자고 있었어요
jago isseosseoyo
The English phrase "I was sleeping" is expressed in Korean as 자고 있었어요 (jago isseosseoyo).
This phrase describes an action of sleeping that was in progress at a specific time in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 자다 (to sleep) combined with the progressive aspect structure –고 있다 (to be doing) in the past tense.
Which one should you use?
While 자고 있었어요 emphasizes the continuous state of being in the middle of sleep, 잤어요 simply states that the action of sleeping occurred in the past.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 자고 있었어요 is the polite version used with people you are not close to or in standard social situations. The form 자고 있었어 is the casual/informal version used with close friends or younger people. The form 자고 있었습니다 is the highly formal version used in professional settings, news reports or to show high respect.
How do you pronounce it?
jago isseosseoyo
Did you know?
- Because Korean uses honorifics, if you were talking about a superior or an elder who 'was sleeping', you must change 자다 to the honorific 주무시다.
- The root verb 자다 (to sleep) is used in many common idiomatic expressions, such as 잠이 오다, which literally means 'sleep comes', to say 'I am getting sleepy'.
- In Korean, the word 잠 (sleep) is often paired with the verb 들다 (to enter), meaning that starting to sleep is described as 'entering sleep' rather than just 'falling asleep'.
Examples in context
- 나는 어제 밤에 자고 있었어요.I was sleeping last night.
- 친구가 전화했을 때, 저는 자고 있었어요.I was sleeping when my friend called.
- 오늘 아침에 일어났을 때, 나는 자고 있었어요.When I woke up this morning, I was sleeping.
- 어제 오후에 자고 있었어요.eo-je o-hu-e ja-go is-seo-sseo-yo.I was sleeping yesterday afternoon.
- 그때는 자고 있었어요.geu-ttae-neun ja-go is-seo-sseo-yo.I was sleeping at that time.
- 전화를 못 받았어요. 자고 있었어요.jeon-hwa-reul mot bat-at-eo-yo. ja-go is-seo-sseo-yo.I couldn't answer the phone. I was sleeping.
Example conversation
Minjun asks Subin why she didn't answer his call earlier.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 아까 왜 전화 안 받았어요?Su-bin ssi, a-kka wae jeon-hwa an bat-at-eo-yo?Subin, why didn't you answer the phone earlier?
- 수빈 Su-bin미안해요. 그때 자고 있었어요.mi-an-hae-yo. geu-ttae ja-go is-seo-sseo-yo.I'm sorry. I was sleeping then.
- 민준 Min-jun많이 피곤했나 보네요.man-i pi-gon-haet-na bo-ne-yo.You must have been very tired.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 조금 피곤했어요.ne, jo-geum pi-gon-hae-sseo-yo.Yes, I was a little tired.
