On the verge of: -ㄹ/을 뻔하다

This is an auxiliary verb pattern. You attach it to a verb stem. It usually stays in the past tense. 뻔했다 is the most common form. The base word 뻔하다 implies something was imminent. It suggests a state of being on the verge. But crucially, the event never actually happened. It is like a "near-miss" in English. You need the -(으)ㄹ future participle first. This indicates the "potential" of the event. Then 뻔했다 confirms it stayed as potential. It is like a grammar traffic light. The light stayed yellow just long enough. You didn't cross into the "happened" territory. It is very common in daily speech. Native speakers love to be a bit dramatic. This grammar is their favorite tool for that.

1. 1Find your verb stem first.
2. 2Check for a bottom consonant (batchim).
3. 3No batchim? Add -ㄹ 뻔하다.
4. 4Batchim present? Add -을 뻔하다.
5. 5Ending in ㄹ? Just add 뻔하다 directly.
6. 6Usually, you conjugate it to 뻔했다 for the past.
7. 7Use it with 하마터면 for extra emphasis.
8. 8This word means "almost" or "nearly."

Dangerous moments are the biggest category. "I almost had an accident." These are the true "phew" moments. Emotional moments are another big one. "I almost cried during the movie." Use it when you are relieved. Use it when you are exaggerating. "I almost died from laughing!" It works great in stories. It builds tension for the listener. They want to hear what happened. Then you say it didn't happen. It's a classic storytelling tool. Use it for social mistakes too. Like almost sending a text to the wrong person. We have all been there. It’s perfect for those relatable life moments.

Don't use it for things that happened. If you actually fell, don't use this. It is only for the "almost" result. Don't use it for general future plans. It is not for "I might go." Use it for things that were unintentional. It usually implies an accident or a surprise. Don't use it with most adjectives. It usually requires a dynamic verb. You can't "almost be tall." You can "almost become tall" maybe. But stick to verbs for now. It is safer that way. Don't use it if the event was far off. It must be a "close call."

Don't use the present tense 뻔하다 often. It usually refers to past events. "I almost fall" doesn't make sense. "I almost fell" is what you want. Another mistake is mixing it with -(으)려고 하다. That one is about your intention. This one is about the situation. Also, don't forget the ㄹ/을 part. Without it, the grammar doesn't work. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. But usually, they just get too dramatic. Don't use it for things you wanted to happen. Unless it was a very close win or loss. It usually carries a slight negative or stressful vibe. Like that time you almost liked your ex's photo. That is a perfect 뻔하다 moment.

-(으)려고 하다 means "I intended to do it." It is a plan in your head. -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 means "It nearly happened." This is usually about the situation. Sometimes they overlap in meaning. But the feeling is very different. One is a conscious plan. The other is a close call. -ㄹ 것 같다 means "It seems like." It is a guess or a feeling. -ㄹ 뻔하다 is more certain about the danger. It means it was right there. It was about to happen. It's much more dramatic than just a guess. Think of 뻔하다 as the high-stakes version. It’s the difference between "I think I'll trip" and "I almost tripped!"