Korean adjectives and verbs can directly describe a noun. So far, I have written the lessons about the adjective version modifier, and present tense version verb modifier. Today, I'll talk about the past tense verb version modifier (으)ㄴ grammar.
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1. 은 Grammar
(으)ㄴ is attached to a verb and makes it as a modifier. It comes in front of a noun and describes that noun. Especially, it adds the past tense!
먹다(to eat) is combined with the past tense modifier (으)ㄴ. So, it can come in front of the noun, 음식(food), and show the food (I) ate.
It is the part of the sentence. You can use it like the examples below.
어제 먹은 음식은 맛있었어요. The food I ate yesterday was tasty.
어제 먹은 음식은 많이 짰어요. The food I ate yesterday was salty.
Let's compare the 는 and (으)ㄴ. These words are attached to a verb or an adjective and change them into a modifier. These modifiers come in front of a noun and add details to it.
As you see, 는 is used as a present tense verb. 은 can be attached for either an adjective or a past tense verb.
2. Conjugation Information
(으)ㄴ has two forms: 은 and ㄴ. To decide you have to take a look at the stem's last syllable. Check if it has the final consonant or not!
Regular Adjectives
받침 Final Consonants | (으)ㄴ | 예시 example |
받침 O | 은 | 먹다 (to eat) → 먹은 |
받침 X | ㄴ | 오다 (to come) → 온 |
ㄹ 받침 | Erase ㄹ + ㄴ | 살다 (to live) → 산 |
When there is no final consonant, you attach ㄴ under the last syllable and make one for it! Even if it has the final consonant, if it is ㄹ, you must erase it first. Then, add ㄴ as the new final consonant! I'll show you more examples here.
읽다 (to read) → 읽은
받다 (to receive) → 받은
찾다 (to find) → 찾은
닫다 (to clse) → 닫은
입다 (to wear) → 입은
가다 (to go) → 간
보다 (to see) → 본
공부하다 (to study) → 공부한
마시다 (to drink) → 마신
쓰다 (to write) → 쓴
만들다 (to make) → 만든
놀다 (to play) → 논
팔다 (to sell) → 판
울다 (to cry) → 운
Irregular Adjectives
받침 Final Consonants | (으)ㄴ | 예시 example |
불규칙 ㄷ | Change ㄷ to ㄹ + 은 | 듣다 (to listen) → 들은 |
불규칙 ㅅ | Erase ㅅ + 은 | 긋다 (to draw a line) → 그은 |
불규칙 ㅂ | Erase ㅂ + 은 | 줍다 (to pick up) → 주운 |
걷다 (to walk) → 걸은
깨닫다 (to realize) → 깨달은
묻다 (to ask) → 물은
낫다 (to heal) → 나은
붓다 (to pour) → 부은
젓다 (to stir) → 저은
굽다 (to bake/roast) → 구운
돕다 (to help) → 도운
눕다 (to lie) → 누운
3. Sentence Information
This (으)ㄴ also can show like the "preset perfect" tense. For the event that happened before and it still continues attach (으)ㄴ.
파란 옷을 입은 사람이 제 친구예요. The person who wears blue clothes is my friend.
입다(to wear) is combined with (으)ㄴ. It is not past tense anymore. You are describing the person who wears blue clothes. 입은 is interpreted as an action that has continued to the present.
저기 의자에 앉은 사람이 민지 씨예요. The person who sits over there is Minji.
Here is one more example of continuous action. 민지 sat one time and she is still sitting there. For situations like this, you will need to add (으)ㄴ.
4. Examples
Now, let's take a look at the examples using this 은 grammar! Make sure that you always have a noun after this grammar!
1
민지 씨가 만든 케이크는 정말 맛있었어요.
The cake that Minji made was really tasty.
만들다(to make) + 케이크(cake)
Minji made the cake in the past. So, we attach (으)ㄴ grammar to 만들다. Since 만들다 ends with the final consonant ㄹ, you'll replace ㄹ with ㄴ. 정말 means really. 맛있었어요 came from 맛있다(to be tasty).
2
수지 씨가 산 옷은 좀 작았어요.
The clothes that Suji bought were a bit small.
사다(to make) + 옷(clothes)
수지 bought the clothes before. So, we need the past tense version 산, not the present tense 사는.
3
어제 밤 전화한 사람은 누구였어요?
Who was the person who called last night?
전화하다(to make a phone call) + 사람(person)
누구 means who.
4
어제 읽은 책은 참 재밌었어요.
The book I read yesterday was really fun.
읽다(to read) + 책(book)
재밌었어요 came from 재미있다 (to have fun).
5
아침에 주운 지갑 주인을 찾았어요.
I found the owner of the wallet that I picked in the morning.
줍다(to pick up) + 지갑(wallet)
The basic form of 찾았어요 is 찾다 which means to find.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet
To describe a noun using the past tense version of a verb, you can attach (으)ㄴ to the verb. Depending on the existence of the final consonant, you will attach either 은 or ㄴ.
Here, I prepared the free and printable worksheet. The answers are throughout the lesson. So, once you solve it, come back to lesson and check your answers!
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