-던
Quick answer: -던 means used to — a past you watched, repeated or left unfinished.
How to form it
Stem + 던 · it modifies a noun by recalling a past you saw yourself
In Korean: 어간 + 던 내가 본 지난 일을 떠올려 꾸밉니다
What to know
2급의 -(으)ㄴ은 «끝난 일»을 꾸밉니다. -던은 «내가 본 지난 일»을 떠올려 꾸미는데, 여러 번 했거나 하다 만 일에 씁니다. 그래서 남에게 들은 일에는 못 씁니다 — 제가 본 것만 -던으로 꾸밉니다.
Examples
- 할머니께서 만드시던 음식이에요.It is the dish my grandmother used to make.
- 고향에서 놀던 놀이예요.It is a game I used to play back home.
- 할머니께서 지내시던 제사예요.It is the rite my grandmother used to hold.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 3 (TOPIK II), Lesson 25: 할머니께서 만드시던 음식이에요 — It is the dish my grandmother used to make. Also in the Level 3 book.
Practise -던 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 3, Lesson 25 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.