Learn Korean: 먼저 + Verb

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 먼저 + Verb. As a plain statement, we use this to express that someone did something first. As a command, we use this to tell someone to do something first or ahead of others. For example, I and Kenta were waiting for you at the café. You were stuck in traffic. While waiting, Kenta got a call. Something came up so he had to leave first. When you arrived, you wondered where Kenta was. I said He left first. The main verb is *to leave/go. In Korean, it is 가다. Its past tense form is 갔다. 먼저 comes before it. The actual sentence is (켄타가) 먼저 갔어(요). Here’s another example. After an hour of chat, you got a call too and you had matters to deal with. You said you’d drive me home, but I wanted to stay longer at the café. I said You go ahead. We use the same verb (가다) and 먼저 is placed before it. The actual sentence is 먼저 가(요). We can also use the high polite form (가세요) and low casual form (가라).

먼저 먹어.

You eat first. I will later.

먼저 알려줬어요.

He told me about it already.

 

네가 먼저 해.

You do it first, not me.