B1 · Intermediário Capítulo 6

Sequencing and Timing Actions

6 Regras totais
66 exemplos
5 min

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!

O que você vai aprender

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.

Guia do capítulo

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 , 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 , 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 , 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. 1Wrong: 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. 1Wrong: 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. 1Wrong: 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.

Exemplos-chave (8)

1

내가 가기 전에 전화할게.

Eu te ligo antes de ir.

Antes de fazer... (-기 전에)
2

이 사진 지우기 전에 빨리 봐!

Olha logo essa foto antes que eu apague!

Antes de fazer... (-기 전에)
3

숙제를 한 후에 게임을 했어요.

Depois de fazer o dever de casa, eu joguei.

Fazer as coisas por ordem: Depois de (ㄴ/은 후에)
4

손을 씻은 후에 밥을 먹으세요.

Por favor, coma depois de lavar as mãos.

Fazer as coisas por ordem: Depois de (ㄴ/은 후에)
5

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

Eu assisto Netflix depois de terminar toda a lição de casa.

Sequência: Depois de terminar (-고 나서)
6

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

Você não deve deitar logo depois de comer.

Sequência: Depois de terminar (-고 나서)
7

한국어 공부한 지 1년 됐어요.

It's been a year since I studied Korean.

Tempo decorrido desde... (-(으)ㄴ 지)
8

담배 끊은 지 3년 넘었어요.

It's been over three years since I quit smoking.

Tempo decorrido desde... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Dicas e truques (4)

⚠️

A Armadilha do Tempo

Nunca coloque o tempo passado no verbo que vem antes de 기 전에. Dizer 갔기 전에 soa muito estranho. Use sempre «가기 전에».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Antes de fazer... (-기 전에)
💡

O Atalho do 'E Então'

Se estiver com pressa ou mandando mensagem, você pode usar «고 나서», mas «ㄴ/은 후에» soa mais estruturado. Exemplo: «밥을 먹고 나서 가요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fazer as coisas por ordem: Depois de (ㄴ/은 후에)
💡

Truque do Passado

Nunca coloque a marca de passado (았/었) no primeiro verbo. Dizer «먹었고 나서» está errado. O tempo da frase é definido pelo último verbo! «밥을 먹고 나서 갔어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sequência: Depois de terminar (-고 나서)
💡

Use '오래되다'

Combine with '오래되다' to easily say 'a long time'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tempo decorrido desde... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Vocabulário-chave (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

Erros comuns

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

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

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.

Prática rápida (10)

Preencha a lacuna com a forma correta.

한국에 ___ 한국어를 조금 배웠어요. (Antes de vir para a Coreia, aprendi um pouco de coreano.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오기 전에
Para dizer 'antes de vir', anexe 기 전에 ao radical de 오다 (vir). Não use o passado (왔기 전에).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Antes de fazer... (-기 전에)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

공부한 지 1년 지났다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 공부한 지 1년이 지났다
Need subject particle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tempo decorrido desde... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

샤워했은 후에 잠을 잤어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 샤워한 후에 잠을 잤어요.
Você deve usar a raiz do verbo '샤워하-' e adicionar 'ㄴ 후에', não a forma do passado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fazer as coisas por ordem: Depois de (ㄴ/은 후에)

Qual frase enfatiza fazer A totalmente antes de B?

Escolha a melhor tradução para: 'Eu saio depois de fazer o dever de casa.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 숙제를 하고 나서 나가요.
'-고 나서' significa 'depois de fazer'. '-면서' é 'enquanto faz' e '-러' é 'para fazer'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sequência: Depois de terminar (-고 나서)

Preencha o espaço com a forma correta de '읽다' (ler).

책을 ___ 커피를 마셨어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 읽은 후에
'읽다' termina em consoante, então adicionamos '은 후에'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fazer as coisas por ordem: Depois de (ㄴ/은 후에)

Choose the best fit.

그가 떠난 지 ___ 지났다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1년이
Subject particle is needed.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tempo decorrido desde... (-(으)ㄴ 지)

Preencha o espaço para dizer 'Me ligue assim que o filme terminar.'

영화가 ______ 전화해 주세요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 끝나는 대로
Para expressar 'assim que' em um evento futuro, usamos radical do verbo + -는 대로.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Assim que / De acordo com (-ㄴ/은/는 대로)

Encontre e corrija o erro de tempo verbal.

어제 자랐기 전에 영화를 봤어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제 자기 전에 영화를 봤어요.
Nunca coloque o passado antes de 기 전에. O passado pertence apenas ao verbo final (봤어요). 자다 vira 자기 전에.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Antes de fazer... (-기 전에)

Qual frase diz corretamente 'Sempre que vejo meu gato, fico feliz'?

Escolha a melhor frase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 고양이를 볼 때마다 행복해요.
Você deve usar o radical básico (보-) + ㄹ 때마다. Não se usa o passado (봤을) nem se coloca 마다 direto no verbo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sempre que: Acções repetidas (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Encontre e corrija o erro nesta frase sobre viajar.

Find and fix the mistake:

여행을 갈 때마나 사진을 찍어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 여행을 갈 때마다 사진을 찍어요.
A ortografia correta é '때마다', não '때마나'. É um erro de digitação comum para iniciantes!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Sempre que: Acções repetidas (-ㄹ/을 때마다)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

De jeito nenhum! Isso é o que torna o 기 전에 tão fácil. Seja o radical terminado em vogal como «가기 전에» ou consoante como «먹기 전에», a regra é a mesma.
Não, nunca. Esse é um erro comum. O tempo da frase inteira é decidido apenas pelo último verbo. Mesmo para algo de ontem, use o radical: «어제 자기 전에...».
Não! Nunca use '았/었' antes de '후e'. A conjuração 'ㄴ/은' já implica que a ação foi concluída. O certo é «밥을 먹은 후에 가요».
Eles são quase 100% intercambiáveis. «후에» é um pouco mais formal, enquanto «다음에» significa literalmente 'próximo'. Pode usar os dois!
Quase nenhuma! O -(으)ㄴ 후에 foca um pouco mais no tempo (depois), enquanto o -고 나서 destaca que a ação foi concluída. Na conversa do dia a dia, «밥을 먹고 나서» e «밥을 먹은 후에» são intercambiáveis.
Raramente. Você pode ouvir «성인이 되고 나서» (depois de se tornar adulto), usando o verbo 되다. Mas com 이다 soa estranho; foque em verbos de ação.