Korean grammar patterns › Level 1
-(으)러 가다/오다
go/come (somewhere) to do
Level 1 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
Shows the purpose of going or coming: 'go/come in order to do'. It is followed only by movement verbs like 가다, 오다, 다니다, 나가다, 들어오다.
Forming it
| 보다 | → 보러 가요 |
| 먹다 | → 먹으러 가요 |
| 놀다 | → 놀러 와요 |
| 듣다 | → 들으러 가요 |
Not with non-movement verbs: ✗ 돈을 벌러 일해요 → 돈을 벌려고 일해요. ㄹ-stems take only -러: 놀다 → 놀러 (✗ 놀으러).
Examples
점심을 먹으러 식당에 가요.
I'm going to a restaurant to have lunch.
주말에 우리 집에 놀러 오세요.
Come over to my place this weekend.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)려고 states a purpose with any verb (but is not followed by commands or suggestions); -기 위해(서) is a more formal 'in order to'.