Processing keyword: ~았/었던 [at/eotdeon] (That used to be)

Korean Grammar Point: ~았/었던 [at/eotdeon] (That used to be)

1. Introduction

In Korean, expressing actions or states that occurred in the past and have since changed is essential for nuanced communication. The grammar point ~았/었던 allows speakers to describe things that used to be in a particular way but are no longer the same. This lesson will guide you through understanding and using ~았/었던 effectively.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

~았/었던 is attached to verbs and adjectives to indicate:

• An action or state that occurred in the past.
• The action or state is completed and no longer continuing.
• It often implies a change from the past to the present.

Structure

Formation Diagram

1. Identify the Verb/Adjective Stem: Remove 다 from the dictionary form.
2. Add the Appropriate Ending:
   • If the stem vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 았던.
   • If the stem vowel is anything else, add 었던.
   • For verbs ending with 하다, it becomes 했던.

Visual Aid: Formation Table

Dictionary Form	Stem	Vowel in Stem	Ending	Result
가다 (to go)	가	ㅏ	았던	갔던
먹다 (to eat)	먹	ㅓ	었던	먹었던
마시다 (to drink)	마시	ㅣ	었던	마셨던
공부하다 (to study)	공부하	ㅏ	였던	공부했던

Usage

• Describing Past Actions/States: Used to indicate an action or state that happened in the past and is no longer true.
  • Example: 예뻤던 꽃이 시들었어요.
    • The flower that used to be pretty has wilted.
• Contrasting Past and Present: Highlights the difference between how something was in the past and how it is now.
  • Example: 어렸을 때 좋아했던 음식이 지금은 안 좋아요.
    • I don't like the food I used to like when I was young now.

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3. Comparative Analysis

Comparing ~았/었던 with ~던

• ~던:
  • Describes an action that was ongoing or habitual in the past.
  • Implies the action might still be ongoing.
  • Example: 읽던 책 (The book I was reading)
• ~았/었던:
  • Describes an action or state that was completed in the past.
  • Implies the action is no longer happening.
  • Example: 읽었던 책 (The book I had read)

Table: ~던 vs. ~았/었던

Aspect	~던	~았/었던
Action Status	Ongoing/Habitual in Past	Completed in Past
Present Relevance	May still be ongoing	No longer happening
Example	자주 가던 곳 (A place I used to go often)	자주 갔던 곳 (A place I went often but don't anymore)

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4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

1. 그때 봤던 영화가 기억이 안 나요. I don't remember the movie I watched back then.
2. 어제 먹었던 음식 맛있었어요. The food I ate yesterday was delicious.
3. 친구였던 사람이 이제는 모르는 사람이 되었어요. Someone who used to be my friend has now become a stranger.
4. 전에 일했던 회사에 다시 가고 싶지 않아요. I don't want to go back to the company I used to work for.
5. 학생 때 입었던 옷들이 이제는 맞지 않아요. The clothes I used to wear as a student don't fit me anymore.

Formal and Informal Usage

• Formal:
  • 제가 졸업했던 학교는 서울에 있습니다.
    • The school I graduated from is in Seoul.
• Informal:
  • 우리가 예전에 갔던 카페 기억나?
    • Do you remember the café we went to before?

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5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

• Reflecting on the Past: Koreans often reminisce about the past, and using ~았/었던 adds emotional depth when talking about memories or changes over time.
• Expressing Change: This grammar point is useful for emphasizing how things have changed, which is a common theme in Korean storytelling and conversations.

Idiomatic Expressions

• 옛날에 좋아했던 것들
  • Things I used to like in the old days.
• 한때 유명했던 배우
  • An actor who was once famous.

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

1. Confusing ~던 and ~았/었던:
   • Incorrect: 어렸을 때 자주 먹던 과자예요. (If you no longer eat it)
   • Correct: 어렸을 때 자주 먹었던 과자예요.
     • It's the snack I used to eat often when I was young.
2. Using ~았/었던 for Current Habits:
   • Incorrect: 매일 운동했었던 사람입니다. (If you still exercise daily)
   • Correct: 매일 운동하는 사람입니다.
     • I am a person who exercises daily.

Learning Strategies

• Remember the Past Tense Marker: The 았/었 in ~았/었던 is the past tense marker, indicating a completed action.
• Practice with Time Markers: Use time expressions like 예전에 (before), 어렸을 때 (when I was young), to create sentences and reinforce the concept.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• ~았/었던 is used to describe actions or states that were completed in the past and are no longer true.
• It emphasizes a change from the past to the present.
• Be careful not to confuse ~았/었던 with ~던, which describes habitual or ongoing past actions.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. Fill in the blank: 늦게까지 공부_____ 학생이 지금은 일찍 잡니다.
   • Answer: 했던 (공부했던 학생)
2. Choose the correct form to express "the song I used to sing": a) 부르던 노래 b) 불렀던 노래
   • Answer: b) 불렀던 노래
3. Translate to Korean: "The place we used to meet"
   • Answer: 우리가 만났던 장소

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By understanding and using ~았/었던, you can effectively communicate past experiences and how things have changed, adding depth to your Korean language skills.

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