Past Modifier ㄴ/은 (verb → adjective)

This pattern attaches to a verb stem. It changes the verb into a describing word. This new word must come before a noun. In English, we say "the book I read." In Korean, the order is "read book." The action is finished and completed. This is not for things happening now. It is for things that are done. It is like a grammar seal of completion. Once you add ㄴ or 은, the action is set in stone. You are now using that action to identify a specific thing.

1. 1Find your verb stem first. Just drop 다 from the dictionary form.
2. 2Check the last letter of the stem. Does it end in a vowel or consonant?
3. 3If it ends in a vowel, add ㄴ to the bottom. For example, 보다 (to see) becomes 본 (seen/watched).
4. 4If it ends in a consonant, add 은 after the stem. For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹은 (eaten).
5. 5Watch out for the ㄹ irregulars. Drop the ㄹ and add ㄴ. So 만들다 (to make) becomes 만든 (made).
6. 6For ㅂ irregulars, change ㅂ to 우 then add ㄴ. 굽다 (to bake) becomes 구운 (baked).
7. 7It is like building with Lego blocks. You just need to match the shapes correctly. Even native speakers pause for a second on irregulars sometimes. Don't sweat it too much!

Use this when the action is totally finished. Imagine you are at a cafe. You want to talk about the coffee you finished. You would say 마신 커피. Use it when identifying specific objects from your past. "The gift I received" uses this pattern. It is perfect for telling stories. You can describe people you met at a party. You can describe the places you visited on vacation. Use it in job interviews to describe projects you completed. It helps you be specific and clear. It moves your Korean from basic to descriptive.

Do not use this for current actions. For things happening now, use ~는. If you are currently eating the pizza, don't use 먹은. This is a very common trap for learners. Also, avoid using this with descriptive verbs (adjectives) for the past. Adjectives use this pattern to describe the present state. For example, 작은 means "small," not "was small." This rule is strictly for action verbs in the past. If the action is still ongoing, this is not your tool. Think of it like a photo. If the photo is still being taken, don't use the past modifier. Use it only for the finished print.

Many people forget to drop the ㄹ. They say 만들은 instead of 만든. That sounds a bit clunky to a native ear. Another mistake is mixing up ㄴ/은 with ~었/았던. The ~었/았던 pattern is for things that happened a long time ago. Or for things that don't happen anymore. ㄴ/은 is for simple completed actions. Don't use it with 있다 or 없다 either. Those words always prefer the ~는 pattern. Yes, even in the past! It is a weird quirk of the language. Just remember that 있는 and 없는 are the golden rules there.

Let's look at the three main modifiers. ~는 is for the present. It is the "now" modifier. ~ㄴ/은 is for the past. It is the "then" modifier. ~ㄹ/을 is for the future. It is the "will be" modifier. Imagine a sandwich. 먹는 샌드위치 is the one you are eating now. 먹은 샌드위치 is the one you finished at lunch. 먹을 샌드위치 is the one in your bag for later. Understanding this trio is like hitting a grammar jackpot. It unlocks the ability to talk about any time period. Each one has its own specific slot in your brain.