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Unit 25: If You Keep Doing (-다가는)

When you want to warn someone that "if you continue doing this action, a bad result will happen," you use -다가는 in Easy Korean.

Structure

Action Verb Stem + -다가는 (often shortened to -다가)

  • 먹다 -> 먹다가는 (If you keep eating [like this]...)
  • 놀다 -> 놀다가는 (If you keep playing around...)
  • 자다 -> 자다가는 (If you keep sleeping...)

Usage

The second clause MUST be a negative outcome or a warning. - 그렇게 매일 술을 마시다가는 병에 걸릴 거예요. (If you keep drinking alcohol every day like that, you will get a disease.) - 공부 안 하고 놀다가는 시험에 떨어질 거예요. (If you keep playing without studying, you will fail the exam.)

Examples

  • 늦게 자다가는 내일 지각할지도 몰라요. (If you keep staying up late, you might be late tomorrow.)
  • 비를 맞다가는 감기에 걸릴 거예요. (If you keep getting rained on, you'll catch a cold.)