Processing keyword: ~(으)던 [(eu)deon] (Who used to)

Korean Grammar Point: ~(으)던 [(eu)deon] (Who used to)

1. Introduction

In Korean, verb endings play a crucial role in expressing nuances of time, aspect, and mood. One such verb ending is ~(으)던, which reflects past actions or states that were ongoing, habitual, or incomplete. This lesson will delve into the meaning, usage, and formation of ~(으)던, compare it with similar grammar points, and provide examples to enhance understanding.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

~(으)던 is used to describe:

• An action or state that used to happen regularly in the past.
• An action that was in progress in the past but not necessarily completed.
• A reminiscence of past habits or ongoing states. It conveys a sense of looking back at past actions or states with a focus on their continuity or recurrence.

Structure

Formation

1. For verb stems ending with a vowel or the consonant 'ㄹ':
   • Attach 던 directly to the verb stem.

     Verb (Infinitive)	Verb Stem	Add 던	Result
     가다 (to go)	가	던	가던
     살다 (to live)	살	던	살던

2. For verb stems ending with other consonants:
   • Attach -던 to the verb stem without any changes.

     Verb (Infinitive)	Verb Stem	Add 던	Result
     먹다 (to eat)	먹	던	먹던
     읽다 (to read)	읽	던	읽던

Formation Diagram

[Verb Stem] + 던

Usage

• Descriptive Modifier: Modifies a noun to describe past habitual actions or states.
  • Example: 내가 읽던 책 (The book I used to read)
• Reflective Statements: Expresses nostalgia or memories of past actions or states.
  • Example: 우리가 함께 걷던 길 (The road we used to walk together)

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3. Comparative Analysis

Comparison with ~았/었던

While both ~던 and ~았/었던 refer to past actions or states, there are subtle differences:

• ~던
  • Focuses on actions or states that were ongoing or habitual in the past and may not have been completed.
  • Emphasizes the continuity or repetition of the past action.
• ~았/었던
  • Indicates actions or states that were completed in the past.
  • Can also express a past state that has changed.

Example Comparison

1. 내가 먹던 빵
   • The bread I used to eat (habitually in the past).
2. 내가 먹었던 빵
   • The bread I ate before (completed action in the past).

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4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

Formal Context

1. 학생들이 자주 방문하던 도서관이 폐쇄되었습니다. The library that students used to visit frequently has been closed.
2. 그분이 가르치던 과목은 한국사입니다. The subject he used to teach is Korean history.

Informal Context

1. 우리가 어릴 때 뛰어놀던 공원 기억나? Do you remember the park we used to play in when we were kids?
2. 네가 다니던 학교는 어땠어? How was the school you used to attend?

Written Language

1. 그녀는 어머니가 만들던 요리법을 전수받았다. She inherited the recipes her mother used to make.
2. 과거에 사용하던 언어는 지금과 많이 달랐다. The language that was used in the past was very different from now.

Spoken Language

1. 내가 예전에 만나던 사람이야. He is someone I used to meet before.
2. 이 노래는 우리가 즐겨 듣던 거야. This is the song we used to enjoy listening to.

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5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

• Korean often reflects levels of formality and politeness through verb endings and sentence endings rather than through modifiers like ~(으)던.
• The use of ~(으)던 can evoke nostalgia, a common theme in Korean storytelling and music.

Idiomatic Expressions

1. 옛날에 내가 사랑하던 사람 The person I used to love in the past
2. 가끔 생각나던 장소 A place that used to come to mind occasionally

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Confusing ~던 with ~는
  • Incorrect: 내가 먹는 빵 (The bread I am eating)
  • Correct: 내가 먹던 빵 (The bread I used to eat)
• Mistake: Using ~던 for one-time past actions
  • Correction: Use ~았/었던 for completed actions.
    • Incorrect: 어제 보던 영화 (The movie I watched yesterday)
    • Correct: 어제 봤던 영화 (The movie I watched yesterday)

Learning Strategies

• Mnemonic Device: Think of ~던 as "back then, I was in the middle of..." to recall its usage for ongoing past actions.
• Practice: Create sentences contrasting ~던 and ~았/었던 to understand their nuances.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• ~(으)던 is used to describe past habitual or ongoing actions/states.
• It modifies nouns to reflect memories or past experiences that may not have been completed.
• Distinct from ~았/었던, which denotes completed past actions or states.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. Fill in the blank: 내가 자주 방문___ 카페는 이제 없어졌다.
   • Answer: 하던 (방문하던)
2. Choose the correct usage of ~(으)던: a) 어제 읽던 책을 다 읽었어요. b) 어제 읽었던 책을 다 읽었어요.
   • Answer: b) 어제 읽었던 책을 다 읽었어요.
3. True or False: ~(으)던 is used for completed actions in the past.
   • Answer: False

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By understanding and practicing ~(으)던, you can express past habits and reminisce about ongoing actions or states in Korean, adding depth to your language skills.

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