-았/었었-
Had Done (Past Perfect)
-았/었었- is a double past tense marker, often translated as "had done" or "used to...". It emphasizes that a past action or state is completely finished and disconnected from the present.
How It Works
The grammar pattern -았/었었- provides a way to talk about the "past in the past." It adds a layer of nuance that the simple past tense -았/었- doesn't always capture.
Formation:
It attaches to verb and adjective stems following the same vowel harmony rules as the simple past tense, with -었- added at the end.
- Verb stem ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -았었어요 (e.g., 가다 → 갔었어요)
- Verb stem ending in other vowels + -었었어요 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹었었어요)
- 하다 verbs → -했었어요 (e.g., 공부하다 → 공부했었어요)
Key Usages:
1. Past Perfect (대과거 - The Great Past)
This is used when describing an event that was completed before another event in the past. It establishes a clear sequence.
- 제가 공항에 도착했을 때 비행기는 이미 떠났었어요. (When I arrived at the airport, the plane had already left.)
- 영화를 보러 갔는데, 표가 다 팔렸었어요. (I went to see a movie, but the tickets had all been sold out.)
2. Discontinued State or Action
This usage emphasizes that a state or action was true in the past but is no longer true in the present. It highlights the contrast between then and now.
- 저는 어렸을 때 키가 작았었어요. (I used to be short when I was young. Implies I am not short now.)
- 이곳은 10년 전에는 바다였었어요. (This place used to be the sea 10 years ago. Implies it is land now.)
Comparison with -았/었-
While the simple past tense can often be used, -았/었었- adds emphasis on the completion or disconnection. For example:
- 작년에 서울에 살았어요. (I lived in Seoul last year. - Neutral statement.)
- 작년에 서울에 살았었어요. (I lived in Seoul last year. - Emphasizes that I don't live there anymore.)
In casual conversation, this form is frequently used to talk about more distant or memorable past experiences.
Examples (4)
- 제가 극장에 도착했을 때 영화는 이미 시작했었어요.
When I arrived at the theater, the movie had already started.
Word by Word: I at the theater arrived when the movie already had started.
This shows the past perfect usage. The movie starting happened before the speaker's arrival.
- 어렸을 때 저는 아주 뚱뚱했었어요.
When I was young, I used to be very chubby.
Word by Word: When I was young, I very had been chubby.
This implies that the speaker is no longer chubby. The state of being chubby is completely in the past.
- 이 건물은 예전에 학교였었어요.
This building used to be a school.
Word by Word: This building in the past a school was.
This emphasizes that the building's function has changed and it is no longer a school.
- 그 가수는 원래 배우였었다고 들었어요.
I heard that singer originally used to be an actor.
Word by Word: That singer originally an actor was, I heard.
This highlights a past state (being an actor) that is no longer true for the singer.
Common Mistakes
Using -았/었었- for a past state that continues to the present.
Different Meaning저는 2020년에 결혼했었어요.Better저는 2020년에 결혼했어요.Using '결혼했었어요' strongly implies that the marriage has ended (i.e., you are now divorced). If you are still married, you must use the simple past tense '결혼했어요' to describe the event of getting married.
Overusing -았/었었- for recent past events where the simple past is more natural.
Not Quite방금 점심을 먹었었어요.Better방금 점심을 먹었어요.-았/었었- creates a sense of distance from the present. For an action that happened 'just now' (방금), the simple past tense is the correct and natural choice.
Learn This First
To express past perfect 'had done', you need past tense knowledge and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -던Had Been -ing
Both refer to the past. However, -던 often describes an action that was repeated, ongoing, or incomplete in the past (like 'used to do'), while -았/었었- refers to a single, fully completed event or state in the more distant past ('had done').
- -았/었던Had Been, Used to
-았/었던 is the noun-modifying form that carries a similar meaning to -았/었었-. It describes a noun based on a past experience that is now complete. For example, '제가 살았었던 집' (the house where I had lived).
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다Have/haven't Done
While -았/었었- discusses when a past action happened (before another past event) or its current status (no longer true), -ㄴ 적이 있다/없다 focuses only on the existence of a past experience ('have/have not ever done').