TL;DR
- -을 걸 그랬어요 expresses regret about something you didn't do in the past 😔
- Attach -을 걸 to verb stems, then add 그랬어요 (literally "I should have done that") 💭
- Use this when you're thinking "I wish I had..." or "I should have..." about past actions 🤦♀️
What does -을 걸 그랬어요 mean? 🤔
This pattern is all about regret and missed opportunities 😢
You use it when you're looking back at a situation thinking "Ugh, I should have done that!" or "Why didn't I do that?" 🙈
The literal meaning is "I should have done..." but the feeling is more like "I wish I had..." 💔
How to form it 📝
The structure is super straightforward! ✨
Verb stem + -을 걸 그랬어요
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant: add -을 걸 그랬어요 🎯
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel: add -ㄹ 걸 그랬어요 🎯
Examples 💜
→ 공부를 더 열심히 할 걸 그랬어요.
I should have studied harder. 📚😞
→ 그 옷을 살 걸 그랬어요.
I should have bought those clothes. 👕😭
→ 미리 예약할 걸 그랬어요.
I should have made a reservation in advance. 📅🤦
→ 친구 말을 들을 걸 그랬어요.
I should have listened to my friend. 👂💔
→ 더 일찍 출발할 걸 그랬어요.
I should have left earlier. 🚗😓
→ 물을 가져올 걸 그랬어요.
I should have brought water. 💧😩
More conjugation examples 🔄
Let's see how different verbs work with this pattern! 🌟
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 걸 그랬어요 🍽️
- 가다 (to go) → 갈 걸 그랬어요 🚶
- 자다 (to sleep) → 잘 걸 그랬어요 😴
- 보다 (to see) → 볼 걸 그랬어요 👀
- 듣다 (to listen) → 들을 걸 그랬어요 👂
- 입다 (to wear) → 입을 걸 그랬어요 👗
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들 걸 그랬어요 🛠️
Casual speech variation 🗣️
In casual conversation with friends, you can drop the -어요 ending! 😎
Just use -을 걸 그랬다 or even shorter -을 걸 ✂️
→ 진작 말할 걸 그랬다.
I should have said it sooner. 💬😔
→ 그냥 집에 있을 걸.
I should have just stayed home. 🏠😪
Common mistakes to avoid ⚠️
Don't use this pattern for things you actually did but wish you did differently! 🙅♀️
For that, you'd need a different structure. This is ONLY for actions you didn't take but now wish you had! ✋
Also, remember this is specifically about your own actions you regret, not someone else's! 👤
Exceptions ⭐
There are no major exceptions to this grammar pattern! 🎉
Just remember the consonant vs. vowel rule for -을 vs. -ㄹ and you're golden! ✨
Final thoughts 💭
This is such a useful pattern for expressing regret naturally! 🌸
You'll hear Koreans use this ALL the time in daily conversation 🗨️
Next time you're thinking "I should have...", you know exactly what to say! 💪😊
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -을 걸 그랬어요 / -ㄹ 걸 그랬어요 to express regret. 💭
- 어제 우산을 _. 비가 많이 왔어요.
Answer
가져올 걸 그랬어요
- 그 식당에 _. 음식이 정말 맛있었대요.
Answer
갈 걸 그랬어요
- 시험 전에 더 _. 점수가 낮게 나왔어요.
Answer
공부할 걸 그랬어요
- 친구 말을 _. 내 생각이 틀렸어요.
Answer
들을 걸 그랬어요
- 그때 사진을 더 많이 _. 추억이 별로 없어요.
Answer
찍을 걸 그랬어요
- 미리 표를 _. 지금은 다 매진됐어요.
Answer
예매할 걸 그랬어요
- 어렸을 때 피아노를 _. 지금 배우기 너무 어려워요.
Answer
배울 걸 그랬어요
- 그 회사에 _. 지금 연봉이 훨씬 높대요.
Answer
입사할 걸 그랬어요
- 건강할 때 운동을 _. 지금 몸이 안 좋아요.
Answer
할 걸 그랬어요
- 처음 만났을 때 연락처를 _. 지금은 못 찾겠어요.
Answer
물어볼 걸 그랬어요
Vocabulary 📖
우산 - umbrella
가져오다 - to bring
식당 - restaurant
점수 - score
틀리다 - to be wrong
사진 - photo
추억 - memory
표 - ticket
예매하다 - to book in advance
매진되다 - to be sold out
피아노 - piano
입사하다 - to join a company
연봉 - annual salary
연락처 - contact information
Common mistakes ⚠️
- 🚫 Don't forget to use the past tense marker 었/았 after 그랬: it's -을 걸 그랬어요, not -을 걸 그래요
- 🚫 Remember to drop ㄹ before adding -ㄹ 걸: 만들다 becomes 만들 걸 그랬어요 (not 만들ㄹ 걸)
- 🚫 This pattern expresses your own regret about your own actions - don't use it for other people's regrets
- 🚫 Use the verb stem form before -을/ㄹ 걸, not the past tense form: 갈 걸 그랬어요 (not 갔을 걸 그랬어요)