in contexts where other verbs are more natural

While 진행되다 means 'to progress,' it's not always the most natural choice in every situation where something is moving forward. Sometimes, simpler verbs are better.

DEFINITION

For general events or changes, consider using verbs like 시작되다 (to begin) or 잘 되다 (to go well).

Instead of saying '시험이 잘 진행되고 있어요' (The exam is progressing well), which isn't wrong but a bit formal, you could say:

Both sentences convey that the exam is going well, but '잘 되다' is a more common and natural expression in everyday conversation for things generally 'going well.'

§ Not understanding its formal/official nuance

While 진행되다 is a common verb, it carries a slightly more formal or official tone compared to some other words for 'going on' or 'happening.' It's frequently used in business, news, and official announcements.

DEFINITION

It often describes processes, projects, events, or procedures.

This sentence describes negotiations progressing smoothly, fitting the formal context well.

Using it for very casual, everyday occurrences might sound a bit stiff. For instance, if you're talking about a party, you might prefer other expressions.

§ Understanding 진행되다

The Korean verb 진행되다 (jin-haeng-doe-da) is a very common and useful word that means 'to progress' or 'to proceed'. It's often used when talking about events, projects, or processes that are moving forward. Think of it as 'being in progress' or 'moving along'. This verb is in the passive voice, indicating that something *is being* progressed or *is proceeding* rather than actively progressing something.

§ Examples of 진행되다 in use

Let's look at some examples to help you understand how to use 진행되다 naturally.

The meeting is proceeding smoothly. (회의가: meeting, 순조롭게: smoothly, 있습니다: is)

The construction is scheduled to proceed as expected. (공사가: construction, 예상대로: as expected, 예정입니다: is scheduled)

The project has progressed to the next stage. (프로젝트가: project, 다음 단계로: to the next stage, ~었어요: past tense)

§ Similar words and when to use 진행되다

Korean has several words that might seem similar to 진행되다, but they have different nuances. Understanding these differences will help you choose the most appropriate word.

• 진행하다 (jin-haeng-ha-da): This is the active form of 진행되다. It means 'to proceed' or 'to carry out' something. The subject of the sentence is actively doing the progressing.
  • Example: 제가 회의를 진행할 것입니다. (I will proceed with the meeting.) Here, 'I' am actively leading or conducting the meeting.
  • Use 진행하다 when you want to emphasize the agent (who or what) is causing the progress.
• 나아가다 (na-a-ga-da): This verb means 'to go forward', 'to advance', or 'to proceed'. It can imply a more active movement or a deliberate effort to move ahead. It often has a sense of moving towards a goal.
  • Example: 우리는 미래를 향해 나아가야 합니다. (We must advance towards the future.) This emphasizes a proactive forward movement.
  • While both can mean 'to proceed', 나아가다 often carries a stronger sense of purpose or effort in moving forward. 진행되다 is more about the state of something being in progress.
• 계속되다 (gye-sok-doe-da): This means 'to continue' or 'to be continued'. It focuses purely on the duration or the ongoing nature of an event or situation without necessarily implying progress towards a specific goal.
  • Example: 비가 하루 종일 계속되었어요. (The rain continued all day.)
  • Use 계속되다 when the main point is that something is ongoing, regardless of whether it's making specific progress or reaching a new stage. 진행되다 implies a step-by-step or phased movement.
• 전개되다 (jeon-gae-doe-da): This verb means 'to unfold', 'to develop', or 'to be deployed'. It's often used for situations, stories, or events that are revealing themselves over time, like a plot unfolding in a drama.
  • Example: 흥미로운 상황이 전개되고 있습니다. (An interesting situation is unfolding.)
  • While 진행되다 focuses on the movement of a process, 전개되다 focuses more on how a situation or story develops and reveals its parts.

In summary, use 진행되다 when you want to describe an event, project, or process that is currently in motion and moving through its stages. It’s a neutral term indicating that something is 'underway' or 'progressing'. It's a fundamental verb for talking about how things are coming along without specifically highlighting who is doing the progressing, or the exact nature of the advancement.