✍️ Intermediate Day 1: Sentence Connectors – 그래서, 하지만, 그리고

📘 Intermediate Day 1: Sentence Connectors – 그래서, 하지만, 그리고

Welcome to Intermediate Korean Day 1! 🎓 If you’ve completed the beginner level, it’s time to step up your fluency by learning how to connect sentences naturally. In this lesson, we’ll cover three essential Korean sentence connectors: 그래서 (so/therefore), 하지만 (but/however), and 그리고 (and).

These connectors will help you speak in longer, smoother, and more complex sentences – just like native speakers!

📌 What Are Sentence Connectors?

Sentence connectors link two ideas or actions in a logical way. In Korean, connectors help express cause and effect, contrast, and addition. Here are the three we’ll focus on:

  • 그래서 – so, therefore (cause → result)
  • 하지만 – but, however (contrast)
  • 그리고 – and, also (addition)

📘 1. 그래서 (so / therefore)

Used to show cause and effect. The first sentence gives a reason; the second sentence shows the result.

  • 비가 왔어요. 그래서 우산을 썼어요.
    bi-ga wa-sseo-yo. geu-rae-seo u-san-eul sseot-seo-yo.
    It rained. So I used an umbrella.
  • 배고팠어요. 그래서 밥을 먹었어요.
    bae-go-pat-sseo-yo. geu-rae-seo bap-eul meo-geot-sseo-yo.
    I was hungry. So I ate.

📘 2. 하지만 (but / however)

Used to show contrast between two ideas. Similar to "but" or "however" in English.

  • 저는 피자를 좋아해요. 하지만 너무 자주 먹지는 않아요.
    jeo-neun pi-ja-reul jo-a-hae-yo. ha-ji-man neo-mu ja-ju meok-ji-neun an-a-yo.
    I like pizza. But I don’t eat it too often.
  • 그 영화는 재미있었어요. 하지만 너무 길었어요.
    geu yeong-hwa-neun jae-mi-it-sseot-seo-yo. ha-ji-man neo-mu gil-eot-seo-yo.
    The movie was fun. However, it was too long.

📘 3. 그리고 (and / also)

Used to add information or list actions. Works like “and” in English to combine two sentences or ideas.

  • 아침에 커피를 마셨어요. 그리고 신문을 읽었어요.
    a-chim-e keo-pi-reul ma-syeot-seo-yo. geu-ri-go sin-mun-eul il-geot-seo-yo.
    I drank coffee in the morning. And I read the newspaper.
  • 저는 학생이에요. 그리고 영어 선생님이에요.
    jeo-neun hak-saeng-i-e-yo. geu-ri-go yeong-eo seon-saeng-nim-i-e-yo.
    I am a student. And I’m also an English teacher.

💬 Real-Life Conversation Example

👦 준호: 오늘 시험이 있었어요. 그래서 아침 일찍 일어났어요.
👧 수지: 어땠어요?
👦 준호: 괜찮았어요. 하지만 좀 어려웠어요.
👧 수지: 고생했어요! 그리고 점심은 뭐 먹었어요?


📘 Practice Writing

Try combining two short sentences using the connectors above:

  • 비가 와요. 우산이 없어요. → 비가 와요. 하지만 우산이 없어요.
  • 저는 김밥을 좋아해요. 떡볶이도 좋아해요. → 저는 김밥을 좋아해요. 그리고 떡볶이도 좋아해요.

🧪 Mini Quiz – Let’s Connect!

  1. Choose the correct connector:
    “I was sleepy. ___ I went to bed early.”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ 그래서

  2. Choose the correct connector:
    “I studied hard. ___ I didn’t do well on the test.”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ 하지만

  3. Choose the correct connector:
    “I met my friend. ___ we went to a café.”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ 그리고


✅ Conclusion

👏 Great work! Now you can build longer, smoother sentences using these natural connectors.

  • ✔️ Use 그래서 for cause and result
  • ✔️ Use 하지만 for contrast
  • ✔️ Use 그리고 for adding information

Keep practicing by writing your own connected sentences, and try using these in real-life conversations!


📘 Coming Up Next

Tomorrow: Day 2: Sentence Connectors II – -지만, -는데
We’ll explore how to connect ideas with these more advanced grammar forms!

Related Keywords:
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