Korean Grammar Basic #4 – How to Use “도 / 기도 하다” (Also / Sometimes Do)

Learn how to use -도 (do) and -기도 하다 (gi-do ha-da) — to express “also,” “too,” and “sometimes” in Korean. This grammar helps you sound natural when adding information or describing actions that happen occasionally.

1️⃣ Introduction

In English, we say things like:

“I’m a student too.”“I also study Korean.”“Sometimes I go to the gym.”

In Korean, we use 도 to mean also / too, and -기도 하다 to say sometimes / also do.

Let’s see how both are used in daily conversation!

---

2️⃣ Grammar Explanation

🔹 -도 (do) — “also / too”

Attach -도 directly after a noun to mean also / too.It replace replace topic or subject particles like 은/는, 이/가, or 을/를 depending on the sentence.

Form

Noun + 도

Example	Meaning
저도 학생이에요. (jeo-do hak-saeng-i-e-yo)	I’m also a student.
친구도 있어요. (chin-gu-do i-sseo-yo)	I also have a friend.
오늘도 바빠요. (o-neul-do ba-ppa-yo)	I’m busy today too.

Tip:

• “도” always comes after the noun it modifies.

• It replaces any previous particle — for example, 저는 학생이에요 → 저도 학생이에요.

  
  

---

🔹 -기도 하다 (gi-do ha-da) — “also do / sometimes do”

Attach -기도 하다 after a verb stem to express:

Usage

1️⃣ “also do this action” — adding another activity

2️⃣ “sometimes do” — expressing habitual variation

Form

Verb stem + 기도 하다

Example	Meaning
운동하기도 해요. (un-dong-ha-gi-do hae-yo)	I also work out. / I sometimes work out.
책을 읽기도 해요. (chae-geul il-gi-do hae-yo)	I also read books. / I sometimes read books.
친구를 만나기도 해요. (chin-gu-reul man-na-gi-do hae-yo)	I sometimes meet my friends.

Usage:

• “-기도 하다” often expresses variety or contrast. 

  → 공부해요. 운동하기도 해요. → I study. I also work out.

  
  

• It can also show occasional habits: 

  → 주말에는 늦게 일어나기도 해요. → On weekends, I sometimes wake up late.

---

3️⃣ “도” vs “-기도 하다” — What’s the Difference?

Both 도 and -기도 하다 can mean “also / too,”but they’re used in different grammatical positions.

도 (do)

도 is attached after a noun.It replaces other particles like 은/는, 이/가, 을/를.

Use 도 when the noun itself is the thing you’re adding or emphasizing.

Example	Meaning
저도 학생이에요.	I’m also a student.
친구도 있어요.	I also have a friend.
오늘도 바빠요.	I’m busy today too.

 With “하다” verbs:

When a verb is made of [Noun + 하다],you can attach 도  between the noun and “하다.”

Example

• 저는 한국어도 공부해요. → I also study Korean.

• 운동도 해요. → I also exercise.

• This means the noun part is being emphasized — “I do that thing too.”

-기도 하다 (gi-do ha-da)

-기도 하다 is attached after the verb stem and functions as one whole expression meaning

“also do / sometimes do.”

Example	Meaning
공부하기도 해요.	I also study / I sometimes study.
운동하기도 해요.	I also work out / I sometimes work out.
요리하기도 해요.	I also cook / I sometimes cook.

Key nuance

• 도 하다 → adding a noun-based action (also that thing)

• -기도 하다 → adding or varying a verb-based action (also do / sometimes do)

  
  

Sentence	Meaning	Explanation
공부도 해요.	I also study.	Focus on “공부 (study)” as a noun — I do that activity too.
공부하기도 해요.	I also study / sometimes study.	Focus on the action itself — it’s one of several things you do.

---

4️⃣ Mini Practice

Fill in the blanks 👇

(Choose between 도 or 기도 해요 depending on the sentence.)

1️⃣ 저는 학생이에요. → 저_____ 학생이에요.

2️⃣ 저는 커피를 마셔요. → 저_____ 커피를 마셔요.

3️⃣ 저는 운동해요. → 주말에는 운동_____ 해요.

4️⃣ 친구가 한국어를 공부해요. → 저_____ 한국어를 공부해요.

5️⃣ 저는 노래를 부르_____ 해요.

Answers: 

1️⃣ 저도 학생이에요. (jeo-do hak-saeng-i-e-yo)

2️⃣ 저도 커피를 마셔요. (jeo-do keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo)

3️⃣ 운동하기도 해요. (un-dong-ha-gi-do hae-yo)

4️⃣ 저도 한국어를 공부해요. (jeo-do han-gu-geo-reul gong-bu-hae-yo)

5️⃣ 노래를 부르기도 해요. (no-rae-reul bu-reu-gi-do hae-yo)

---

Vocabulary Check

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
친구	(chin-gu)	friend
고양이	(go-yang-i)	cat
시간	(si-gan)	time
사람	(sa-ram)	person
집	(jip)	house
차	(cha)	car
돈	(don)	money
아무도	(a-mu-do)	no one

---

Summary

Grammar	Function	Example	Meaning
-도 (do)	“also / too” — noun-based	저도 학생이에요 (jeo-do hak-saeng-i-e-yo)	I’m also a student
-기도 하다 (gi-do ha-da)	“also / sometimes do” — verb-based	운동하기도 해요 (un-dong-ha-gi-do hae-yo)	I also work out / I sometimes work out

• Use -도 after nouns (to add a person, thing, or topic).

• Use -기도 하다 after verbs (to add or vary actions).

• With “하다” verbs, you can say 공부도 해요 (noun focus) or 공부하기도 해요 (action focus).

---

📂 Download Practice File

Want to practice more?

📥Download your free worksheet to review “도 / -기도 하다” with real-life examples and exercises.