🧾

Describing Nouns with Actions (Past): -(으)ㄴ N

Keywords
-(으)ㄴ
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🧾
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🕰️ -(으)ㄴ N can describe a noun with a completed action: 읽은 책 = a book someone read.
  • 🧱 Use 은 after many consonant-ending action stems: 먹다 = to eat → 먹은 밥 = a meal someone ate.
  • ☀️ Use ㄴ after many vowel-ending action stems: 보다 = to watch → 본 영화 = a movie someone watched.
  • 🚨 Some verbs change shape: 듣다 = to listen → 들은 음악 = music someone listened to; 만들다 = to make → 만든 빵 = bread someone made.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets and listen to 읽은 책, 본 영화, 들은 음악, and 만든 빵. These forms are compact little “already happened” labels. 🏷️
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Korean can describe a noun with an action that already happened.
 
In English, you might say:
  • “the book someone read”
  • “the coffee someone drank”
  • “the movie someone watched”
 
In Korean, the completed-action phrase comes before the noun:
  • 읽은 책 = a book someone read 📚
  • 마신 커피 = coffee someone drank ☕
  • 본 영화 = a movie someone watched 🎬
 
Think of this grammar as a tiny receipt attached to the noun: “this noun has already been acted on.” 🧾
 

🧩 Core Pattern

Start with the dictionary form, remove 다, then choose the completed-action ending.
 
Often use 은 after consonant-ending action stems:
  • 먹다 = to eat → 먹은 = ate / that someone ate
  • 읽다 = to read → 읽은 = read / that someone read
  • 닫다 = to close → 닫은 = closed / that someone closed
  • 받다 = to receive → 받은 = received / that someone received
 
Often use ㄴ after vowel-ending action stems:
  • 보다 = to see/watch → 본 = saw/watched
  • 마시다 = to drink → 마신 = drank
  • 공부하다 = to study → 공부한 = studied
  • 일하다 = to work → 일한 = worked
  • 가다 = to go → 간 = went
  • 오다 = to come → 온 = came
  • 쉬다 = to rest → 쉰 = rested
  • 자다 = to sleep → 잔 = slept
 

🛠️ How They Work in a Phrase

The completed-action form goes directly before the noun it describes.
 
  • 먹은 밥 = a meal someone ate 🍚
  • 읽은 책 = a book someone read 📖
  • 본 영화 = a movie someone watched 🎬
  • 마신 커피 = coffee someone drank ☕
  • 공부한 학생 = a student who studied 🎒
 

🧭 Useful Extra: Present action vs completed action

This lesson contrasts with the present-action -는 N pattern.
 
Compare:
  • 읽는 책 = a book someone reads / is reading
  • 읽은 책 = a book someone read
 
  • 보는 영화 = a movie someone watches / is watching
  • 본 영화 = a movie someone watched
 
The meaning changes, so don’t let 는 and 은/ㄴ swap seats like mischievous grammar gremlins. 👹
 

🚨 Special Forms and Irregular Notes

Some completed-action forms change the visible stem. When practicing, the blank must allow the correct final form — no impossible “fill the blank but the old letter should disappear” traps.
 

1. ㄷ-irregular action verbs

Some verbs ending in ㄷ change ㄷ to ㄹ before this vowel-starting ending.
 
Common ㄷ-irregular verbs:
  • 듣다 = to listen → 들은 음악 = music someone listened to 🎵
  • 걷다 = to walk → 걸은 길 = a road someone walked 🛣️
  • 묻다 = to ask → 물은 질문 = a question someone asked ❓
  • 싣다 = to load/carry → 실은 짐 = luggage someone loaded/carried 🧳
 
But not every ㄷ-ending verb is irregular:
  • 닫다 = to close → 닫은 문 = a door someone closed 🚪
  • 받다 = to receive → 받은 선물 = a gift someone received 🎁
 

2. ㄹ-ending action verbs

Some action verb stems ending in ㄹ drop ㄹ before the completed-action ㄴ.
 
Common natural examples:
  • 만들다 = to make → 만든 빵 = bread someone made 🍞
  • 살다 = to live → 서울에 산 친구 = a friend who lived in Seoul 🏙️
  • 놀다 = to play / hang out → 학교에서 논 학생 = a student who played at school 🏫
 

📚 Cross-check note

The completed-action modifier -(으)ㄴ N was checked against Korean grammar references from korean.go.kr, including guidance that -은 attaches after consonant-ending verb stems, -ㄴ attaches after vowel-ending verb stems, and ㄷ-irregular verbs such as 듣다 change to forms like 들은. ✅
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 먹는 밥 for completed action → ✅ 먹은 밥 = a meal someone ate — 먹는 is present action.
  • ❌ 보다은 영화 → ✅ 본 영화 = a movie someone watched — vowel-ending stem takes ㄴ.
  • ❌ 듣은 음악 → ✅ 들은 음악 = music someone listened to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
  • ❌ 만들은 빵 → ✅ 만든 빵 = bread someone made — 만들다 drops ㄹ.
  • ❌ 받은 밥 for “meal someone ate” → ✅ 먹은 밥 = meal someone ate — use a verb that matches the meaning.
 
🎉 Completed-action descriptions unlocked: your Korean nouns now have backstory, receipts, and a tiny filing cabinet. 🗂️
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Complete each phrase with the correct completed-action form. Read the full phrase aloud, then open the Answer toggle. 🧾
1. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 밥
[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿ bap]
meal someone ate 🍚
Answer
먹은 밥 = meal someone ate — consonant-ending stem + 은.
2. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chaek]
book someone read 📚
Answer
읽은 책 = book someone read — consonant-ending stem + 은.
3. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-mak]
music someone listened to 🎵
Answer
들은 음악 = music someone listened to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
4. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa]
movie someone watched 🎬
Answer
본 영화 = movie someone watched — vowel-ending stem + ㄴ.
5. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone drank ☕
Answer
마신 커피 = coffee someone drank — 마시다 becomes 마신.
6. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone walked 🛣️
Answer
걸은 길 = road someone walked — 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular.
7. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mun]
door someone closed 🚪
Answer
닫은 문 = door someone closed — 닫다 is regular, so ㄷ stays.
8. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang]
bread someone made 🍞
Answer
만든 빵 = bread someone made — 만들다 drops ㄹ.
9. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학교
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-gyo]
school someone went to 🏫
Answer
간 학교 = school someone went to — 가다 becomes 간.
10. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who slept 😴
Answer
잔 친구 = friend who slept — 자다 becomes 잔.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 듣다 → to listen
  • 보다 → to see / watch
  • 마시다 → to drink
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • 닫다 → to close
  • 만들다 → to make
  • 가다 → to go
  • 자다 → to sleep
  • 밥 → rice / meal
  • 책 → book
  • 음악 → music
  • 영화 → movie
  • 커피 → coffee
  • 길 → road
  • 문 → door
  • 빵 → bread
  • 학교 → school
  • 친구 → friend
Tip 💡 If the form changes the visible stem, blank the full completed modifier.
 
🚀
Want more practice? When you’re ready, continue to the Practice Hub below for more -(으)ㄴ N completed-action practice.
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Describing Nouns with Actions (Past): -(으)ㄴ N
 
Welcome to completed-action modifier practice! 🕰️ These phrases describe nouns through actions that already happened. Basically: grammar with receipts. 🧾
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear each phrase.
 
📝 How to use: Fill each blank with the completed-action form, say the phrase aloud, then open the Answer toggle. Watch for verbs whose stems visibly change.
 

Exercise 1 — Regular Completed Actions

A. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 밥
[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿ bap]
meal someone ate 🍚
Answer
먹은 밥 = meal someone ate.
B. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chaek]
book someone read 📖
Answer
읽은 책 = book someone read.
C. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa]
movie someone watched 🎬
Answer
본 영화 = movie someone watched.
D. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone drank ☕
Answer
마신 커피 = coffee someone drank.
E. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학생
[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-saeng]
student who studied 🎒
Answer
공부한 학생 = student who studied.
F. 일하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[il-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who worked 💼
Answer
일한 친구 = friend who worked.
G. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학교
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-gyo]
school someone went to 🏫
Answer
간 학교 = school someone went to.
H. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[o-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who came 👋
Answer
온 친구 = friend who came.
I. 쉬다 → ＿＿＿＿ 사람
[swi-da → ＿＿＿＿ sa-ram]
person who rested 🛋️
Answer
쉰 사람 = person who rested.
J. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who slept 😴
Answer
잔 친구 = friend who slept.
 

Exercise 2 — ㄷ-Irregular vs Regular ㄷ

A. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-mak]
music someone listened to 🎵
Answer
들은 음악 = music someone listened to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
B. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone walked 🛣️
Answer
걸은 길 = road someone walked — 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular.
C. 묻다 → ＿＿＿＿ 질문
[mut-da → ＿＿＿＿ jil-mun]
question someone asked ❓
Answer
물은 질문 = question someone asked — 묻다 meaning “to ask” is ㄷ-irregular.
D. 싣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 짐
[sit-da → ＿＿＿＿ jim]
luggage someone loaded/carried 🧳
Answer
실은 짐 = luggage someone loaded/carried — 싣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
E. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mun]
door someone closed 🚪
Answer
닫은 문 = door someone closed — 닫다 is regular.
F. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone received 🎁
Answer
받은 선물 = gift someone received — 받다 is regular.
G. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악을 좋아해요.
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-ma-geul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the music someone listened to 🎧
Answer
들은 음악을 좋아해요. = I like the music someone listened to.
H. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길을 봐요.
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gi-reul bwa-yo]
I see the road someone walked 🛣️
Answer
걸은 길을 봐요. = I see the road someone walked.
I. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문을 봐요.
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mu-neul bwa-yo]
I see the door someone closed 🚪
Answer
닫은 문을 봐요. = I see the door someone closed.
J. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물을 봐요.
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mu-reul bwa-yo]
I see the gift someone received 🎁
Answer
받은 선물을 봐요. = I see the gift someone received.
 

Exercise 3 — ㄹ-Dropping Completed Actions

A. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang]
bread someone made 🍞
Answer
만든 빵 = bread someone made — 만들다 drops ㄹ.
B. 살다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[sal-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who lived 🏠
Answer
산 친구 = friend who lived — 살다 drops ㄹ.
C. 놀다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학생
[nol-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-saeng]
student who played 🏫
Answer
논 학생 = student who played — 놀다 drops ㄹ.
D. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone made ☕
Answer
만든 커피 = coffee someone made.
E. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 질문
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ jil-mun]
question someone made ❓
Answer
만든 질문 = question someone made.
F. 살다 → 서울에 ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[sal-da → seo-u-re ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who lived in Seoul 🏙️
Answer
서울에 산 친구 = friend who lived in Seoul.
G. 놀다 → 학교에서 ＿＿＿＿ 학생
[nol-da → hak-gyo-e-seo ＿＿＿＿ hak-saeng]
student who played at school 🏫
Answer
학교에서 논 학생 = student who played at school.
H. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone made 🎁
Answer
만든 선물 = gift someone made.
I. 살다 → 집에 ＿＿＿＿ 사람
[sal-da → ji-be ＿＿＿＿ sa-ram]
person who lived at home 🏠
Answer
집에 산 사람 = person who lived at home.
J. 놀다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[nol-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who played / hung out 🎮
Answer
논 친구 = friend who played / hung out.
 

Exercise 4 — Sentence Builder

A. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책을 봐요.
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chae-geul bwa-yo]
I see the book someone read 📚
Answer
읽은 책을 봐요. = I see the book someone read.
B. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화를 좋아해요.
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa-reul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the movie someone watched 🎬
Answer
본 영화를 좋아해요. = I like the movie someone watched.
C. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피를 봐요.
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi-reul bwa-yo]
I see the coffee someone drank ☕
Answer
마신 커피를 봐요. = I see the coffee someone drank.
D. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악을 좋아해요.
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-ma-geul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the music someone listened to 🎵
Answer
들은 음악을 좋아해요. = I like the music someone listened to.
E. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵을 먹어요.
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang-eul meo-geo-yo]
I eat the bread someone made 🍞
Answer
만든 빵을 먹어요. = I eat the bread someone made.
F. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물을 봐요.
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mu-reul bwa-yo]
I see the gift someone received 🎁
Answer
받은 선물을 봐요. = I see the gift someone received.
G. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문을 봐요.
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mu-neul bwa-yo]
I see the door someone closed 🚪
Answer
닫은 문을 봐요. = I see the door someone closed.
H. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학생을 봐요.
[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-saeng-eul bwa-yo]
I see the student who studied 🎒
Answer
공부한 학생을 봐요. = I see the student who studied.
I. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학교를 봐요.
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-gyo-reul bwa-yo]
I see the school someone went to 🏫
Answer
간 학교를 봐요. = I see the school someone went to.
J. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구를 봐요.
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu-reul bwa-yo]
I see the friend who slept 😴
Answer
잔 친구를 봐요. = I see the friend who slept.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol

A. ❌ 먹는 밥 for completed action → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹은 밥 = meal someone ate — 먹는 is present action.
B. ❌ 보다은 영화 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
본 영화 = movie someone watched — do not attach 은 to 보다.
C. ❌ 듣은 음악 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
들은 음악 = music someone listened to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
D. ❌ 만들은 빵 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만든 빵 = bread someone made — 만들다 drops ㄹ.
E. ❌ 마시은 커피 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
마신 커피 = coffee someone drank — 마시다 becomes 마신.
F. 읽는 책 vs 읽은 책 — Which means “book someone read”? → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
읽은 책 = book someone read. 읽는 책 means “book someone reads/is reading.”
G. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone received 🎁
Answer
받은 선물 = gift someone received.
H. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone walked 🛣️
Answer
걸은 길 = road someone walked.
I. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[o-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who came 👋
Answer
온 친구 = friend who came.
J. Choose the natural completed-action phrase: ① 본 영화 / ② 보는 영화 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
① 본 영화 = movie someone watched — completed action uses -(으)ㄴ.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • -(으)ㄴ N → noun described by a completed action
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 듣다 → to listen
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • 묻다 → to ask
  • 싣다 → to load / carry
  • 닫다 → to close
  • 받다 → to receive
  • 보다 → to see / watch
  • 마시다 → to drink
  • 공부하다 → to study
  • 일하다 → to work
  • 가다 → to go
  • 오다 → to come
  • 쉬다 → to rest
  • 자다 → to sleep
  • 만들다 → to make
  • 살다 → to live
  • 놀다 → to play / hang out
  • 밥 → rice / meal
  • 책 → book
  • 영화 → movie
  • 커피 → coffee
  • 음악 → music
  • 친구 → friend
  • 학생 → student
  • 사람 → person
  • 길 → road
  • 질문 → question
  • 짐 → luggage / load
  • 문 → door
  • 선물 → gift
  • 빵 → bread
  • 서울 → Seoul
Tip 💡 Completed-action forms often look compact: 보다 → 본, 듣다 → 들은, 만들다 → 만든.
 
 
🎉
Great work! You handled completed-action modifiers beautifully. Your Korean nouns now have backstory. 📚