Advanced Regret: -ㄹ/을 것을 (Should Have)

Think of this grammar as a bridge between your past actions and your current feelings. You take a verb, attach the -(으)ㄹ 것을 ending, and then usually finish it off with a phrase like 그랬어요 (I did [that]) or 후회해요 (I regret). In daily conversation, people often drop the 것을 and just say -(으)ㄹ걸, but understanding the full form is your ticket to sounding like a pro. It basically says, "Instead of what I actually did, doing [this] would have been the right move." It’s deep, it’s emotional, and yes, it’s a bit dramatic. But hey, life is full of drama, right?

1. 1To build this "Should Have" machine, follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Find the verb stem. Start with the dictionary form of the verb (like 먹다 - to eat) and drop the 다. Now you have 먹.
3. 3Check the bottom. Look at the last syllable of your stem. Does it end in a consonant (a patchim) or a vowel?
4. 4Attach the ending.
5. 5If it ends in a consonant, add -을 것을. (Example: 먹다 becomes 먹을 것을).
6. 6If it ends in a vowel, add -ㄹ 것을. (Example: 가다 becomes 갈 것을).
7. 7If it ends in the letter ㄹ, just add 것을. (Example: 만들다 becomes 만들 것을).

You’ll reach for this pattern in plenty of real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You see your friend’s bibimbap and it looks way better than your kimbap. You’d say, 비빔밥을 시킬 것을 그랬어요 (I should have ordered the bibimbap). Or maybe you’re at a job interview and you realize you forgot to mention your volunteer work. You think, 그 얘기를 할 것을 그랬어요 (I should have mentioned that). It’s also perfect for asking directions. If you get lost, you might mutter, 지도를 더 자세히 볼 것을 그랬어요 (I should have looked at the map more closely). Basically, any time you feel like you made a less-than-stellar choice, this is your go-to grammar.

Don’t use this for things you are actually going to do in the future. It’s strictly for looking backward. If you say 내일 갈 것을, people will look at you very confusedly. Also, try to avoid using this to talk about other people’s regrets unless you are very close to them. Usually, we use this for ourselves (first person). If you tell your boss, "You should have worked harder," using this grammar, you might find yourself with a lot of free time to regret that specific sentence! It’s a very personal, reflective pattern. Use it when you are the one feeling the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" vibes.

The biggest trap for beginners is forgetting the 그랬어요 at the end. While you can end a sentence with -(으)ㄹ 것을 in very casual speech (usually as -(으)ㄹ걸), in a full sentence, you need that closing verb to make it grammatically complete. Another mistake is mixing up the consonants. Remember: 을 is for the heavy lifting (consonants) and ㄹ is for the smooth sailing (vowels). Also, don’t confuse this with the simple future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요. One is a plan for tomorrow; the other is a tear shed for yesterday. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are talking too fast, so don't sweat it too much!

You might have heard of -아/어/여야 했는데. Both mean "should have," but there’s a subtle difference. -아/어/여야 했는데 feels more like a missed obligation or a requirement. It’s like saying, "I was supposed to do it." On the other hand, -(으)ㄹ 것을 is much more about personal regret and desire. It’s the difference between "I should have finished my homework because it was due" and "I should have bought those shoes because they were on sale and now they're gone." Think of -(으)ㄹ 것을 as the more emotional, heart-heavy version of the two.