Retrospective Modifier -던

Category
Intermediate Grammar
Keyword #
회상

Retrospective Modifier -던

TL;DR

  • -던 is used to describe incomplete or habitual past actions that were interrupted or never finished 🔄
  • It attaches to verb stems and creates a nostalgic feeling about "what used to be" or "what was happening back then" 💭
  • Different from -았/었던 (completed actions) — -던 specifically emphasizes the ongoing or repeated nature of the past action ✨

What is -던?

-던 is a super nostalgic grammar form that describes past actions or states that were ongoing, habitual, or left incomplete 🕰️
It gives that wistful "I remember when..." feeling 🌙
Think of it as painting a picture of something that used to happen or was happening in the past, but isn't anymore 🎨

How to Use -던

Attach -던 directly to the verb stem (remove -다):
Verb stem + 던
→ 먹다 → 먹던
→ 가다 → 가던
→ 살다 → 살던
→ 읽다 → 읽던
Super simple! 🎯

When to Use -던

1. Habitual Past Actions (Used to...) 🔁

Describes things you used to do regularly but don't anymore:
→ 내가 자주 가던 카페가 문을 닫았어. (The cafe I used to go to often closed down.)
→ 어릴 때 읽던 책을 다시 찾았어. (I found again the book I used to read as a child.)
→ 예전에 듣던 노래가 생각나. (I remember the song I used to listen to back then.)

2. Incomplete or Interrupted Past Actions 🛑

Describes actions that were happening but stopped or were never completed:
→ 먹던 음식이 아직 테이블에 있어. (The food I was eating is still on the table.)
→ 쓰던 펜이 어디 갔지? (Where did the pen I was using go?)
→ 하던 일을 내일 마저 할게. (I'll finish tomorrow the work I was doing.)

3. Nostalgic Memories 💫

Creates that sweet nostalgic vibe about past memories:
→ 우리가 만나던 장소에 다시 왔어. (I came back to the place where we used to meet.)
→ 할머니가 만들어 주시던 음식이 그리워. (I miss the food my grandmother used to make.)
→ 같이 놀던 친구들이 보고 싶어. (I miss the friends I used to play with.)

-던 vs -았/었던

This is super important! 🚨
-던 = ongoing, habitual, or incomplete past action
-았/었던 = completed past action
→ 먹던 음식 (food I was eating / used to eat)
→ 먹었던 음식 (food I ate [and finished])
→ 살던 집 (house I was living in / used to live in)
→ 살았던 집 (house I lived in [completed experience])
See the difference? -던 emphasizes the process or habit, while -았/었던 emphasizes completion! 🎯

Common Patterns 🌟

-던 것 같다 (It seems like it was...)
→ 비가 오던 것 같아요. (It seems like it was raining.)
-던데 (I noticed/remember that...)
→ 여기 커피가 맛있던데. (I remember the coffee here being delicious.)
-던 적이 있다 (There was a time when...)
→ 그 사람을 만나던 적이 있어요. (There was a time when I used to meet that person.)

Exceptions

With 이다 (to be): Use 이던 or 였던 🔄
→ 학생이던 때 (the time when I was a student)
→ 친구였던 사람 (a person who was my friend)
With descriptive verbs (adjectives): -던 can be used, but -았/었던 is more common for describing past states 🎨
→ 예쁘던 꽃 (flowers that were pretty [at that time])
→ 예뻤던 꽃 (flowers that were pretty [more natural])
You've got this! -던 is your go-to for those nostalgic, "remember when..." vibes 🌈✨
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -던 to describe past habitual actions or interrupted situations. 📝
 
 
  • 내가 어렸을 때 자주 가___ 공원이 이제 없어졌어요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 엄마가 만들어 주시___ 김치찌개 맛이 그리워요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 우리가 처음 만나___ 카페에 다시 가 볼까요?
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 제가 대학생일 때 살___ 동네가 많이 변했어요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 아까 읽___ 책이 어디에 있지?
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 할아버지께서 젊으셨을 때 하시___ 일이 궁금해요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 학창 시절에 좋아하___ 친구를 우연히 만났어요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 방금 전에 입___ 옷을 찾고 있어요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 예전에 우리가 함께 듣___ 노래를 또 들어요.
      • Answer
      던
 
 
  • 어제 보___ 영화 제목이 기억나지 않아요.
      • Answer
      던
 
Vocabulary
어리다 - to be young
공원 - park
없어지다 - to disappear
김치찌개 - kimchi stew
그립다 - to miss, long for
처음 - first time
대학생 - university student
동네 - neighborhood
변하다 - to change
아까 - a while ago, earlier
할아버지 - grandfather
젊다 - to be young
학창 시절 - school days
우연히 - by chance
방금 전 - just now
입다 - to wear
예전 - the past, old days
함께 - together
듣다 - to listen
제목 - title
기억나다 - to remember
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Confusing -던 with -은/는: Remember that -던 specifically refers to past habitual or interrupted actions, while -은/는 describes completed past actions
  • 🚫 Using -던 for actions you've never done: -던 is only for actions you actually experienced or witnessed in the past
  • 🚫 Forgetting that -던 attaches directly to verb stems: No need for tense markers before -던
  • 🚫 Mixing up -던 and -았/었던: Use -던 for ongoing or habitual past actions, and -았/었던 when emphasizing that the action is completely finished