KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 본 적이 있다 | bon jeogi itda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽은 적이 있다 | ilgeun jeogi itda |
| 하다 | to do | 한 적이 있다 | han jeogi itda |
| 살다 | to live | 산 적이 있다 | san jeogi itda |
What changes
- After a stem ending in a vowel, ㄴ is added to the last syllable (보 → 본). After a stem ending in a consonant, 은 is added (읽 → 읽은). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ and takes ㄴ (살 → 산), and 하 becomes 한.
Explanation
저는 한국 드라마를 본 적이 있어요.
“-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다” expresses past experience, “have done ~”: add -ㄴ/은 to the verb stem and follow with 적이 있다. The sentence means “I have watched a Korean drama before.” Do not confuse the noun 적 with 수 from “-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” (can).
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 한국 드라마를 본 적이 있어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 한국 | ||
| 한 | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ | han |
| 국 | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ | guk |
| 드라마를 | ||
| 드 | ㄷ+ㅡ | deu |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | ra |
| 마 | ㅁ+ㅏ | ma |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 본 | ㅂ+ㅗ+ㄴ | bon |
| 적이 | ||
| 적 | ㅈ+ㅓ+ㄱ | [저] jeo |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [기] gi |
| 있어요 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 적이 → [저기]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 한국 드라마를 본 ____이 있어요.
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Answer: 저는 한국 드라마를 본 적이 있어요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 보다 + -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다?
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Answer: 본 적이 있다
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다?
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Answer: 읽은 적이 있다
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