Beginner (JSON) Estimated read: 3 mins

-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다

Used to express having (or not having) a past experience of doing something. It means 'I have the experience of having done...'.

Summary

Equivalent

Have done ~ / Have not done ~

Also: -아/어 본 적이 있다/없다 (Have tried doing / Have not tried doing)

Example

I have never been to Korea.

저는 한국에 간 적이 없습니다.

Grammar rules

  • Use 'ㄴ 적이 있다/없다' for verbs ending in a vowel or ㄹ.
  • Use '은 적이 있다/없다' for verbs ending in a consonant.
  • It is very commonly combined with '-아/어 보다' to mean 'I have (never) tried doing...' -> '-아/어 본 적이 있다/없다'.

    불고기를 먹어 본 적이 있어요. (I have the experience of trying Bulgogi.)

Patterns

1

Verbs (Consonant)

Past Experience · Verb Stem + 은 적이 있다/없다

2

Verbs (Vowel/ㄹ)

Past Experience · Verb Stem (drop ㄹ) + ㄴ 적이 있다/없다

Example sentences

I have never been to Korea.

저는 한국에 간 적이 없습니다.

Have you ever met that person?

그 사람을 만난 적이 있어요?

I have tried making kimchi.

김치를 만들어 본 적이 있어요.

Conversation

A: Have you ever tried skiing?

스키를 타 본 적이 있어요?

B: No, I've never tried it yet. I want to try it this winter.

아니요, 아직 타 본 적이 없어요. 올해 겨울에 타 보고 싶어요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct form indicating past experience.

Seeing a movie.

Making.