Unit 04 | -다가 | (Unexpected Interruption)

-다가 (while doing something → something else happened)

This grammar connects two actions and shows that the second event occurred during the first one.
It’s commonly used when something unexpected or interruptive happens while in the middle of doing something.

1️⃣ 밥을 먹다가 전화를 받아서 숟가락을 떨어뜨렸어요.
→ I was eating when I got a call, so I dropped my spoon.

2️⃣ 걷다가 발을 헛디뎌서 넘어졌어요.
→ I was walking and missed my step, so I fell.

3️⃣ 요리하다가 기름이 튀어서 손을 데었어요.
→ I was cooking and got splashed by oil, so I burned my hand.

4️⃣ 책을 읽다가 잠이 들어서 꿈을 꿨어요.
→ I was reading a book and fell asleep, so I had a dream.

5️⃣ 운전하다가 졸아서 사고가 날 뻔했어요.
→ I was driving and got sleepy, so I almost had an accident.

1️⃣ Verb stem + -다가
2️⃣ Often followed by another clause that shows the result:
→ -아서/어서, -었어요, or -ㄴ 거예요

Examples:

걷다가 넘어졌어요. → I fell while walking.

공부하다가 친구한테 전화가 왔어요. → My friend called while I was studying.

• Expresses an interruption or a change while doing something.
• The first action stops because the second one happens.
• Very common in daily life to describe accidents, sudden events, or reactions.
• Often pairs with -아서/어서 to show the cause or result.

Think of an event that surprised or interrupted you while you were doing something.
That’s when “-다가” fits perfectly!

요리하다가 기름이 튀어서 손을 데었어요.
→ I was cooking when oil splashed, so I burned my hand.

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