-던
A recollective modifier that recalls past habitual, ongoing, or unfinished actions. '-던' is for habits/unfinished; '-았/었던' is for completed states that have now changed.
Summary
Equivalent
Used to... / That/which... (remembered from the past)
Also: -(으)ㄴ (Completed past - no recollective nuance) · -았/었던 (Completed and now changed state)
Example
The Korean snack restaurant I used to go to often during school days is still there.
학교 다닐 때 자주 가던 분식집이 아직도 있어요.
Grammar rules
- Attach as a modifier before a noun.
- Very commonly used in nostalgic or memory-based contexts.
Patterns
Verbs (Past Habit or Repeated Action)
Past (Recollection) · Verb Stem + 던
Verbs (Interrupted/Unfinished Action)
Past (Incomplete) · Verb Stem + 던
Adjectives (Remembered Past State)
Past · Adjective Stem + 던
Example sentences
The Korean snack restaurant I used to go to often during school days is still there.
학교 다닐 때 자주 가던 분식집이 아직도 있어요.
I can't remember where I put the book I was in the middle of reading yesterday.
어제 읽던 책을 어디에 뒀는지 모르겠어요.
The neighborhood that used to be quiet has become incredibly busy now.
예전에 조용하던 동네가 이제는 엄청 복잡해졌어요.
Conversation
A: We used to study a lot at that café, didn't we?
저기 카페에서 예전에 자주 공부했죠?
B: That's right. That's the café we used to go to often.
맞아요. 우리가 자주 가던 카페 맞아요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct recollective past modifier '-던'.
Childhood memory.
Unfinished task.