Easy Korean Level 4 - Unit 25: While doing / -(으)면서

In this lesson, we will learn how to say that two actions are happening at the same time by the same person.

The structure is: -(으)면서 = "While (doing)"

Conjugation Rules

• Verb stems ending in a vowel: Add -면서
• 가다 -> 가면서 (while going)
• 보다 -> 보면서 (while watching)
• Verb stems ending in a consonant: Add -으면서
• 먹다 -> 먹으면서 (while eating)
• 읽다 -> 읽으면서 (while reading)
• Verb stems ending in ㄹ: Add -면서 (drop the '으' rule)
• 만들다 -> 만들면서 (while making)
• 놀다 -> 놀면서 (while playing/hanging out)

Usage Rules

1. The same person must be doing both actions. You cannot say "While Minsu watched TV, I studied" using this grammar point. (For that, you'd use -는 동안).
2. The tense is expressed in the second/final verb. You do not conjugate the verb attached to -(으)면서 into the past or future.

Examples

1. 밥을 먹다 + TV를 보다
2. 밥을 먹으면서 TV를 봐요.

3. I watch TV while eating a meal.

4. 음악을 듣다 + 공부하다

5. 음악을 들으면서 공부했어요. (Past tense!)

6. I studied while listening to music.

7. 샤워하다 + 노래를 부르다

8. 샤워하면서 노래를 불러요.

9. I sing while taking a shower.

10. 운전하다 + 전화하다

11. 운전하면서 전화하면 안 돼요. (Using Unit 9 grammar!)
12. You shouldn't talk on the phone while driving.