Understanding the past tense in Korean can be tricky, especially when it comes to modifiers like A/V았/었/했던 and N이었/였던. These expressions are used to describe actions, states, or events that took place in the past, and mastering them is essential for fluent communication. In this guide, we’ll break down how to use these modifiers correctly, providing clear explanations and practical examples to help you grasp their usage in everyday situations.
Contents
1. Definition
- A/V았/었/했던: This is a past tense form used to describe actions or states that happened or were true in the past
- N이었/였던: This is used to describe a past state of being or a situation that was true in the past, particularly when the speaker wants to reflect on an earlier condition or identity.
- The equivalent in English can be seen as “was/were” for N이었/였던 and “did” or “used to” for A/V았/었/했던, depending on the context.
2. Form (Structure)
A/V았/었/했던 and N이었/였던 are past tense modifiers used to describe actions, states, or identities that occurred or existed in the past. They are often used when the past event or state has some relevance to the present situation being discussed.
A/V았/었/했던:
This form is attached to the stem of verbs or adjectives to create a past tense modifier.
- For verb/adjective stems ending with the vowel ‘ㅏ’ or ‘ㅗ’:
Use -았던
Example: 가다 (to go) → 갔던 (went, had gone)
보다 (to see) → 봤던 (saw, had seen) - For verb/adjective stems ending with vowels other than ‘ㅏ’ or ‘ㅗ’:
Use -었던
Example: 먹다 (to eat) → 먹었던 (ate, had eaten)
읽다 (to read) → 읽었던 (read, had read) - For verbs ending with 하다:
Always use -했던
Example: 공부하다 (to study) → 공부했던 (studied, had studied)
운동하다 (to exercise) → 운동했던 (exercised, had exercised)
N이었/였던:
This form is used with nouns to describe a past state of being or identity.
- For nouns ending with a consonant:
Use -이었던
Example: 학생 (student) → 학생이었던 (was a student, had been a student) - For nouns ending with a vowel:
Use -였던
Example: 선생님 (teacher) → 선생님이었던 (was a teacher, had been a teacher)
| Base Form | Past Tense Modifier | Example |
| Verb (ㅏ/ㅗ stem) | -았던 | 갔던 (went/had gone) |
| Verb (other vowels) | -었던 | 먹었던 (ate/had eaten) |
| 하다 Verb | -했던 | 공부했던 (studied/had studied) |
| Noun (consonant ending) | -이었던 | 학생이었던 (was a student/had been a student) |
| Noun (vowel ending) | -였던 | 선생님이었던 (was a teacher/had been a teacher) |
3. Meaning & Usage
A/V았/었/했던 and N이었/였던 are powerful modifiers in Korean that connect past experiences to the present. They help us talk about actions, states, or identities that existed in the past but have some relevance to our current situation.
1. A/V았/었/했던: Painting Pictures of Past Actions or States
This modifier brings past actions and states to life, especially when they contrast with the present or have left a lasting impression.
Examples:
- 어렸을 때 좋아했던 노래를 다시 들었다.
(I revisited a song I loved in my childhood.) - 우리가 살았던 동네가 많이 변했다.
Our old neighborhood has transformed significantly.) - 어제 먹었던 음식이 너무 맛있었다.
(Yesterday’s meal was incredibly delicious.) - 친구가 추천했던 영화를 봤다.
(I watched the movie my friend had recommended.) - 그때 입었던 옷을 아직도 가지고 있어.
(I still have the clothes I wore back then.)
2. N이었/였던: Reflecting on Past Identities or Conditions
Use this form to describe who someone was or how something used to be, often with a touch of nostalgia or to highlight change.
Examples:
- 그는 한때 의사였던 사람이다.
(He was once a doctor, though times have changed.) - 우리가 친구였던 시절이 있었다.
(We shared a period of friendship in the past.) - 그곳은 예전에 학교였던 곳이다.
(That place used to be a school, now repurposed.) - 저 가게는 원래 카페였던 곳이야.
(That store was originally a café.) - 그녀는 과거에 배우였던 적이 있다.
(She used to be an actress in the past.)
3. Emphasizing Past Experiences and Changes
These modifiers help describe how things were in the past compared to now, highlighting the contrast or change. They are commonly used in storytelling, reminiscing, and reflecting on past events that have significance in the present context.
Examples:
- 우리가 다녔던 학교가 새로 지어졌다.
(The school we attended has been rebuilt.) - 내가 살았던 곳이 지금은 공원이 되었다.
(The place I used to live is now a park.) - 그때 봤던 드라마가 아직도 생각난다.
(I still remember the drama I watched back then.) - 예전에 알았던 사람을 우연히 다시 만났다.
(I unexpectedly met someone I had known before.) - 부모님이 운영했던 가게가 문을 닫았다.
(The store my parents used to run has closed.)
📌 Note: Unlike the simple past tense (-았/었/였), these modifiers emphasize the relevance of past actions or states to the present situation. They are not typically used for recent actions or when the focus is solely on the past event itself.
4. Key Points to Remember
- Usage: A/V았/었/했던 for past actions/states, N이었/였던 for past identities/conditions.
- Present Relevance: Indicates past events/states connected to the present situation.
- Tone: Often used for reflective or nostalgic recollections.
- Contrast: Highlights changes between past and present, though past states may sometimes continue.
- Context: Common in storytelling, especially when linking past to present.
💡 Tip: Practice using these forms to discuss how past experiences relate to current situations.
5. Practice Exercises
- 나는 그때 자주 (가다) ___ 카페가 기억난다. (I remember the cafe I used to go to often back then.)
- 그녀가 (읽다) ___ 책이 베스트셀러가 되었다. (The book she had read became a bestseller.)
- 우리가 (살다) ___ 동네는 많이 변했다. (The neighborhood we lived in has changed a lot.)
- 그는 (좋아하다) ___ 음식을 더 이상 먹지 않는다. (He no longer eats the food he used to like.)
- 내가 어릴 때 (듣다) ___ 노래를 라디오에서 들었다. (I heard the song I used to listen to when I was young on the radio.)
- 그 배우는 (유명하다) ___ 시절이 있었다. (There was a time when that actor was famous.)
- 우리가 (만나다) ___ 장소가 이제 없어졌다. (The place where we used to meet is now gone.)
- 그녀는 (학생) ___ 때의 사진을 보여주었다. (She showed a photo of when she was a student.)
- 내가 (쓰다) ___ 일기장을 찾았다. (I found the diary I used to write in.)
- 그 가게는 원래 (식당) ___ 곳이다. (That store was originally a restaurant.)
6. Answers
- 갔던
- 읽었던
- 살았던
- 좋아했던
- 들었던
- 유명했던
- 만났던
- 학생이었던
- 썼던
- 식당이었던
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Confusing A/V았/었/던 with A/V았/었/했던
Incorrect: 어렸을 때 먹던 과자가 기억나요. ❌ (Implies habitual action, not a specific past event.)
Correct: 어렸을 때 먹었던 과자가 기억나요. ✅ (Refers to a specific instance in the past.)
💡 Tip: Use A/V던 for ongoing or habitual past actions, and A/V았/었/했던 for completed past events.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Overusing ‘했던’ When ‘았던/었던’ Is Enough
Incorrect: 어제 갔었던 카페가 정말 좋았어요. ❌ (Sounds unnatural and redundant.)
Correct: 어제 갔던 카페가 정말 좋았어요. ✅ (More natural for a one-time past action.)
💡 Tip: Use 했던 when emphasizing repeated or long-lasting past actions, not for simple past events.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Misusing A/V았/었/했던 for Ongoing Situations
Incorrect: 지금 다니는 회사는 큰 회사였던 회사입니다. ❌ (Implies the company is no longer big.)
Correct: 지금 다니는 회사는 예전부터 큰 회사였던 회사입니다. ✅ (Indicates the company has been big since the past.)
💡 Tip: A/V았/었/했던 can be used for past states that continue to the present, but context should be clear.
⚠️ Mistake 4: Using N이었/였던 for Temporary States
Incorrect: 피곤이었던 사람은 집에 갔어요. ❌ (Sounds unnatural because ‘피곤’ is a temporary state.)
Correct: 피곤했던 사람은 집에 갔어요. ✅ (Better because ‘피곤하다’ is a descriptive verb.)
💡 Tip: Use N이었/였던 for identities or permanent past states, and A/V았/었/했던 for descriptive states.
⚠️ Mistake 5: Mispronouncing -이었던 and -였던
Incorrect: 학생였던 사람 → [학생이던] ❌ (Incorrect pronunciation)
Correct: 학생이었던 사람 → [학생이었던] ✅ (Correct pronunciation)
💡 Tip: When spoken quickly, -이었던 may sound like -였던, but they follow different grammatical rules in writing.
In this lesson, we covered the uses of A/V았/었/했던 and N이었/였던. These are essential for describing past actions or states. By practicing these forms and understanding the different nuances, you will improve your ability to discuss past experiences in Korean with accuracy and fluency.