A2 Noun Modification 13 min read Easy

Describing the Past: Noun Modifiers (ㄴ/은)

Use ㄴ/은 to turn finished actions into adjectives that describe nouns, like 'the movie I watched'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the -ㄴ/은 suffix on a verb stem to turn it into a past-tense adjective that describes a noun.

  • If the verb stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ: 가다 (to go) -> 간 (that went).
  • If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add -은: 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹은 (that ate).
  • If the stem ends in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ and add -ㄴ: 만들다 (to make) -> 만든 (that made).
Verb Stem + (ㄴ/은) + Noun

Overview

Korean sentence structure often places descriptive elements before the noun they modify. The grammatical pattern ㄴ/은 is a crucial tool for an A2 learner, enabling you to describe a noun using an action that was completed in the past. This construction transforms an action verb into a pre-nominal modifier, functioning similarly to a past participle or a relative clause in English, but with greater conciseness.

Fundamentally, ㄴ/은 allows you to specify which noun you are referring to by recounting a finished action associated with it. Instead of constructing a separate sentence or a cumbersome relative clause like "the book that I read yesterday," Korean integrates the past action directly into the noun phrase: "the yesterday-read book." Mastery of this pattern is essential for building more complex and natural-sounding Korean sentences, moving beyond simple subject-verb-object structures to express nuanced relationships between nouns and their preceding actions. It reflects a core linguistic principle in Korean where attributes, including temporal ones, are often expressed pre-nominally, making the language highly efficient in conveying information within noun phrases.

For instance, 본 영화 (the movie I watched/the watched movie) is more common and succinct than a full relative clause for a simple past action.

How This Grammar Works

This grammatical pattern attaches to the stem of an action verb to indicate that the action was performed and completed in the past, and the result of that action now characterizes or identifies the noun that follows. The core function of ㄴ/은 is to establish a clear past-tense relationship between a verb and a subsequent noun, effectively turning the verb into an adjective. It is critical to understand that ㄴ/은 exclusively marks completed actions.
It does not convey ongoing past actions or habitual past events; for those, other modifiers such as -던 or the past perfect -았/었던 are used.
When you encounter [Verb Stem + ㄴ/은] + Noun, it signifies that the noun is defined by a prior, finished action. Consider the verb 읽다 (to read). If you want to talk about "the book you read," you combine the verb stem 읽- with 은 (because 읽- ends in a consonant) to form 읽은.
This then precedes the noun 책 (book), resulting in 읽은 책 (the book that was read, or the book you read). The structure is consistently [Verb Stem + ㄴ/은] + Noun, where the modifier is always placed directly before the noun it describes. This pattern stands in contrast to present tense modifiers like -는 (e.g., 읽는 책 – the book currently being read) and future tense modifiers like -(으)ㄹ (e.g., 읽을 책 – the book to be read or that you will read), each serving a distinct temporal function for modifying nouns with verbs.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the past noun modifier ㄴ/은 requires identifying the verb stem and applying rules based on its final sound. Begin by removing the dictionary ending 다 from any action verb to obtain its stem. Then, follow these specific guidelines:
2
1. Regular Action Verbs:
3
Stems ending in a vowel: Add ㄴ directly to the stem. This attaches ㄴ as the final consonant (받침) of the preceding syllable.
4
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
5
|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
6
| 보다 (to see/watch) | 보- | 보 + ㄴ | 본 (bon) | watched, seen |
7
| 가다 (to go) | 가- | 가 + ㄴ | 간 (gan) | gone, went |
8
| 사다 (to buy) | 사- | 사 + ㄴ | 산 (san) | bought |
9
Stems ending in a consonant (batchim): Add 은 after the stem. This attaches 은 as a separate syllable.
10
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
11
|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
12
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹- | 먹 + 은 | 먹은 (meogeun) | eaten |
13
| 찾다 (to find) | 찾- | 찾 + 은 | 찾은 (chajeun) | found |
14
| 닫다 (to close) | 닫- | 닫 + 은 | 닫은 (dadeun) | closed |
15
2. Irregular Action Verbs: Korean phonology requires certain stems to change when followed by specific endings. These irregularities apply here:
16
ㄹ Irregular Verbs (Verbs with stems ending in ㄹ): The ㄹ is dropped, and ㄴ is then attached to the remaining part of the stem. This rule is crucial for maintaining natural pronunciation.
17
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
18
|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
19
| 만들다 (to make) | 만들-| 만드 + ㄴ | 만든 (mandeun) | made |
20
| 살다 (to live) | 살- | 사 + ㄴ | 산 (san) | lived |
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| 팔다 (to sell) | 팔- | 파 + ㄴ | 판 (pan) | sold |
22
ㅂ Irregular Verbs (Action verbs with stems ending in ㅂ): The ㅂ changes to 우 (or 오 for 돕다 and 곱다), and then ㄴ is attached. This transformation prevents awkward consonant clusters.
23
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
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|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
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| 돕다 (to help) | 돕- | 도우 + ㄴ | 도운 (douun) | helped |
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| 굽다 (to bake) | 굽- | 구우 + ㄴ | 구운 (guuun) | baked |
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ㄷ Irregular Verbs (Action verbs with stems ending in ㄷ): The ㄷ changes to ㄹ, and then 은 is attached. This assimilation makes pronunciation smoother.
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| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
29
|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
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| 듣다 (to listen/hear) | 듣- | 들 + 은 | 들은 (deureun) | heard, listened |
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| 걷다 (to walk) | 걷- | 걸 + 은 | 걸은 (georeun) | walked |
32
ㅅ Irregular Verbs (Action verbs with stems ending in ㅅ): The ㅅ is dropped when followed by a vowel sound, and then 은 is attached. This applies to verbs like 짓다 (to build).
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| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Stem | Formation | Past Noun Modifier (Romanization) | English Meaning (Modifier) |
34
|:-----------------------|:-----|:----------|:-----------------------------------|:---------------------------|
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| 짓다 (to build) | 짓- | 지 + 은 | 지은 (jieun) | built |

When To Use It

This past noun modifier ㄴ/은 is employed whenever you need to identify or describe a noun based on an action that has already concluded. Its utility lies in its ability to embed a completed past event directly into a noun phrase, making your sentences more concise and grammatically sophisticated. This is particularly useful when the past action provides essential context or distinction for the noun.
You use ㄴ/은 to specify which item, person, or concept is being discussed among others, or to describe its state as a result of a finished action.
Consider these common scenarios for its application:
  • Identifying a specific item or person: When there are multiple instances of a noun, and a past action differentiates the one you mean. For example, if you are looking for a specific item you purchased: 어제 산 가방 어디 있어요? (Eoje san gabang eodi isseoyo?) – "Where is the bag I bought yesterday?" Here, 산 (bought) specifies which bag you are asking about.
  • Describing the result or outcome of a past action: The modifier indicates that the noun has undergone and completed the action. For instance, 엄마가 만든 케이크 (Eommaga mandeun keikeu) – "The cake Mom made." The cake is now a 'made cake' because the action of making is finished. Similarly, 구운 빵 (guuun ppang) refers to "the bread that has been baked."
  • Providing essential background information: You use ㄴ/은 to provide context about a noun without needing a separate clause. 제가 읽은 책이 정말 재미있었어요. (Jega ilgeun chaegi jeongmal jaemiisseosseoyo.) – "The book I read was really interesting." The action of reading is complete, and it modifies 책 (book).
This pattern is prevalent in both formal and informal communication, from casual conversation to written reports. Its efficiency makes it a cornerstone of Korean descriptive grammar. By mastering ㄴ/은, you streamline your expressions, moving from simpler, potentially clunky sentence structures to more integrated and natural Korean phrasing.
The ability to distinguish between 내가 먹은 밥 (the rice I finished eating) and 내가 먹는 밥 (the rice I am currently eating) is fundamental for clear communication regarding states and actions.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific challenges when applying the ㄴ/은 past noun modifier. Understanding these common pitfalls and their underlying reasons is crucial for accurate and natural Korean usage.
  1. 1Confusing Action Verbs with Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): This is perhaps the most significant source of error at the A2 level. ㄴ/은 has different functions depending on whether it attaches to an action verb or a descriptive verb (adjective).
  • Action Verbs: As established, ㄴ/은 modifies a noun with a completed past action. 내가 본 영화 (Naega bon yeonghwa) – "The movie I watched." (Action: 보다 – to watch, past tense)
  • Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): When ㄴ/은 attaches to a descriptive verb, it creates a present tense noun modifier. 예쁜 꽃 (Yeppeun kkot) – "A pretty flower" (Adjective: 예쁘다 – to be pretty, present tense). It never indicates past tense for adjectives. To modify a noun with a past-tense adjective, you would typically use -던 or -았/었던 (e.g., 예뻤던 꽃 – "the flower that was pretty"). Misapplying ㄴ/은 to adjectives for past tense will result in grammatical incorrectness and miscommunication.
  1. 1Incorrectly Modifying 있다 and 없다: The verbs 있다 (to exist, to have) and 없다 (to not exist, to not have) are exceptions to the ㄴ/은 rule for past actions. Regardless of the tense you intend to convey, 있다 and 없다 always use the present tense noun modifier -는 when modifying a noun.
  • Correct: 재미있는 책 (Jaemiinneun chaek) – "An interesting book" (literally, a book that is interesting). Even if you mean "the book that was interesting," you would often still use 재미있는 책 in this context, or -던 for past habit/state (재미있던 책). Never 재미있은 책 or 재미없은 책.
  • Correct: 돈이 없는 사람 (Doni eomneun saram) – "A person who doesn't have money." Never 돈이 없은 사람.
  1. 1Forgetting Irregular Verb Conjugations: Failing to apply the specific rules for ㄹ, ㅂ, ㄷ, and ㅅ irregular verbs is a common error. Forgetting the ㄹ drop (e.g., 만들는 instead of 만든 for 만들다) or the ㅂ to 우 change (e.g., 돕은 instead of 도운 for 돕다) will make your speech sound unnatural and sometimes difficult to understand. These changes are phonological necessities in Korean.
  1. 1Confusing ㄴ/은 Modifier with the Topic Marker 은/는: While they share similar forms, their functions and positions are distinct.
  • ㄴ/은 (Noun Modifier): Attaches to an action verb stem and immediately precedes a noun to describe it. Example: 먹은 밥 (meogeun bap) – "the eaten rice."
  • 은/는 (Topic Marker): Attaches to a noun or pronoun to mark it as the topic of the sentence. Example: 밥은 제가 먹었어요. (Bapeun jega meogeosseoyo.) – "As for the rice, I ate it."
Context and the part of speech it attaches to (verb stem vs. noun) are the key differentiators.
  1. 1Using ㄴ/은 for Ongoing or Habitual Past Actions: This modifier specifically denotes a completed action. If you intend to express an action that was in progress in the past or used to happen habitually, ㄴ/은 is incorrect. For those nuances, the modifier -던 is more appropriate. For example, 읽은 책 is the book you finished reading, whereas 읽던 책 refers to the book you were reading (implying you might still be reading it or stopped midway).
  1. 1Attempting to Attach 았/었 Tense Markers within the Modifier: The ㄴ/은 ending itself signifies past tense. There's no need to combine it with explicit past tense markers like 았/었 in this A2 pattern. While more advanced forms like -았/었던 exist, for simple past modification, ㄴ/은 is used directly with the verb stem (가다 -> 간, not 갔은).

Real Conversations

In contemporary Korean, the ㄴ/은 past noun modifier is ubiquitous, appearing naturally across all forms of communication. It streamlines expression and is fundamental to how native speakers convey information efficiently. Observe its usage in various contexts:

- Casual Conversation (해체): 어제 본 영화 진짜 좋았어. (Eoje bon yeonghwa jinjja joasseo.) – "The movie I watched yesterday was really good." Here, 본 (watched) makes the sentence flow naturally without needing a separate clause. Another example: 네가 말한 그 식당 어디야? (Nega malhan geu sikdang eodiya?) – "Where's that restaurant you talked about?" 말한 (talked about) concisely refers to a past conversation.

- Formal/Polite Communication (합니다체): 저희가 준비한 자료입니다. (Jeohuiga junbihan jaryoimnida.) – "This is the material we prepared." This is a common phrase in business or academic settings, using 준비한 (prepared) to directly qualify the noun 자료 (material). Similarly, 보고서를 제출한 담당자에게 연락하십시오. (Bogoseoreul jechulhan damdangjaege yeollakhasipsio.) – "Please contact the person in charge who submitted the report." 제출한 (submitted) specifies the individual.

- Texting and Social Media: Due to its conciseness, ㄴ/은 is perfectly suited for digital communication. 친구가 보내준 사진 봐봐. (Chinguga bonaejun sajin bwabwa.) – "Look at the photo my friend sent me." (보내준 – sent) or 어제 먹은 음식 사진이야. (Eoje meogeun eumsik sajin-iya.) – "This is a photo of the food I ate yesterday." (먹은 – ate).

- Everyday Life and News: You'll encounter it when referring to objects or people defined by past events. 도난당한 물건 (donandanghan mulgeon) – "the stolen item" (from 도난당하다 – to be stolen). Or, 선출된 대통령 (seonchuldoen daetongnyeong) – "the elected president" (from 선출되다 – to be elected). These examples demonstrate how the modifier is integrated into common phrases, often forming established terms without a sense of explicit modification.

This pattern is integral to natural Korean expression. Its ability to pack a complete past action into a single modifying unit is a testament to Korean's agglutinative and head-final characteristics, where descriptive information efficiently precedes the core noun. Understanding its widespread use helps learners not only construct correct sentences but also grasp the underlying logic of Korean thought processes.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can ㄴ/은 be used for descriptive verbs (adjectives)?

Yes, but with a crucial distinction: when ㄴ/은 attaches to an adjective stem, it forms a present tense noun modifier. For example, 크다 (to be big) becomes 큰 (big), as in 큰 집 (a big house). 예쁘다 (to be pretty) becomes 예쁜 (pretty), as in 예쁜 사람 (a pretty person). It never indicates past tense for adjectives. To express a past state with an adjective, you would typically use -던 or -았/었던 (e.g., 예뻤던 사람 – "the person who was pretty").

  • Q: Does ㄴ/은 apply to passive or causative verbs?

Yes, ㄴ/은 can attach to the stems of passive or causative verbs just like active verbs. The action it describes is still a completed one. For example, 만들다 (to make) becomes 만든 (made), while its passive form 만들어지다 (to be made) becomes 만들어진 (that which was made). 먹이다 (to feed) becomes 먹인 (fed).

  • Q: How does ㄴ/은 differ from -던 and -았/었던?

All three relate to past actions, but convey different nuances:

  • ㄴ/은: Marks a completed action that directly modifies the noun, often focusing on the result or identification. 읽은 책 (the book I finished reading).
  • -던: Implies an action that was ongoing, habitual, or repeated in the past, or an action that was incomplete. 읽던 책 (the book I was reading / used to read). It suggests a continued state or action in the past.
  • -았/었던: Indicates an action that was completed in the past and is no longer relevant or true in the present, or a past perfect sense. 읽었던 책 (the book I had read / once read, implying I might not own it anymore or its status has changed). For A2 learners, ㄴ/은 is the primary past modifier; -던 and -았/었던 introduce more advanced temporal and aspectual distinctions.
  • Q: Can ㄴ/은 modify abstract nouns or concepts?

Absolutely. It can modify any noun that can be associated with a completed past action. For instance, 제가 생각한 아이디어 (jega saenggakhan aideo) – "the idea I thought of"; 사람들이 믿은 소문 (saramdeuri mideun somun) – "the rumor people believed"; 배운 지식 (baeun jisik) – "the knowledge learned." The principle remains the same: a completed past action defining the noun.

  • Q: What about politeness levels? Does the modifier change?

The ㄴ/은 modifier itself does not change based on politeness. It is an intrinsic part of the verb-to-noun modification structure. The politeness of the entire sentence is determined by the final verb conjugation in the main clause of the sentence (e.g., formal 합니다, polite 아요/어요, casual 어/아). The modifier itself remains consistent regardless of the surrounding politeness level.

  • Q: Are there honorific forms for this modifier?

When modifying a noun referring to a respected or senior person, and the verb is an honorific verb, you would use -(으)신 instead of ㄴ/은. For example, from 말씀하시다 (honorific for 말하다 – to speak), you get 말씀하신 분 (the person who spoke). This is typically a B1/B2 level point, but it's important to recognize for comprehensive understanding.

Past Adnominal Conjugation

Verb Stem Ending Result Meaning
가다
-ㄴ
간
that went
먹다
-은
먹은
that ate
만들다
-ㄴ (drop ㄹ)
만든
that made
보다
-ㄴ
본
that saw
읽다
-은
읽은
that read
살다
-ㄴ (drop ㄹ)
산
that lived

Meanings

This grammar structure modifies a noun by describing an action that was completed in the past.

1

Past Action Modifier

Describes a noun based on a completed action performed by or to it.

“어제 만난 친구 (The friend I met yesterday)”

“내가 쓴 편지 (The letter I wrote)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Describing the Past: Noun Modifiers (ㄴ/은)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem + ㄴ/은 + Noun
먹은 음식 (food I ate)
Negative
안 + Stem + ㄴ/은 + Noun
안 먹은 음식 (food I didn't eat)
Question
Stem + ㄴ/은 + Noun?
먹은 음식이 뭐야? (What is the food you ate?)
Irregular (ㄹ)
Stem(drop ㄹ) + ㄴ + Noun
만든 요리 (food I made)
Irregular (ㄷ)
Stem(ㄷ->ㄹ) + 은 + Noun
들은 이야기 (story I heard)

Formality Spectrum

Formal
제가 읽은 책입니다.

제가 읽은 책입니다. (Talking about books.)

Neutral
제가 읽은 책이에요.

제가 읽은 책이에요. (Talking about books.)

Informal
내가 읽은 책이야.

내가 읽은 책이야. (Talking about books.)

Slang
내가 읽은 거.

내가 읽은 거. (Talking about books.)

Past Modifier Logic

Verb Stem

Vowel

  • 가다 go

Consonant

  • 먹다 eat

ㄹ-stem

  • 만들다 make
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Examples by Level

1

내가 먹은 사과

The apple I ate

2

어제 본 영화

The movie I saw yesterday

3

산 책

The book I bought

4

만든 요리

The food I made

1

친구가 준 선물

The gift my friend gave

2

내가 살던 집

The house I used to live in

3

공부한 내용

The content I studied

4

입은 옷

The clothes I wore

1

선생님이 가르치신 문법

The grammar the teacher taught

2

우리가 결정한 시간

The time we decided on

3

그가 말한 사실

The fact he mentioned

4

작년에 방문한 도시

The city I visited last year

1

정부가 발표한 정책

The policy the government announced

2

그가 겪은 고통

The pain he experienced

3

우리가 합의한 조건

The conditions we agreed upon

4

그녀가 선택한 길

The path she chose

1

역사가 증명한 진실

The truth that history has proven

2

과학자들이 발견한 현상

The phenomenon scientists discovered

3

그가 남긴 유산

The legacy he left behind

4

사회적 합의가 이루어진 결과

The result achieved through social consensus

1

고전 문학에 기록된 지혜

The wisdom recorded in classical literature

2

수세기에 걸쳐 축적된 지식

The knowledge accumulated over centuries

3

그의 철학이 투영된 작품

The work in which his philosophy is projected

4

시대적 요구가 반영된 법안

The bill that reflects the demands of the era

Easily Confused

Describing the Past: Noun Modifiers (ㄴ/은) vs -는 (Present Modifier)

Learners mix up present and past.

Describing the Past: Noun Modifiers (ㄴ/은) vs -던 (Retrospective)

Both refer to the past.

Describing the Past: Noun Modifiers (ㄴ/은) vs -ㄹ/을 (Future Modifier)

Learners mix up future and past.

Common Mistakes

✗

먹는 음식 (past)

✓

먹은 음식

Confusing present and past.
✗

만들은 음식

✓

만든 음식

Forgetting to drop ㄹ.
✗

가은 음식

✓

간 음식

Wrong suffix for vowel stem.
✗

먹다 음식

✓

먹은 음식

Using dictionary form.
✗

읽는 책 (past)

✓

읽은 책

Still mixing up tenses.
✗

살은 집

✓

산 집

Irregular stem error.
✗

먹은이다

✓

먹은 음식

Trying to make it a verb.
✗

먹던 음식 (when meaning completed)

✓

먹은 음식

Confusing habit with completed action.
✗

가신 음식

✓

간 음식

Honorific misuse.
✗

만들었던 음식

✓

만든 음식

Over-complicating.
✗

먹은 것 (when noun is specific)

✓

먹은 음식

Overusing generic 'thing'.
✗

가버린 곳

✓

간 곳

Adding unnecessary nuance.
✗

읽은 책이다

✓

읽은 책

Sentence fragment error.

Sentence Patterns

내가 ___ ___.

친구가 ___ ___.

작년에 ___ ___에 갔어요.

그가 ___ ___은 정말 놀라웠어요.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

어제 먹은 맛집!

Texting very common

내가 산 거 봤어?

Job Interview common

제가 경험한 일입니다.

Travel common

추천받은 식당이에요.

Food Delivery common

주문한 음식 도착.

Academic Writing common

연구된 결과.

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⚠️

Adjective Alert

Don't use this for past tense adjectives. 예쁜 is 'pretty' (now), not 'was pretty'. Use -던 or -았던 for past states.
🎯

Word Order

The description ALWAYS goes before the noun. If you put it after, it sounds like two separate sentences fighting for dominance.
💬

Honorifics Matter

When talking about elders, use -(으)신. Example: 어머니께서 주신 선물 (The gift mother gave).

Smart Tips

Always use -ㄴ/은, not -는.

내가 먹는 음식 (wrong) → 내가 먹은 음식 (correct)

Drop the ㄹ before adding -ㄴ.

만들은 음식 (wrong) → 만든 음식 (correct)

Ask yourself: did it happen already?

가다 곳 (wrong) → 간 곳 (correct)

Keep the modifier right before the noun.

음식 내가 먹은 (wrong) → 내가 먹은 음식 (correct)

Pronunciation

먹은 [머근]

Consonant assimilation

When -은 follows a consonant, it may change based on the final sound.

Rising

먹은 음식? ↗

Asking for confirmation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ㄴ' as a 'N' for 'Noun' and '은' as a 'bridge' to the noun.

Visual Association

Imagine a past event as a photo. You are sticking a label (ㄴ/은) onto the photo before you put it into your album (the noun).

Rhyme

Vowel ends in ㄴ, consonant ends in 은, if it's ㄹ, drop it and add ㄴ!

Story

Yesterday, I met a friend (만난 친구). We ate food (먹은 음식). We talked about a story I heard (들은 이야기).

Word Web

간먹은만든본읽은들은산

Challenge

Write 3 sentences describing things you did today using this pattern.

Cultural Notes

Used in all formal and informal settings.

Similar structure, but intonation differs.

Often shortens the noun to '거'.

Derived from Middle Korean adnominal markers.

Conversation Starters

“

어제 먹은 음식이 뭐예요?

“

작년에 간 여행지 중에서 어디가 제일 좋았어요?

“

가장 감명 깊게 읽은 책이 뭐예요?

“

어릴 때 살던 동네는 어땠어요?

Journal Prompts

Describe the last movie you watched.
Write about a gift you received.
Describe a place you visited last year.
Reflect on a decision you made in the past.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

내가 (먹다) ___ 음식.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Past tense modifier for consonant stem.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

어제 (가다) ___ 곳.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 간
Vowel stem + ㄴ.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

만들은 요리

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 만든 요리
Drop ㄹ.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 읽은 책
Modifier before noun.
Translate to Korean. Translation

The friend I met.

Answer starts with: 만난 ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 만난 친구
Past modifier.
Match the verb to the modifier. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Consonant stem.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use '보다' to describe '영화'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 본 영화
Vowel stem.
Choose the correct tense. Multiple Choice

어제 ___ 음식.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Yesterday implies past.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

내가 (먹다) ___ 음식.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Past tense modifier for consonant stem.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

어제 (가다) ___ 곳.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 간
Vowel stem + ㄴ.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

만들은 요리

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 만든 요리
Drop ㄹ.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

책 / 읽은 / 내가

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 읽은 책
Modifier before noun.
Translate to Korean. Translation

The friend I met.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 만난 친구
Past modifier.
Match the verb to the modifier. Match Pairs

가다 -> 간, 먹다 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Consonant stem.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use '보다' to describe '영화'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 본 영화
Vowel stem.
Choose the correct tense. Multiple Choice

어제 ___ 음식.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 먹은
Yesterday implies past.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank: 'The clothes I bought' (사다). Fill in the Blank

어제 백화점에서 ___ 옷이 비싸요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 산
Translate to Korean: 'The person I met yesterday.' Translation

Translate: The person I met yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제 만난 사람
Reorder to mean: 'The coffee I drank was bitter.' Sentence Reorder

마신 / 커피가 / 내가 / 썼어요

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 마신 커피가 썼어요
Fix the irregular verb: 'The song I listened to.' Error Correction

내가 어제 듣은 노래가 좋아요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 어제 들은 노래가 좋아요.
Match the verb to its past modifier form. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 읽다 : 읽은
Which one means 'The friend who went to Korea'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 한국에 간 친구
Use '찍다' (to take a photo) as a past modifier. Fill in the Blank

이 사진은 제가 ___ 사진이에요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 찍은
Translate: 'The bread I baked.' (굽다) Translation

Translate: The bread I baked.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 구운 빵
Fix the honorific: 'The gift the teacher gave.' (주시다) Error Correction

선생님이 주은 선물이에요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 선생님이 주신 선물이에요.
Pick the past modifier for 'The letter I wrote.' (쓰다) Multiple Choice

Choose the correct phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내가 쓴 편지

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, adjectives use a different form (-ㄴ/은). This is for verbs.

Follow the standard irregular rules (like dropping ㄹ).

Yes, it is used in all registers.

It's for phonological ease.

No, use -ㄹ/을 for future.

No, -던 is for retrospective/habitual past.

Yes, use '안' + verb + modifier.

It is one of the most common structures in Korean.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish low

que + verb

Korean has no relative pronouns.

French low

que + verb

Korean has no relative pronouns.

German low

Relativsatz

Korean word order is fixed.

Japanese high

ta-form + noun

Phonological rules differ.

Arabic low

alladhi

Korean uses suffixes.

Chinese moderate

de

Korean conjugates the verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Describing Nouns with Verbs (는)
Next
Korean Future Noun Modifier: Things to Do (-(으)ㄹ)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

Past Tense: Did you do it? (았/었/였)

Overview To master Korean, you must accurately describe events that have already transpired. The past tense, realized th...

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B1 Requires

Past Tense Noun Modifier (ㄴ/은)

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B1 Requires

Pretending to... (-는/ㄴ/은 척하다)

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Purpose for Nouns: For the Sake of (-기 위한)

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B1

Turning Actions into Nouns (는 것)

Overview Korean grammar employs a sophisticated system of modifying clauses and nominalization to express complex ideas...
B1

Present Tense Modifiers: -는 (The 'who/which/that' for action verbs)

Overview When constructing descriptive phrases in Korean, particularly those involving an action verb modifying a noun i...
B1

Past Tense Noun Modifier (ㄴ/은)

Overview The Korean past tense noun modifier `ㄴ/은` (romanized as *n/eun*) is a critical grammatical structure, often r...
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