clear cherry skies.

This construction is used to express that the action in the second clause is done for the purpose/intent of SOMEONE ELSE doing the action in the first clause. It can be translated as “for the sake of”, “so that”, “in order to”, etc. 

Examples:

우리 엄마가 너하고 먹으라고 도시락을 아주 많이 싸 주셨어. My mom wrapped a lot for lunch so that I could eat with you.

네가 만인에게 읽으라고 글을 썼으면 독자의 비판을 받는 것은 당연한 일 아닌가. If you write for everyone to read, then isn’t it certain that you’d receive reader criticism?

이게 다 너 잘되라고 하는 소리야. I’m saying all this for your benefit.

제사상에라도 놓으시라고 과일 좀 가져왔습니다. I brought some fruit so you could put it on the ceremonial table, or something.

This is comparable, but DIFFERENT from the construction ~(으)려고, which is used to express that someone does something for THEIR OWN sake. You can see the difference here:

먹으라고 사온거예요. I bought it for you to eat. 먹으려고 사온거예요. I bought this to eat it (myself).

제사상에 놓으시라고 과일 좀 가져왔습니다.  I brought fruit so that you could put it on the ceremonial table. 제사상에 놓으시려고 과일 가져오셨습니다. You brought fruit so that you could put it on the ceremonial table.

Sure! So 아/어 가지고 is a grammar point used to express the reason for something. The cause and effect. So, it is normally translated as “because,” but it can be translated in a number of ways.

It is used with mostly verbs (동사) and adjectives (형용사). But it is not conjugated for tense, so no tense markers are used with it.

아 가지고 comes after words that end with ㅏ and ㅗ. The same as making a simple present tense sentence (가요, 좋아요). 

사다 -> 사 가지고, 좋다 -> 좋아 가지고, 오다 -> 와 가지고 

어 가지고 comes after words that don’t end with ㅏ or ㅗ.

먹다 -> 먹어 가지고, 쓰다 -> 써 가지고, 배부르다 -> 배불러 가지고 

Then 하다 verbs and adjectives get attached with 여, right? But it becomes 해.

하다 -> 해 가지고 

Here are some examples with verbs:

어젯밤에 너무 많이 먹어 가지고 아직도 배부르다. Because I ate so much last night, I’m still full. (I ate so much last night that I’m still full.)

오늘 늦잠을 자 가지고 샤워를 못 했다. Because I woke up late, I couldn’t take a shower. (I woke up late, so I couldn’t take a shower.)

내 지갑을 못 찾아 가지고 학교에 지각했다. Because I couldn’t find my wallet, I was late to school. (I couldn’t find my wallet, so I was late to school.)

Here are some examples with adjectives:

오늘은 날씨가 좋아 가지고 밖에 나가고 싶네. Because the weather is nice today, I want to go outside. (The weather is so nice that I want to go outside.)

나는 키가 작아 가지고 콤플렉스가 있다. Because I’m short, I have a complex (about it).

남자랑 사귀어 본 적이 없어 가지고 어떨지 잘 모르겠다. Since I don’t have the experience of dating a man, I don’t know what it would be like. (I’ve never dated a guy before, so I don’t know what it’d be like.) 

You can technically use this form with a noun. But it isn’t common. You’re more likely to see 이어서 or (이)라서 used with nouns, even 이기 때문에. 

오늘은 친구 생일이어가지고 선물을 사러 가는 중이야. –> 오늘은 친구 생일이어서 선물을 사러 가는 중이야. Because it’s my friend’s birthday, I’m on my way to buy a gift.  

아/어 가지고 can also be used to express a sequence of events that are connected. So, it is often seen as “and (then).” It has the same conjugation rules as the other translation. But it’s usually used with verbs since it shows a sequences of events (actions).

집에 가 가지고 먹었다. I went home and (then) ate.

우리 친구네 집에 가 가지고 공부할 거다. I’m going to go to my friend’s house and (then) study.

친구한테 전화 해 가지고 물어 볼 거다. I’m going to call my friend and (then) ask. 

But the events must be connected actions. So, let’s look at a bad/unnatural example. “학교에 가 가지고 장보러 갈 거예요. I’m going to go to school and then go grocery shopping.” This does not work because going to school has nothing to do with grocery shopping. They are unrelated activities unless you’re grocery shopping at the school. So, the two clauses must be related to each other. 

Usage notes:Before writing this post, I had a very practical discussion with my friend on this grammar point. And we both agree that this grammar point is used all day while speaking. It’s used in informal writing like text messages and blogs, so you will not find it on the news or in formal writing. Which also means it’s also typically used between friends, family members, and romantic partners. It’s not as common in the workplace, except on some occasions. And that exception was that it can come off a little cute and softer than 아/어서 does when you make a mistake or have to tell someone something they don’t want to hear.

So, if I was to say to my boss “죄송해요. 그 서류를 못 찾아가지고요…” (I’m sorry. Because I can’t find that document…). It would sound a lot softer than “그 서류를 못 찾아서요.” which is a bit stiff and emotionless in comparison. So, it could help deliver the sincerity of your apology.  

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