Have you ever wanted to tell someone in Korean what you did yesterday or last weekend — but froze because you didn’t know how to form the past tense? You’re not alone!
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In Korean, the past tense is actually one of the most useful and beginner-friendly grammar points. It’s built around two simple endings: 았어요 and 었어요. With just a few rules, you can start describing your day, your travels, and your favorite memories like a native. Let’s dive in!
1️⃣ What Is Korean Past Tense?
The Korean past tense allows you to talk about completed actions or events that happened before now. Whether you're talking about yesterday's lunch, a trip to Seoul, or a movie you watched, you’ll use either 았어요 or 었어요.
These endings are attached to verb stems and change slightly depending on the last vowel in the stem. The basic structure is consistent, making it easier to learn than many English tense rules.
For example: - 먹다 (to eat) → 먹었어요 (ate) - 가다 (to go) → 갔어요 (went)
If you’ve learned the present tense using 아요/어요, you’re already halfway there! The patterns are almost identical — just one syllable changes.
📊 Past Tense Meaning Table
| Verb | Meaning | Past Tense | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | to go | 갔어요 | went |
| 먹다 | to eat | 먹었어요 | ate |
| 보다 | to see | 봤어요 | saw |
2️⃣ How to Conjugate 았어요/었어요
Conjugating to the past tense in Korean is straightforward. You remove the “다” from the verb and then attach either 았어요 or 었어요 based on the stem’s last vowel.
Here's the rule: - If the last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ → use 았어요 - If the last vowel is anything else → use 었어요 - 하다 becomes 했어요
Let’s look at some examples together:
🛠️ Conjugation Rule Table
| Verb | Stem | Rule | Past Tense |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 가 | ㅏ vowel → +았어요 | 갔어요 |
| 먹다 | 먹 | ㅓ vowel → +었어요 | 먹었어요 |
| 하다 | 하 | Irregular → 했어요 | 했어요 |
3️⃣ Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Most Korean verbs follow predictable rules when changing to the past tense, but a few irregulars exist. Don't worry — these still follow logic and are easy to memorize with practice.
The most common irregulars involve changes in the verb stem before adding the past tense ending. For example, some verbs like 듣다 (to listen) add a "ㄹ" in their conjugated form, while some like 돕다 (to help) change the vowel entirely.
Understanding these patterns will help you avoid confusion and sound more natural when speaking. Here’s a table of must-know irregulars:
🧩 Irregular Verbs Table
| Verb | Type | Past Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 듣다 | ㄷ → ㄹ | 들었어요 | listened |
| 걷다 | ㄷ → ㄹ | 걸었어요 | walked |
| 돕다 | ㅂ → 오 | 도왔어요 | helped |
Memorize these irregulars with flashcards or by seeing them in real-life examples. They come up frequently in both spoken and written Korean!
4️⃣ Sentence Examples in Daily Life
Let’s make it real! Below are some everyday Korean sentences using past tense verbs. Try to say them out loud and change the subject or verb to make your own!
Notice how the tense helps create context and mood. Whether you're talking about last night’s dinner or something funny your friend said, the past tense is key to storytelling in Korean.
🗣️ Past Tense Sentence Examples
| Korean | English | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| 어제 친구를 만났어요. | I met a friend yesterday. | 만나다 → 만났어요 |
| 오늘 아침에 밥을 먹었어요. | I ate rice this morning. | 먹다 → 먹었어요 |
| 주말에 영화를 봤어요. | I watched a movie on the weekend. | 보다 → 봤어요 |
You can take any verb you know and plug it into this past tense structure. Try writing your own diary entries in Korean using this pattern — it really helps!
5️⃣ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learning Korean past tense is simple, but many learners still make a few key mistakes. Let’s go over them so you don’t fall into the same traps.
One common mistake is mixing up 았어요 and 었어요 due to vowel confusion. Another is forgetting irregular changes like 돕다 → 도왔어요. Some learners also overuse the 하다 pattern and try to apply it to other verbs incorrectly.
Here’s a list of typical mistakes — and how to fix them!
🚫 Mistakes & Fixes Table
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| 가었어요 | Wrong vowel rule (ㅏ needs 아요) | 갔어요 |
| 하다 → 하었어요 | 하다 is irregular | 했어요 |
| 걷었어요 | ㄷ irregular not applied | 걸었어요 |
As you study, focus on patterns — not just memorization. That way, even unfamiliar verbs will start to make sense when you see them used in context.
6️⃣ Practice Quiz: Check Your Knowledge
Ready to test what you've learned? Try this quick quiz using real-life verbs. Choose the correct past tense form based on what you know. Then check the answers at the bottom!
📝 Quiz Table – Choose the Correct Form
| Verb | Stem Vowel | Your Answer | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 (to go) | ㅏ | ______ | 갔어요 |
| 먹다 (to eat) | ㅓ | ______ | 먹었어요 |
| 하다 (to do) | irregular | ______ | 했어요 |
| 걷다 (to walk) | ㄷ irregular | ______ | 걸었어요 |
Use this kind of quiz often to review. Even 5–10 minutes a day builds fluency faster than you think! 📚
❓ FAQ – Korean Past Tense (30 Questions)
Q1. What is the basic past tense in Korean?
A1. The basic past tense is formed using 아요/어요 → becomes 았어요/었어요.
Q2. When should I use 았어요?
A2. Use it when the last vowel of the verb stem is ㅏ or ㅗ.
Q3. What about 었어요?
A3. Use 었어요 when the last vowel is anything else, like ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅣ, etc.
Q4. What’s the past tense of 하다?
A4. 하다 is irregular and becomes 했어요.
Q5. How do I say “I ate” in Korean?
A5. You say “먹었어요.”
Q6. Is there a formal past tense?
A6. Yes, you can use 합니다 → 했습니다 in formal situations.
Q7. Can I use past tense with adjectives?
A7. Yes! 예쁘다 → 예뻤어요 (was pretty).
Q8. What’s the past tense of 가다?
A8. It becomes 갔어요.
Q9. Is pronunciation different in past tense?
A9. Slightly, but the tone can rise or fall naturally like in speech.
Q10. How can I practice past tense daily?
A10. Try writing a diary in Korean using past tense sentences.
Q11. Is 았어요 polite?
A11. Yes, it's the standard polite past tense.
Q12. What’s the informal version of 았어요?
A12. You can use 았어 or 었어 with close friends.
Q13. Is it used in K-dramas?
A13. Absolutely! Most past events in K-dramas use these forms.
Q14. Can I use it in writing?
A14. Yes, in blogs, messages, and informal essays.
Q15. What’s the past of 마시다 (to drink)?
A15. 마셨어요.
Q16. What’s the past of 일어나다 (to wake up)?
A16. 일어났어요.
Q17. How do I know which tense to use?
A17. Look at the time marker in the sentence (어제, 주말에, etc).
Q18. Do I need to change nouns too?
A18. No, only the verb changes to past tense.
Q19. What’s the past of 사다 (to buy)?
A19. 샀어요.
Q20. Can I use it when talking to strangers?
A20. Yes, 았어요/었어요 is polite and safe for most situations.
Q21. What’s the past of 배우다?
A21. 배웠어요.
Q22. What’s the past of 오다?
A22. 왔어요.
Q23. Can I combine past tense with time expressions?
A23. Yes! Like "어제 영화를 봤어요."
Q24. What’s the past of 크다?
A24. 컸어요.
Q25. Is 했어요 very common?
A25. Yes, because 하다 is used in many compound verbs.
Q26. Should I memorize verb stems?
A26. Yes, it helps to identify endings more easily.
Q27. How do I know if a verb is irregular?
A27. Start by learning the most frequent irregular verbs first.
Q28. Can I say 했습니다 instead of 했어요?
A28. Yes, 했습니다 is more formal and used in speeches or business.
Q29. Does the past tense affect object markers?
A29. No, 을/를 stays the same.
Q30. What’s the best way to learn past tense?
A30. Combine real-life examples, quizzes, and daily writing for the best results.
This guide is intended for educational purposes only and may not cover all dialects or advanced nuances of Korean grammar. For formal studies, consult a certified Korean language instructor.
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