4 · Linking clauses, further
As soon as, just as: -는 대로
immediately after, and in the same way
-는 대로 means “as soon as” for something still to come, and -(으)ㄴ/는 대로 “just as, the way that”; after a noun, 대로 means “according to”.
At a glance
- Remember
- Neun daero: as soon as it happens — later. Jamaja: as soon as it happened — then.
- Form
- 도착하다 → 도착하는 대로as soon as
- Signal words
- -는 대로
- -(으)ㄴ 대로
- 대로
- -자마자
- Trap
- Wrong:어제 집에 도착하는 대로 잤어요.Right:어제 집에 도착하자마자 잤어요.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
| as soon as | 도착하다 → 도착하는 대로 |
| the way that, past | 말하다 → 말한 대로 |
| the way that, present | 느끼다 → 느끼는 대로 |
| after a noun: according to | 계획 → 계획대로 |
| as you like | 마음대로 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-는 대로 means “as soon as” for something still to come.
회의가 끝나는 대로 전화할게요.I'll call you as soon as the meeting is over.
For something that has already happened, “as soon as” is -자마자.
집에 도착하자마자 샤워를 했어요.I had a shower as soon as I got home.
After a modifier, 대로 also means “the way that”, and the modifier keeps its tense.
선생님이 가르쳐 주신 대로 해 보세요.Try doing it the way the teacher showed you.
After a noun, 대로 is a particle written onto it: “according to”.
모든 일이 계획대로 잘됐어요.Everything went according to plan.
Example sentences
결과가 나오는 대로 알려 드릴게요.I will let you know as soon as the results are out.
일이 끝나는 대로 바로 갈게요.I'll come straight over as soon as I finish work.
들은 대로 말해 주세요.Tell me exactly what you heard.
제가 하는 대로 따라 하세요.Copy what I do.
순서대로 줄을 서 주세요.Please queue in order.
오늘은 마음대로 드세요.Today, eat whatever you like.
8 more example sentences
서류를 받는 대로 검토하겠습니다.We will review the documents as soon as we receive them.
비가 그치는 대로 출발합시다.Let's set off as soon as the rain stops.
배운 대로 해 봤는데 잘 안 돼요.I tried it the way I learnt it, but it isn't working.
생각나는 대로 적어 보세요.Write things down as they come to you.
지도에 나온 대로 가면 돼요.Just go the way it shows on the map.
말씀하신 대로 준비했습니다.I have prepared everything as you said.
규칙대로 하면 문제없어요.If you follow the rules, there will be no problem.
시간이 나는 대로 놀러 갈게요.I'll come and visit as soon as I have time.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-는 대로 looks forward: as soon as it happens, I will. Yesterday's arrival has already happened, so “as soon as” here is -자마자.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
대로 is a bound noun meaning “the same way, straight on from”. After the present modifier of an action verb it means “as soon as”: 도착하는 대로 연락할게요, “I'll get in touch as soon as I arrive”. The second half is a plan, a promise or a request — something still to come.
That is the difference from -자마자, which also means “as soon as” but reports what actually happened: 집에 도착하자마자 잤어요. -는 대로 is not used for past events, and it sounds a little more formal, which makes it common at work: 확인하는 대로 알려 드리겠습니다.
After any modifier, 대로 can also mean “the way that”, “just as”: 제가 말한 대로 하세요, “do it the way I told you”, 느끼는 대로 말해 보세요, “say it just as you feel it”, 배운 대로 해 봤어요. Here the modifier keeps its tense: -(으)ㄴfor what was said or learnt before-는for what is happening now
After a plain noun, 대로 is a particle and is written onto it: 계획대로, “according to plan”, 순서대로, “in order”, 마음대로, “as you like”. After a modifier it is a noun and stands apart: 말한 대로. The spacing shows which one it is.
A closer look
One word, three jobs
All three uses of 대로 share one idea: following something without a gap. “As soon as” follows an event straight away; “the way that” follows a model exactly; “according to” follows a plan or a rule.
The common phrase 마음대로, “as one pleases”, can be friendly — 마음대로 고르세요, “choose whatever you like” — or a complaint: 왜 마음대로 해요?, “why do you just do as you please?”.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
대로 follows a noun rather than a modifier
it is written onto the noun: 계획대로, 약속대로, 말씀대로.
약속대로 내일 만나요.Let's meet tomorrow as we agreed.
After a noun, 대로 is a particle, and particles are never separated from their noun.
Worth knowing (1)
-
At work: 확인하는 대로
확인하는 대로 연락드리겠습니다, “I will contact you as soon as I have checked”, is a stock phrase of emails and phone calls at work.
확인하는 대로 연락드리겠습니다.I will get back to you as soon as I have checked.
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