-아/어 가다
a/eo gada
Grammar · 3 senses
About to finish
Examples
드라마가 다 끝나 가요.
The TV show is about to end.
물이 조금밖에 안 남아서 거의 다 마셔 가요.
There's only a bit of water left, so I'm almost done drinking it.
이 책을 다 읽어 가요.
I'm almost done reading this book.
When you'd hear it
This is common in everyday speech and drama dialogue, often with 다 or 거의 to describe an ongoing process. It works in both casual speech and polite -요 speech, and also appears in straightforward written narration.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse it with -아/어 오다. 가다 presents the process as progressing onward from the current point, while 오다 presents it as continuing up to the current point.
Keep doing
Examples
한국어를 공부해 가겠습니다!
I will keep studying Korean! (now and in the future)
일이 잘 돼 가요?
Are things going well? / Is work progressing favourably?
시간이 지나면서, 저는 아버지를 더 닮아 가고 있어요!
As time goes on, I'm looking like my father (more and more)!
When you'd hear it
Common in everyday conversation, workplace talk, and writing when describing an ongoing process or a change expected to continue. It is neutral in politeness and appears in both casual speech and formal statements.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse it with -아/어 오다: -아/어 가다 presents a process as moving forward from now, while -아/어 오다 presents it as continuing up to the present. It is also more process-focused than -고 있다, which simply marks an ongoing action.
Moving towards
Examples
식당까지 걸어 갔어요.
I walked to the restaurant.
집에서 기다려 주세요. 치킨을 사 갈게요.
Please wait at home. I'll buy chicken (and go to you.)
여기에서 먹어도 안 돼요. 음식을 가져가세요.
You're not allowed to eat here. Please take your food (and leave).
When you'd hear it
This pattern is common in everyday conversation when describing doing something before moving away or toward a destination, as in 사 갈게요 and 가져가세요. It also appears in practical instructions and ordinary written notices.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse it with -아/어 오다: 가다 presents the movement as away from the speaker or toward the destination, while 오다 presents it as coming toward the speaker. It can also be more natural than translating the two actions separately, as in 사 갈게요, “I’ll buy it and bring it over.”
Ask Ipsae about -아/어 가다
- How is -아/어 가다 different from -아/어 오다?
- Can I use -아/어 가다 without 다 or 거의?
- Can this pattern describe a completed action?
- How is this different from -아/어 오다?
- Can I use this with past tense?
- How is this different from -고 있다?
- Does 가다 always mean physical movement here?
- How does 사 가다 differ from 사다 and 가져가다?
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