-곤 했다
Used to describe an action that was repeated or habitual in the past but is no longer the case.
Summary
Equivalent
Used to (do) / Would often (do)
Also: -던 (Recollective modifier — attaches to nouns; '-곤 했다' is predicate form)
Example
When I was young, I used to go to my grandmother's house every summer.
어릴 때 여름마다 할머니 댁에 가곤 했어요.
Grammar rules
- Only used for past habits that no longer continue.
- Unlike '했어요' (simple past), '-곤 했다' implies repetition.
- Similar to English 'I used to' or 'I would often'.
Patterns
Verbs (Past Repeated/Habitual)
Past · Verb Stem + 곤 했다
Example sentences
When I was young, I used to go to my grandmother's house every summer.
어릴 때 여름마다 할머니 댁에 가곤 했어요.
When I was a student I would often study all night, but now I can't manage it.
학생 때는 밤새 공부하곤 했는데 이제는 못 하겠어요.
I used to jog in this park every weekend.
주말마다 이 공원에서 조깅을 하곤 했어요.
Conversation
A: What kind of music did you like in the past?
예전에 어떤 음악을 좋아했어요?
B: When I was a student I would often listen to a lot of rock music.
학생 때는 록 음악을 많이 듣곤 했어요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Express a past repeated habit.
Used to sing.
Would read.