Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 6 - Upper-Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 151 to 180) ᚛ Lesson 151 - The double past tense in Korean [-았/었었다]
The double past tense in Korean [-았/었었다]
At the beginning of our Korean learning, we learned how to form the past tense in Korean. There is actually another past form that allows us to express the idea that the past situation is completely over and has not continued into the present. This is the double past tense.
Formation of the double past tense
The endings of the double past tense are based on the past tense endings in the following manner:
[Past stem]었다
- In the casual style: [Past stem]었어
- In the polite style: [Past stem]었어요
- In the formal style: [Past stem]었습니다
- In the neutral style: [Past stem]었다
이 산에 나무가 많았었다.
→ There used to be many trees on this mountain (it is no longer the case).
호수가 오염되기 전에는 물고기로 가득했었어요.
→ Before the lake was polluted, it was full of fish (but not anymore).
학교에 다닐 때에는 친구들이 많았었지?
→ When you went to school, you had lots of friends, didn't you?
우리 휴가 때 날씨 정말 좋았었는데…
→ The weather was so nice during our vacation, though…
우리 언제 만났었는지 기억하니?
→ Do you remember when we met?
결혼식 날은 하라가 너무 예뻤었어요.
→ Hara was so beautiful on her wedding day.
Differences between the past tense and the double past tense
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Summary table of structure
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Exercises
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