Understanding the difference between ‘았/었/했던’ and ‘던’ is essential for mastering Korean past tense expressions. These grammar patterns both refer to past events, but they carry subtle differences in meaning and usage. While ‘았/었/했던’ describes completed actions or states, ‘던’ indicates an action or state that was ongoing or repeated in the past. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use these forms correctly with real-life examples and key grammar points to avoid common mistakes.
Contents
1. Definition
- 았/었/했던 (A/V았/었/했던, N이었/였던):
This form is used to talk about something that happened or existed in the past, but is no longer true or relevant now. It’s like saying “used to” or “had” in English. - 던 (A/V던, N(이)던):
This form is used to describe a past action or state that was ongoing or habitual. It doesn’t focus on whether the action was completed. It’s similar to “was doing” or “used to do” in English.
2. Form (Structure)
| Grammar Pattern | Structure | Example |
| A/V았/었/했던 | Adjective/Verb + 았/었/했던 | 비가 왔던 (It had rained.) |
| N이었/였던 | Noun + 이었/였던 | 학생이었던 (He had been a student.) |
| A/V던 | Adjective/Verb + 던 | 비가 오던 (It was raining.) |
| N(이)던 | Noun + (이)던 | 학생이던 (He used to be a student.) |
3. Meaning & Usage
1. Completed Action vs. Ongoing or Observed Action
- ‘았/었/했던’: This pattern describes actions or states in the past that are completely finished, with no ongoing relevance or continuation.
- ‘던’: This pattern describes actions or states that were ongoing or observed, without emphasizing whether the action was completed or not. It often refers to past actions or states that were in progress or habitual.
Examples:
- 내가 좋아했던 노래가 지금은 별로다. (The song I had loved is not special anymore.)
- 그가 입었던 옷이 멋졌다. (The clothes he had worn were stylish.)
- 그가 읽던 책을 갑자기 내려놓았다. (He suddenly put down the book he was reading.)
- 우리가 놀던 공원이 새롭게 단장되었다. (The park where we used to play has been renovated.)
- 그녀가 배우던 언어를 계속 공부하고 있다. (She’s still studying the language she was learning.)
Emphasis on Completion vs. Emphasis on the State or Action
- ‘았/었/했던’: This pattern emphasizes the completion of the action or state in the past, indicating that it has already happened and is no longer relevant to the present.
- ‘던’: Focuses more on the state or action itself, often without implying the completion of the action. It can describe habitual actions or background states.
Examples:
- 나를 가르쳤던 선생님이 학교를 떠나셨다. (The teacher who had taught me left the school.)
- 내가 자주 갔던 빵집이 문을 닫았다. (The bakery I used to go to often closed down.)
- 그녀가 읽었던 책은 역사책이었다. (The book she had read was about history.)
- 아이들이 놀던 모래사장이 이제는 주차장이 되었다. (The beach where children used to play has now become a parking lot.)
- 그가 쓰던 일기장을 우연히 발견했다. (I accidentally found the diary he used to write in.)
3. Definite Past vs. Descriptive Past
- ‘았/었/했던’: This pattern is used for definite past events or states that are clearly finished and have no ongoing relevance.
- ‘던’: This pattern is often used to describe past situations, habitual actions, or ongoing states. It is more about the background or context rather than emphasizing completion.
Examples:
- 내가 신었던 신발이 너무 작아서 버렸다. (The shoes I had worn were too small, so I threw them away.)
- 내가 요리했던 음식이 정말 맛있었다. (The food I had cooked was really delicious.)
- 그녀가 빌렸던 책을 결국 돌려주지 않았다. (The book she had borrowed was never returned.)
- 아이들이 뛰어놀던 마당에 이제는 꽃밭이 생겼다. (The yard where children used to play now has a flower garden.)
- 그가 일하던 사무실이 이사를 갔다. (The office where he used to work has moved.)
| Category | 았/었/했던 | ‘던’ |
| Completion | Refers to completed actions or states | Refers to ongoing or observed actions/states |
| Emphasis | Focuses on the result or completion of the past action | Focuses on the action or state itself, without emphasizing completion |
| Context | Used for definite past events with no present relevance | Describes habitual actions or background situations |
| Translation | “Had done,” “Had been” | “Used to do,” “Was doing” |
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘았/었/했던’ → Completed Past: Describes fully completed past actions or states.
- ‘던’ → Ongoing/Observed Past: Describes ongoing, habitual, or observed past actions without emphasizing completion.
- Focus on Completion (‘았/었/했던’): Highlights the result of a past action.
- Focus on Process (‘던’): Emphasizes the state or action itself rather than its completion.
- Definite vs. Descriptive Past: ‘았/었/했던’ is for clear past events, while ‘던’ sets the background or context.
5. Practice Exercises
- 그녀가 _____ 책을 찾고 있어요. (읽다)
(She’s looking for the book she was reading.) - 우리가 _____ 영화관이 문을 닫았어요. (자주 가다)
(The movie theater we used to go to often has closed.) - 그가 _____ 회사는 이제 큰 기업이 되었어요. (다니다)
(The company he used to work for has now become a big corporation.) - 어머니가 _____ 음식이 아직도 생각나요. (만들다)
(I still remember the food my mother used to make.) - 그들이 _____ 집을 팔았대요. (살다)
(I heard they sold the house they used to live in.) - 내가 _____ 친구를 우연히 만났어요. (좋아하다)
(I ran into the friend I used to like.) - 그녀가 _____ 노래를 다시 들었어요. (부르다)
(I listened again to the song she used to sing.) - 우리가 _____ 공원이 이제는 아파트 단지가 되었어요. (자주 가다)
(The park we used to go to often has now become an apartment complex.) - 그가 _____ 프로젝트가 마침내 완성되었어요. (오래 준비하다)
(The project he had been preparing for a long time was finally completed.) - 제가 _____ 선생님을 다시 뵈었어요. (존경하다)
(I met again the teacher I used to respect.)
6. Answers
- 읽던
- 자주 갔던
- 다니던
- 만들었던
- 살던
- 좋아했던
- 부르던
- 자주 갔던
- 오래 준비했던
- 존경했던
6. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘던’ instead of ‘았/었/했던’ for clearly completed actions
Incorrect: 내가 어제 다 읽던 책을 친구에게 줬다. ❌ (I gave my friend the book I was reading yesterday.)
Correct: 내가 어제 다 읽었던 책을 친구에게 줬다. ✅ (I gave my friend the book I had finished reading yesterday.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘았/었/했던’ when referring to actions that were fully completed before another event.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using ‘았/었/했던’ for actions that were ongoing or habitual
Incorrect: 나는 학교에 갔었던 날마다 우유를 마셨다. ❌ (I had gone to school every day and drank milk.)
Correct: 나는 학교에 가던 날마다 우유를 마셨다. ✅ (I used to drink milk every day I went to school.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘던’ when describing past habits or repeated actions.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Confusing ‘던’ with ‘는/은’ in descriptive contexts
Incorrect: 그녀가 예쁜 모습이 기억난다. ❌ (I remember her being pretty.)
Correct: 그녀가 예뻤던 모습이 기억난다. ✅ (I remember how pretty she was.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘았/었던’ with adjectives to describe a past state or appearance when recalling a specific memory or impression.
⚠️ Mistake 4: Mixing up ‘았/었/했던’ and ‘던’ in storytelling
Incorrect: 비가 왔던 날 우리는 우산 없이 걸었다. ❌ (On the day it had rained, we walked without an umbrella.)
Correct: 비가 오던 날 우리는 우산 없이 걸었다. ✅ (On a rainy day, we walked without an umbrella.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘던’ when setting the scene in a story, as it emphasizes an ongoing past action or state.
⚠️ Mistake 5: Misunderstanding the nuance between ‘았/었/했던’ and ‘던’ in describing past experiences
어릴 때 살았던 동네가 많이 변했다. ✅ (The neighborhood where I lived as a child has changed a lot.)
어릴 때 살던 동네가 많이 변했다. ✅ (The neighborhood where I used to live as a child has changed a lot.)
💡 Tip: Both ‘았/었/했던’ and ‘던’ can be used to describe past experiences, but with slightly different nuances. ‘았/었/했던’ emphasizes the completion of living there, while ‘던’ focuses on the habitual or continuous aspect of living there in the past. The choice between them often depends on the speaker’s perspective and the context.
Mastering the difference between ‘A/V았/었/했던 N이었/였던’ and ‘A/V던, N(이)던’ will significantly enhance your ability to describe past experiences and states in Korean. Remember, ‘A/V았/었/했던 N이었/였던’ is used for more permanent or completed past states, while ‘A/V던, N(이)던’ is for temporary or interrupted past states. Practice using these structures in various contexts to become more fluent and precise in your Korean expression.