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.
Quick summary
- 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.
Meaning
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
Grammar rules
A/V-았/었었어요 Past perfect tense. Expresses actions that occurred in the past but no longer continue. Emphasizes disconnection from present.
- 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.
Example sentences
작년에 한국에 갔었어요.
jangnyeone hanguge gasseosseoyo
I had gone to Korea last year (but no longer there).
Past experience that is no longer true