LESSON 37

“Before,” “After” and “While”

To say before something happens or before something happened you use the -gi form followed by jeon = prior, earlier, before, ago usually followed by the particle e:

Hakgyo gagi jeon-e gongbu-reul haeyo.

학교 가기 전에 공부를 해요.

I study the lesson before I come to school.

Biga ogi jeon-e jip-e gaya haeyo.

비가 오기 전에 집에 가야 해요.

I’ve got to get home before it rains.

Yeonseol-eul sijak hagi jeon-e, mul-eul masyeoya haeyo.

연설을 시작하기 전에 물을 마셔야 해요.

Before beginning my speech I take a drink of water.

Jip-eseo tteonagi jeon-e jeo-hante jeonhwa juseyo.

집에서 떠나기 전에 저한테 전화 주세요.

Please phone me before you leave (go out of) your house.

To say after something happens or after something happened you use the ordinary modifier form -eun plus hu = afterward which may be followed by the particle e:

Jip-e on hu-e gongbu haesseoyo.

집에 온 후에 공부했어요.

I studied after I came home.

Yeonghwa-reul bon hu-e kape-eseo cha han jan masyeosseoyo.

영화를 본 후에 카페에서 차 한 잔 마셨어요.

After we had watched the movie, we went to a cafe and drank a cup of (black) tea.

Uri gae-ga jugeun hu-e aideul-i oraet dongan ureosseoyo.

우리 개가 죽은 후에 아이들이 오랫동안 울었어요.

After our dog died, the children cried for a long time.

(orae = long time; dongan = interval)

Yeonghwa-reul bon hu-e baro jip-euro doraoseyo.

영화를 본 후에 바로 집으로 돌아 오세요.

Come right back home after you have seen the movie.

Dangsin-i jam jagi jeon-e doduk-i deureo wasseoyo, jam deun hu-e deureo wasseoyo?

당신이 잠 자기 전에 도둑이 들어왔어요, 잠 잔 후에 들어왔어요?

Did the thief come in after you had gone to bed, (or) before you went to bed?

To say while something is happening you use the processive modifier -neun followed by jung = in the midst of, or dongan = interval, or sai (sae) = interval. The particle e may follow:

Jam jago itteon jungieosseoyo.

잠자고 있던 중이었어요.

It was while we were sleeping.

Dangsin-i malhago inneun dongan jeo-neun juwi gipke deukko itsseoyo.

당신이 말하고 있는 동안 저는 주의깊게 듣고 있어요.

While you were talking I was listening closely (well).

Jeo-neun jigeum gongbu jung igo gongbu kkeunnamyeon sanchaek gal geoeyo.

저는 지금 공부 중이고 공부 끝나면 산책 갈 거에요.

I am now in the midst of studying but after I’ve studied, I am going to take a walk.

Dangsin-i sanchaek naga inneun dongan sonnim-i chaja osyeosseoyo.

당신이 산책 나가 있는 동안 손님이 찾아 오셨어요.

While you were walking, a guest came to the house.

Mueo-seul bosigesseoyo?

무엇을 보시겠어요?

What are you (going) to see?