Level: Beginner Tenses

A/V-았/었었어요

Past perfect tense. Expresses actions that occurred in the past but no longer continue. Emphasizes disconnection from present.

Formation

Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 았었어요. Other stems + 었었어요. 하다 verbs: 했었어요. 가다 → 갔었어요. 먹다 → 먹었었어요. 공부하다 → 공부했었어요.

Examples

작년에 한국에 갔었어요.

jangnyeone hanguge gasseosseoyo

I had gone to Korea last year (but no longer there).

Past experience that is no longer true

Usage

Used to express a past action or state that occurred before another past event, or a past experience that is no longer true. Emphasizes that the situation has changed. Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 았었어요. Other stems + 었었어요.

Notes

Past perfect marker: 았었/었었. After ㅏ/ㅗ vowels: 았었어요. After other vowels: 었었어요. 하다 verbs: 했었어요. Often used to express past experiences.

Formation

Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 았었어요
Other stems + 었었어요
하다 verbs: 했었어요
Examples
가다→갔었어요
먹다→먹었었어요
공부하다→공부했었어요

Examples

작년에 한국에 갔었어요.
jangnyeone hanguge gasseosseoyo
// Expected output:
I had gone to Korea last year (but no longer there).
Context: Past experience that is no longer true

Usage

  • Used to express a past action or state that occurred before another past event, or a past experience that is no longer true.
  • Emphasizes that the situation has changed.
  • Stem ending in ㅏ/ㅗ + 았었어요.
  • Other stems + 었었어요.
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