Korean grammar patterns › Level 4
-다가는
if you keep doing … (something bad will happen) — warning
Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Clause 1 is an action or state that continues as it is now; clause 2 warns of a bad result, usually with -(으)ㄹ 거예요, -겠어요 or -(으)ㄹ지도 몰라요.
Forming it
| 자다 | → 자다가는 |
| 놀다 | → 놀다가는 |
| 운전하다 | → 운전하다가는 |
Clause 2 must be a negative consequence and not in the past: ✗ 열심히 공부하다가는 합격할 거예요.
Examples
그렇게 매일 늦게 자다가는 건강이 나빠질 거예요.
If you keep going to bed late every night like that, your health will get worse.
이렇게 놀기만 하다가는 시험에 떨어지겠어요.
If I keep doing nothing but play like this, I'll fail the exam.
Compared with similar patterns
-다 보면 (G4-019) is neutral or positive ('if you keep at it, eventually …'); -다가는 is a warning. -다가 (G2-035) simply marks a switch from one action to another.