-거나

Build it

When to use it

Attach -거나 to any stem — no vowel rule, ㄹ stays, and tense can appear in front when needed: 갔거나.

It joins two actions or states as alternatives: 주말에는 책을 읽거나 영화를 봐요. Attaching it to both halves — 읽거나 보거나 하다 — adds a sense of “one or the other, it varies.”

The line to hold is against (이)나, which joins nouns. 커피나 차 is right; 커피거나 차 is not. If what you are joining could take a particle, you need (이)나.

It also works with adjectives: 너무 짜거나 매우면 말씀해 주세요.

How to attach it

In use

1. 주말에는 책을 읽거나 영화를 봐요.

   At weekends I read or watch films.

2. 시간이 없거나 피곤하면 안 가도 돼요.

   If you’re short on time or tired, you don’t have to come.

3. 저녁은 만들거나 시켜 먹어요.

   For dinner I either cook or order in.

4. 너무 짜거나 매우면 말씀해 주세요.

   Let me know if it’s too salty or too spicy.

5. 그 사람은 벌써 갔거나 지금 오는 중일 거예요.

   He’s either already gone or on his way now.

6. 쉬는 날에는 자거나 산책하거나 해요.

   On days off I sleep, or go for a walk, or something.

Compared with

• (이)나

  Nouns take (이)나; verbs and adjectives take -거나. This is the single distinction that matters, and it catches learners at every level.

  커피나 차를 마셔요. (coffee or tea)  /  커피를 마시거나 차를 마셔요. (drink coffee or drink tea)

• -든지

  -거나 presents a genuine choice between two options; -든지 says it makes no difference which. Close in form, different in attitude.

  읽거나 봐요. (I read or watch)  /  읽든지 보든지 하세요. (read, watch, whatever you like)

• 아니면

  아니면 stands between two full sentences, closer to “or else.” It is not a particle and attaches to nothing.

  책을 읽거나 영화를 봐요.  /  책을 읽어요. 아니면 영화를 봐요.

Watch out

• 커피거나 차를 주세요.

  커피나 차를 주세요.

  -거나 joins verbs and adjectives. To offer a choice between two nouns, use (이)나.

• 저녁은 만들거나 시키다 해요.

  저녁은 만들거나 시켜 먹어요.

  The second half needs to be a properly conjugated clause. -거나 links two complete predicates, not a stem to a bare dictionary form.

• 시간이 없어거나 피곤하면 말하세요.

  시간이 없거나 피곤하면 말하세요.

  -거나 attaches to the plain stem, not to the -아요/어요 form. Strip the ending back first.

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