-았/었/였: Past Tense Marker

Example Sentences#

1. “아, 이럴 수가,” 쥐가 말했다.¹
   “Ah, how could this be,” the mouse said.
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
2. 돌아보면 차이가 있었을까?²
   When I look back, was there ever a difference?
   • 있다 means ‘to exist’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 을까 is a question ending indicating curiosity, wonder, or uncertainty, often used when the speaker is asking themselves a question.
3. 체셔 고양이: “그건 네가 어디로 가고 싶은지에 달려 있어,” 고양이가 말했다.³
   Cheshire Cat: “That depends on where you want to go,” said the cat.
   • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
4. 옛날에 한 노인이 있었습니다.⁴
   Once upon a time, there was an old man.
   • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
5. 나연: 야, 너 인스타 보니까 최근에 콘서트 갔다 왔더라?⁵
   Nayeon: Hey, I saw on your Instagram that you went to a concert recently?
   • 가다 means ‘to go’.
   • -았- is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is a shortened form of -다가, a connective ending indicating the interruption, shift, or progression from one action or state to another.
6. 태민: 나는 나의 아저씨가 진짜 좋았어.⁶
   Taemin: I really liked ‘My Mister’.
   • 좋다 means ‘to be good’.
   • 았 is the past tense marker.
   • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
7. 하지만 특정 사람을 미워할수록 인류 전체를 더욱 사랑하게 되는 것은 언제나 그래왔습니다.⁷
   But the more I hate any particular person, the more I come to love humanity as a whole, and it has always been so.
   • 그렇다 means ‘to be so’ or ‘to be like that’.
   • -어 오다 is a grammatical construction where 오다 (to come) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that an action or state has been continuing up to the present.
   • 았 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
8. 어느 날, 라사로와 맹인은 알모록스라는 마을에 도착했다.⁸
   One day, Lazaro and the blind man arrived in a village called Almorox.
   • 도착하다 means ‘to arrive’.
   • 였 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
9. 옛날에 장주라는 사람이 있었습니다.⁹
   Long ago, there was a person named Zhuang Zhou.
   • 있다 means ‘to exist’.
   • 었 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
10. 우리는 끝없는 검은 바다 한가운데 있는 고요한 무지의 섬에 살고 있으며, 멀리 나가는 것은 우리에게 맞지 않았습니다.¹⁰
    We live on a quiet island of ignorance in the middle of an endless black sea, and it was not meant for us to venture far.
    • 않다 is an auxiliary verb that makes the clause negative.
    • 았 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
11. 두 명의 스님, 한 명은 나이 든 스님이고 다른 한 명은 젊은 스님이 함께 여행하고 있었다.¹¹
    Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.
    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • -고 있다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate a continuous or ongoing action.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
12. “나를 길들여 줘…” 여우가 말했다.¹²
    “Please tame me…” said the fox.
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
13. 난 태어날 때부터 자유 원했어¹³
    I wanted freedom since the day I was born.
    • 원하다 means ‘to want’ or ‘to wish’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
14. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.¹⁴
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.
    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • -고 있다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate a continuous or ongoing action.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
15. 옛날에 산 아래 작은 마을이 있었습니다.¹⁵
    Once upon a time, there was a small village at the foot of a mountain.
    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
16. 서준: 알았어.¹⁶
    Seojun: Got it.
    • 알다 means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’.
    • -았- is a past tense marker.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
17. 처음에는 너무 넓어서 두려웠고, 계속 달리기만 했어.¹
    At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, and I kept running and running.
    • 두렵다 means ‘to be afraid’.
    • 었 is a past tense marker.
    • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
18. 앨리스: “어디든 상관없어요—” 앨리스가 말했다.³
    Alice: “I don’t care where—” said Alice.
    • 말하다 means ‘to say’.
    • 였 is a past tense marker.
    • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
19. 어느 날 그의 말이 도망갔습니다.⁴
    One day, his horse ran away.
    • 도망가다 means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’, formed from 도망 (escape) and 가다 (to go), conveying a neutral and descriptive sense of escape, focusing on the movement or direction away from something.
    • 았 is a past tense marker.
    • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.
20. 최근에 고척스카이돔에서 블랙핑크 공연 봤어.⁵
    I recently saw the BLACKPINK concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • -았- is a past tense marker.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.