과/와 (gwa/wa): A Formal Guide for Coordinating Nouns in Korean
Definition and scope
과/와 is a coordinate particle that links two or more nouns in a single grammatical slot. It corresponds to and in English. It selects all linked items as a single unit for the following predicate. It is used in formal writing, announcements, manuals, and academic prose. It is productive with common nouns, proper nouns, numerals, and bound nouns. It does not link clauses. It does not replace verb conjugation. It does.
Form and selection rule
Final consonant rule
Korean selects 과 after a noun ending in a final consonant and selects 와 after a noun ending in a vowel.
- 학교와 도서관이 가깝습니다.
The school and the library are close. - 책과 공책을 준비했습니다.
I prepared a book and a notebook.
Writers may chain more than two nouns. The particle appears after each internal noun or only between the last two nouns, depending on style. In highly formal text, repeating the particle improves clarity. It does.
Spacing and orthography
과/와 attaches without a space. Punctuation follows standard Korean rules. A comma may separate coordinated phrases in long lists. The particle does not change the internal spelling of proper names. It does not.
Syntactic position and stacking
With case particles
When another particle is required, case comes first and 과/와 follows.
- 학생들의 안전과 권리를 보호합니다.
Safety and rights of the students are protected. - 연구비와 인건비에 대해 보고합니다.
A report is made on research funds and labor costs. - 한국어과와 중국어과에 지원했습니다.
Applications were submitted to the Korean department and the Chinese department.
The coordinate phrase as a whole can take a case particle once at the end in careful prose, or each noun can take its own case when separate roles must be explicit. Administrative documents choose the explicit option in ambiguous contexts. They do.
Subject and topic marking
A topic or subject marker can appear after the final coordinated noun.
- 시간과 예산이 충분합니다.
Time and budget are sufficient. - 목표와 범위는 다음과 같습니다.
The objectives and the scope are as follows.
If contrast is intended, writers may topicalize the pair with 은/는 after the second noun. It creates a single topic unit. It does.
Semantics and agreement
Number and predicate agreement
A phrase with 과/와 denotes plurality in meaning. Korean allows singular predicates with collective subjects in some contexts, but formal writing prefers predicate forms that match plurality semantically.
- 규정과 절차가 일치합니다.
The rules and the procedures align. - 데이터와 가설을 함께 검토했습니다.
The data and the hypothesis were reviewed together.
Shared modifiers
Attributive adjectives or determiners that come before the first noun apply to the whole coordinated set only if context is clear. Otherwise, repeat the modifier.
- 신규 학생과 재학생 모두 신청 가능합니다.
Both new students and current students may apply. - 신규 학생과 신규 교직원은 등록을 완료합니다.
Here 신규 applies to both nouns because it repeats. It eliminates ambiguity. It does.
Contrast with colloquial linkers
과/와 vs. 하고, (이)랑
- 과/와 carries a formal or written tone.
- 하고 and (이)랑 are neutral to colloquial and suit speech, dialogue, and informal notices.
Compare:
- 서류와 신분증을 지참합니다.
Formal notice. - 서류하고 신분증 가져오세요.
Spoken instruction.
For AdSense-friendly instructional pages, 과/와 maintains consistency with a formal voice. It does.
과/와 vs. 그리고
그리고 connects sentences or clauses. 과/와 connects nouns inside a single clause. Do not replace one with the other.
- 비용과 일정은 확정되었습니다. 그리고 세부 계획을 안내합니다.
Noun coordination first, clause coordination second.
Frequent patterns in formal prose
Possession and attribution
- A과 B의 + Noun
예: 학생과 교사의 책임의 범위를 명확히 합니다.
It marks a joint possessor relationship.
Objects and targets
- A과 B를 + Verb
예: 계획과 결과를 비교합니다.
It treats two objects as one object slot.
Locations and sources
- A과 B에서 + Verb
예: 본사와 지사에서 동시에 시행합니다.
It marks multiple locations for a single action.
Parallel contrast frames
- A보다 B보다는 구조가 아니라 A와 B의 우선순위를 명시합니다.
예: 안정성과 접근성을 우선합니다.
When ranking is needed, combine coordination with separate priority statements. It avoids ambiguity. It does.
Original example sentences for production
All examples are new and do not reproduce textbook material.
- 품질과 비용의 균형을 평가했습니다.
The balance of quality and cost was evaluated. - 계약서와 부속 합의서에 서명했습니다.
The contract and the attached agreement were signed. - 온도와 습도가 기준을 충족합니다.
Temperature and humidity meet the standard. - 오전과 오후에 동일한 절차를 적용합니다.
The same procedure applies in the morning and in the afternoon. - 설계와 구현을 분리하여 검토했습니다.
Design and implementation were reviewed separately. - 고객 데이터와 로그 파일은 암호화합니다.
Customer data and log files are encrypted. - 주소와 연락처는 최신 정보로 유지합니다.
Address and contact information are kept up to date. - 가이드라인과 체크리스트를 배포했습니다.
The guideline and the checklist were distributed.
Error catalog and remediation
Replacing clause connectors with 과/와
Error: 회의가 끝났고 보고서를 제출했습니다 where a learner writes 회의가 끝났과 보고서를 제출했습니다.
Fix: Keep 그리고 or connective endings for clauses. Reserve 과/와 for nouns. It prevents structural conflict. It does.
Attaching topic or subject to the first noun only
Error: 시간은 과 예산이 부족합니다.
Fix: 시간과 예산은 부족합니다.
The particle attaches to the linker, not before it. It maintains grammatical form. It does.
Mixing registers inside one sentence
Error: 서류와 신분증 가져오세요.
Fix: 서류와 신분증을 지참하십시오.
Maintain the formal register across the sentence. It improves consistency. It does.
Ambiguous modifier scope
Error: 신규 학생과 교직원은 등록합니다.
Fix: 신규 학생과 신규 교직원은 등록합니다.
Repeat the modifier if scope is unclear. It removes ambiguity. It does.
Interaction with counts and lists
Serial lists with commas
Formal bullet-like lists inside running text may use commas, with 과/와 before the last item.
- 이름, 생년월일, 주소와 연락처를 기입합니다.
A comma separates early items. 과/와 marks the final conjunction. It does.
Pairing with numerals and classifiers
- 1학년과 2학년은 필수 과목을 수강합니다.
Both first-year and second-year students take the required course. - 3층과 4층에서 점검을 실시했습니다.
Inspections took place on the third and fourth floors.
These patterns keep administrative clarity. They do.
Comparison with joint subject constructions
과/와 creates a compound subject. Korean allows singular predicates in collective readings, but policies often require explicit plurality in meaning.
- 연구팀과 운영팀이 협력합니다.
The research team and the operations team cooperate. - 연구팀과 운영팀은 공동으로 책임을 집니다.
The pair is jointly responsible. The meaning is explicit. It is.
Practice tasks for learners
- Translate into Korean with 과/와.
a. Submit the form and the transcript.
b. Confirm the date and the venue.
c. Check the battery and the cable.
Model answers:
a. 신청서와 성적증명서를 제출하십시오.
b. 날짜와 장소를 확인하십시오.
c. 배터리와 케이블을 점검하십시오.
- Repair the sentence by aligning register.
Original: 규정과 절차 확인해 주세요.
Formal: 규정과 절차를 확인하십시오. - Expand a list with clear scope.
Original: 신규 학생과 교직원 안내를 게시합니다.
Revised: 신규 학생과 신규 교직원 안내를 게시합니다.
These exercises target coordination accuracy. They do.
Conclusion
과/와 links nouns in formal Korean. It follows the final-consonant rule, stacks after case particles, and maintains a consistent formal voice in public notices, manuals, and academic text. It contrasts with 하고 and (이)랑 in register and with 그리고 in function. Writers repeat modifiers to avoid scope ambiguity and apply 과/와 across lists, objects, locations, and subjects to keep structure transparent. Accurate placement and consistent register produce clear coordination in professional Korean. It does.
