Pattern: -(았/었)었던
-(았/었)었던 (-(ass, (ass, eoss)eoss-deon, eoss)eossdeon)
-(았/었)었던 emphasizes past experiences or states in Korean. Use it to recall specific moments or repeated past events naturally.
When and how native speakers actually use it.
Expresses experiences or states that happened in the past.
When to use
Recalling past experiences, Describing repeated past situations, Emphasizing states that have ended
The nuance
Attach -(았/었)었던 to verb stems to emphasize past experiences or states. It conveys a more vivid or reflective memory than simple past tense. For example, '가다' becomes '갔었던'. It's suitable for talking about repeated experiences or states that have ended.
어렸을 때 살았었던 집이 아직 기억나요.
eo-ryeoss-eul ttae sal-ass-eoss-deon jip-i a-jik gi-eok-na-yo., eo ryeoss eul ttae sal ass eoss deon jip i a jik gi eok na yo.
Appropriate for vividly recalling the experience of living in a house in the past.
지난주에 갔었던 식당은 정말 맛있었어요.
ji-nan-ju-e gass-eoss-deon sik-dang-eun jeong-mal mas-iss-eoss-eo-yo., ji nan ju e gass eoss deon sik dang eun jeong mal mas iss eoss eo yo.
Emphasizes the experience of visiting a place at a specific past time.
그 사람이 했었던 말이 기억나지 않아요.
geu sa-ram-i haess-eoss-deon mal-i gi-eok-na-ji an-a-yo., geu sa ram i haess eoss deon mal i gi eok na ji an a yo.
Used when recalling what someone said in the past.
어제 먹었었던 음식이 맛있었어요.
eo-je meok-eoss-eoss-deon eum-sik-i mas-iss-eoss-eo-yo., eo je meok eoss eoss deon eum sik i mas iss eoss eo yo.
Suitable for emphasizing the experience of eating something in the past.
어렸을 때 갔었던 곳을 다시 가고 싶어요.
eo-ryeoss-eul ttae gass-eoss-deon gos-eul da-si ga-go sip-eo-yo., eo ryeoss eul ttae gass eoss deon gos eul da si ga go sip eo yo.
Natural when recalling a place visited in the past.
나는 어제 갔었던.
na-neun eo-je gass-eoss-deon., na neun eo je gass eoss deon.
Incomplete sentence; -(았/었)었던 cannot be used alone without a noun or complement.
그가 먹었었던 사과는 맛있다.
geu-ga meok-eoss-eoss-deon sa-gwa-neun mas-iss-da., geu ga meok eoss eoss deon sa gwa neun mas iss da.
Incorrect because the apple was already eaten; cannot describe current taste.
Which sentence uses -(았/었)었던 correctly?
What does -(았/었)었던 mainly emphasize?
