ㄴ/은 (past modifier) - Past Tense Modifier

In Korean, adjectives and verbs usually sit at the end of a sentence. But what if you want them to act like adjectives? You need a modifier. For past actions, that modifier is ㄴ or 은. You attach this to the verb stem. Once attached, the verb moves in front of the noun it describes. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 간 (went). When you put it with 곳 (place), you get 간 곳—the place I went. It is like turning a mini-story into a single descriptive phrase. You aren't just saying "I went there." You are identifying the specific place by the action you did there. It works for almost any action verb. Yes, even the tricky irregular ones! Just remember: this is for actions that are finished. If you are still doing the action, this isn't the one you want. Think of it like a grammar polaroid. The photo is taken, the action is done, and now we are looking at the result.

1. 1Creating this pattern is like following a simple recipe. There are three main paths based on how your verb stem ends.
2. 2If the verb stem ends in a vowel, just add ㄴ to the bottom.
3. 3보다 (to see) → 보 + ㄴ = 본 (seen/watched)
4. 4사다 (to buy) → 사 + ㄴ = 산 (bought)
5. 5If the verb stem ends in a consonant, add 은 after it.
6. 6먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 은 = 먹은 (eaten/ate)
7. 7읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 은 = 읽은 (read)
8. 8If the verb stem ends in ㄹ, you have a "shy letter" situation. The ㄹ drops out completely before you add ㄴ. Think of ㄹ like a shy friend who leaves the party as soon as ㄴ shows up.
9. 9만들다 (to make) → 만드 + ㄴ = 만든 (made)
10. 10팔다 (to sell) → 파 + ㄴ = 판 (sold)
11. 11Irregular verbs like 듣다 (to listen) become 들은, and 돕다 (to help) becomes 도운. It takes a little practice, but soon it will feel like second nature.

You will use this constantly in real life. Imagine you are at a cafe. You want to tell your friend about the drink you ordered. You would say 내가 주문한 커피 (the coffee I ordered). Or maybe you are at a job interview. You want to talk about the project you finished last month. You would use 끝낸 프로젝트 (the project I finished). It is perfect for sharing memories. "The person I met" is 만난 사람. "The book I read" is 읽은 책. It helps you be specific. Instead of saying "I like movies," you can say "I like the movie I watched with you." It adds flavor and detail to your conversations. It is like a grammar highlighter. It points to a specific noun and says, "Hey, this one has a history!"

Here is where it gets a little tricky. Do not use ㄴ/은 with adjectives (descriptive verbs) to talk about the past. If you use ㄴ/은 with 예쁘다 (to be pretty), it becomes 예쁜, which means "pretty" right now! Adjectives use a different past pattern like 았던/었던. Also, watch out for 있다 (to have/be) and 없다 (to not have/be). They always use 는 even for the past in most daily contexts, or 있었던 for a clear past distinction. Using 있은 will make native speakers tilt their heads in confusion. It is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Stick to action verbs for this pattern. Also, if the action is still happening, stop! You need the present modifier 는 for that.

The biggest trap is the adjective vs. verb confusion. Many learners try to say "The cold weather yesterday" using 추운 날씨. But 추운 means it is cold now! For yesterday, you need 추웠던. Another common slip is the ㄹ irregular. People often forget to drop the ㄹ and say 만들은 instead of 만든. It sounds a bit like saying "I maked it" in English. Don't worry if you mess this up; even advanced learners trip here. Also, don't forget the space! In Korean, there is always a space between the modifier and the noun. 본영화 is wrong; 본 영화 is correct. It is like a tiny breathing room for your words.

You might know the present modifier 는. While 먹는 사과 is the apple you are eating right now, 먹은 사과 is the one that's already in your stomach. Then there is 던. This is for actions that used to happen repeatedly or weren't finished. 내가 마신 커피 is the coffee I drank (it's gone). 내가 마시던 커피 is the coffee I was drinking (and maybe left on the table). Finally, we have ㄹ/을 for the future. 읽을 책 is the book you are going to read. Think of these as a timeline. 은 is the anchor in the past. It tells everyone that this chapter is closed and finished.