Core Pattern Rule: -던 for Recalling Past Actions
The pattern -던 is a retrospective adnominal ending. It attaches to verb stems to modify a following noun, describing an action or state from the past.
Two Key Meanings
Habitual Past Action: Something you did repeatedly in the past but don't do anymore.
자주 가던 식당 (A restaurant I used to go to often)
옛날에 살던 집 (The house I used to live in)
Interrupted Past Action: An action that was in progress at a specific point in the past but was not completed.
내가 먹던 빵 (The bread I was eating)
아까 보던 책 (The book I was reading a moment ago)
Formation
Action Verbs: Attach -던 directly to the verb stem.
가다 -> 가던
먹다 -> 먹던
Descriptive Verbs & Completed States: For states or actions that are fully in the past, -았/었던 is used. The script includes examples like 예뻤던 (which was beautiful) and 좋았던 (which was good).
예쁘다 -> 예뻤던
좋다 -> 좋았던
자주 가던 식당이야. / 내가 먹던 거야. / 예뻤던 기억이 나. / 좋았던 옛날로 돌아가고 싶어.
Synonyms & Differences: -던 vs. -(으)ㄴ
Learners often confuse -던 with -(으)ㄴ. Both modify nouns by describing a past action, but they have a critical difference in nuance related to completion.
-던 (Incomplete or Habitual)
This implies the action was ongoing, repeated, or interrupted. The action itself is the focus, not its completion.
읽던 책 means "the book I was reading" or "the book I used to read." It suggests you might not have finished it.
내가 먹던 빵 means "the bread I was eating." You were in the middle of eating it.
-(으)ㄴ (Completed)
This indicates a one-time action that is finished and complete. The result of the action is more important.
읽은 책 means "the book I have (already) read." You finished it.
내가 먹은 빵 means "the bread I ate." The act of eating is complete.