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Easy Korean - Level 3, Unit 28: While doing -(으)면서

In this unit, we will learn how to say you are doing two actions at the exact same time. We use the structure -(으)면서 (-eu-myeon-seo), which means "while -ing."

How to Conjugate

1. Verb stem ends in a VOWEL: Add -면서 * 보다 (to watch) -> 보 + 면서 = 보면서 (while watching) * 공부하다 (to study) -> 공부하 + 면서 = 공부하면서 (while studying)

2. Verb stem ends in a CONSONANT: Add -으면서 * 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹 + 으면서 = 먹으면서 (while eating) * 읽다 (to read) -> 읽 + 으면서 = 읽으면서 (while reading) * 듣다 (to listen - ㄷ irregular) -> 들 + 으면서 = 들으면서 (while listening)

3. Verb stem ends in ㄹ: Just add -면서 * 만들다 (to make) -> 만들면서 (while making) * 놀다 (to play) -> 놀면서 (while playing)

Important Rules for -(으)면서

  1. The subject must be the same. You can say "I eat while I watch TV," but you cannot use -(으)면서 to say "I eat while my brother watches TV." (For different subjects, you use a different grammar point: -는 동안).

  2. No past/future tense before -면서. Just like -자마자, the tense is marked at the very end of the sentence.

  3. 노래를 들으면서 청소했어요. (I cleaned while listening to music. - Past)

  4. 텔레비전을 보면서 밥을 먹을 거예요. (I will eat while watching TV. - Future)

Example Sentences

  1. 운전하면서 전화하지 마세요. (Please don't talk on the phone while driving.)
  2. 학생이면서 회사원이에요. (I am a student while also being an office worker. - Used with Nouns + 이다)
  3. 샤워하면서 노래를 불러요. (I sing a song while taking a shower.)
  4. 팝콘을 먹으면서 영화를 봤어요. (I watched a movie while eating popcorn.)