-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다
Almost Did
Indicates that something almost happened. It's often paired with adverbs like 하마터면 (nearly) and implies relief that the event didn't occur.
How It Works
This pattern is used to talk about past events that were narrowly avoided. It emphasizes how close the speaker was to a certain outcome.
Conjugation:
- Verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ: Add -ㄹ 뻔했다.
- 가다 (to go) → 갈 뻔했다
- 울다 (to cry) → 울 뻔했다 - Verb stems ending in a consonant (except ㄹ): Add -을 뻔했다.
- 잊다 (to forget) → 잊을 뻔했다
- 잡다 (to catch) → 잡을 뻔했다
This expression is frequently used with adverbs like 하마터면 (almost, nearly) or 자칫하면 (if things had gone wrong) to emphasize the 'close call' nature of the situation.
While often used for negative situations you're relieved to have avoided (like an accident), it can also be used for positive situations you regret missing (e.g., 'I almost won').
Examples (4)
- 길이 미끄러워서 넘어질 뻔했어요.
The road was slippery, so I almost fell.
Word by Word: Road slippery-because fall almost did.
- 하마터면 기차를 놓칠 뻔했어요.
I almost missed the train.
Word by Word: Almost train miss almost did.
하마터면 is an adverb that means 'almost' or 'nearly' and is very commonly used with this pattern to add emphasis.
- 너무 피곤해서 운전하다가 졸 뻔했어요.
I was so tired that I almost dozed off while driving.
Word by Word: Too tired-because driving-while doze off almost did.
- 비밀번호를 잊어버릴 뻔했는데 다행히 기억났어요.
I almost forgot the password, but thankfully I remembered it.
Word by Word: Password forget almost did-but fortunately remembered.
Common Mistakes
Using it for an event that actually happened.
Different Meaning사고가 날 뻔해서 병원에 갔어요.Better사고가 날 뻔했는데 다행히 피했어요.-ㄹ 뻔했다 means the event did not happen. The incorrect sentence is contradictory because it says 'I almost had an accident, so I went to the hospital.' If you went to the hospital because of it, the accident must have happened. The correct sentence shows the event was avoided.
Using it in the present or future tense.
Not Quite지금 넘어질 뻔해요.Better방금 넘어질 뻔했어요.This pattern describes a past 'close call.' The event has already been avoided. Therefore, it must be used in the past tense with -았/었-. Using it in the present tense is unnatural.
Learn This First
To express 'almost did', you need modifier forms and conjugation.
Related Patterns
- -았/었을 것Would Have, Must Have
Both relate to unrealized past events. However, -ㄹ 뻔했다 describes a specific 'close call' that almost happened but didn't. -았/었을 것 is a broader guess or hypothesis about what 'would have' happened under different conditions (e.g., 'If I had studied, I would have passed').
- -(으)려다가Was Going to, But
Both describe an action that was intended but not completed. -려다가 focuses on a change of intention or an interruption (e.g., 'I was going to go out, but it started raining'). -ㄹ 뻔했다 focuses on narrowly avoiding an outcome, often one that is accidental or unintentional.
- -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬다I Should Have Done
Both can express a feeling about a past event. -ㄹ 뻔했다 is often used with a sense of relief for avoiding a negative outcome. -ㄹ걸 그랬다 expresses regret for something you didn't do but wish you had (e.g., 'I should have studied harder').