Processing keyword: ~았/었던 [ass/eossdeon] (Was)

Korean Grammar Point: ~았/었던 [ass/eossdeon] (Was)

The Korean Grammar Point: ~았/었던 [ass/eossdeon] (Was)

1. Introduction

In Korean, expressing past actions or states that have relevance to the present is essential for effective communication. The grammar point ~았/었던 is a verb modifier used to describe something that happened in the past but is being recalled or has implications now. This lesson will explore the usage, formation, and nuances of ~았/었던 to enhance your understanding and ability to express past events in Korean.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning and Usage

The suffix ~았/었던 attaches to verbs to indicate:

• An action or state that was completed in the past.
• Recollection of a past event that is relevant to the present situation. It can be translated to English as "used to" or "had...ed". It's often used when reminiscing or referring to experiences that influence the current context.

Structure and Formation

Formation Diagram

[Verb Stem] + 았/었 + 던

Steps to Form ~았/었던

1. Identify the Verb Stem: Remove 다 from the dictionary form.
2. Add Past Tense Marker:
   • 았 after verb stems ending with ㅏ or ㅗ.
   • 었 after other vowels.
3. Attach 던: Indicates recollection or reminiscence.

Vowel Harmony Chart

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparing ~던 and ~았/었던

• ~던:
  • Describes an unfinished action or a habitual past action.
  • Implies the action may still be ongoing.
• ~았/었던:
  • Describes a completed action or state in the past.
  • Implies the action is no longer happening. Example:
• 제가 다니던 학교: The school I was attending (may still attend).
• 제가 다녔던 학교: The school I attended (no longer attend).

Comparing ~았/었던 and ~았/었었어요

• ~았/었었어요:
  • Used to express an action that occurred in the distant past and has no relation to the present.
• ~았/었던:
  • Used when the past action or state still has relevance or is being recalled.

4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

Formal Context

1. 제가 예전에 일했었던 회사는 서울에 있습니다.
   • The company I used to work for is in Seoul.
2. 그분이 가르쳤던 과목은 역사였습니다.
   • The subject that he taught was history.

Informal Context

1. 우리가 먹었던 그 식당 기억나?
   • Do you remember that restaurant we ate at?
2. 네가 좋아했던 노래 틀어줄게.
   • I'll play the song you used to like.

Written Language

1. 그녀는 어렸을 때 살았던 집을 방문했다.
   • She visited the house where she lived when she was young.
2. 지난 여행에서 찍었던 사진을 보고 있어요.
   • I'm looking at the photos I took on the last trip.

Spoken Language

1. 어제 봤던 영화 진짜 재미있었어!
   • The movie I watched yesterday was really interesting!
2. 전에 말했던 것처럼, 이번 주말에 만나자.
   • As I said before, let's meet this weekend.

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Korean, expressing past experiences with relevance to the present is common in storytelling and sharing personal experiences. Using ~았/었던 allows the speaker to connect past memories or actions to the current conversation, which is a significant aspect of Korean communication styles.

Idiomatic Expressions

1. 옛날에 좋아했던 사람
   • A person I used to like a long time ago
2. 한때 유행이었던 패션
   • A fashion that was once popular

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

• Mixing up ~던 and ~았/었던:
  • Incorrect: 어제 먹던 케이크 맛있었어.
  • Correct: 어제 먹었던 케이크 맛있었어.
    • "먹었던" because the action of eating the cake was completed.
• Incorrect Vowel Harmony:
  • Incorrect: 마시았던 (from 마시다)
  • Correct: 마셨던
    • "마시" + "었" + "던" because the stem ends with "ㅣ".

Learning Strategies

• Practice Conjugation: Regularly conjugate verbs with ~았/었던 to become familiar with patterns.
• Create Personal Sentences: Relate past experiences using ~았/었던 to make learning more meaningful.
• Mnemonic Device: Remember that 던 relates to "recollection," so ~았/었던 recalls a completed past action.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• ~았/었던 is used to describe completed past actions or states that are being recalled in the present.
• Formation involves adding 았/었 to the verb stem according to vowel harmony, followed by 던.
• Differentiating between ~던 and ~았/었던 is crucial for accurate expression of past events.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. Form the ~았/었던 version of 하다 (to do).
   • Answer: 했던
2. Translate to Korean: "The book I read last month was interesting."
   • Answer: 지난달에 읽었던 책이 재미있었어요.
3. Explain the difference between 알던 친구 and 알았던 친구.
   • Answer:
     • 알던 친구: A friend I used to know (may still know or the knowing was ongoing).
     • 알았던 친구: A friend I knew (but probably don't know anymore).

By understanding and practicing ~았/었던, you can express your past experiences more vividly and connect them to your present conversations, making your Korean more fluent and natural.