Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-았/었다가
did … and then (undid it / something else happened)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
The first action is completed, and then the opposite action follows or something happens as a result (typically: went somewhere and then…). Same subject in both clauses.
Forming it
| 가다 | → 갔다가 |
| 입다 | → 입었다가 |
| 켜다 | → 켰다가 |
| 사다 | → 샀다가 |
Often pairs of opposites: 입었다가 벗다, 켰다가 끄다, 앉았다가 일어나다.
Examples
옷을 샀다가 마음에 안 들어서 바꿨어요.
I bought the clothes, but didn't like them, so I exchanged them.
도서관에 갔다가 문이 닫혀서 그냥 왔어요.
I went to the library, but it was closed, so I just came back.
Compared with similar patterns
-다가 switches while the first action is still going on; -았/었다가 switches after it is completed. -(으)려다가 means one was about to do something but didn't.