2 · Helping verbs and modal patterns
Have you ever: -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다/없다
experience in the past
The past modifier, the noun 적 "occasion" and 있다 or 없다: there has been a time when — or never.
The verb takes the past modifier ending, then comes the dependent noun 적, "occasion", then 이 있다 or 이 없다. After a vowel the stem gains a final n: 가다 → 간 적이 있어요. After a consonant it takes -은: 먹다 → 먹은 적이 있어요. A stem ending in l loses it: 살다 → 산 적이 있어요, 만들다 → 만든 적. Irregular stems change as usual: 들은 적, 도운 적. In speech the particle often disappears: 간 적 있어요.
The meaning is "there has been an occasion when …": an experience somewhere in your life. 없다 makes it "never", and 한 번도 makes it "not even once": 한 번도 간 적이 없어요. As a question it is the standard "have you ever …?".
It is very often combined with -아/어 보다, "try": 가 본 적이 있어요?, "have you ever been (there)?", often sounds more natural than 간 적이 있어요?, because an experience is something you try. With someone older: 가 보신 적 있으세요?.
English speakers stretch it too far, because English uses the present perfect for so much. "I have eaten breakfast" is the plain past, 아침을 먹었어요; "I have lived here for three years" is 여기서 삼 년째 살고 있어요 or 여기 산 지 삼 년 됐어요. -은 적이 있다 is only for experiences — "ever" and "never" — and sounds strange about anything that happened this morning.
The form
| after a vowel | 가다 → 간 적이 있어요 |
| after a consonant | 먹다 → 먹은 적이 있어요 |
| stem ending in l | 살다 → 산 적이 있어요 |
| never | 간 적이 없어요 |
| with 보다 | 가 본 적이 있어요 |
| honorific question | 가 보신 적 있으세요? |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
After a consonant the stem takes -은; after a vowel it gains a final n; a final l drops.
저는 외국에서 산 적이 있어요.I have lived abroad.
없다 says "never"; 한 번도 makes it "not even once".
한 번도 지각한 적이 없어요.I have never once been late.
It is very often combined with -아/어 보다: "have ever tried".
한국 소설을 읽어 본 적이 있어요?Have you ever read a Korean novel?
It is for experiences in your life, not for what you did today.
어렸을 때 이 공원에 온 적이 있어요.I came to this park once as a child.
A closer look
English perfect, Korean past
The English present perfect does several jobs: experience ("have you ever been to Seoul?"), a result that matters now ("I've lost my key"), and something that started in the past and continues ("I've lived here for years"). Korean has a separate tool for each. Only the first is -은 적이 있다.
A result that matters now is the plain past, often with a helping verb: 열쇠를 잃어버렸어요. Something continuing is the present or the past with a duration: 여기에서 오 년째 살고 있어요. Asking 열쇠를 잃어버린 적이 있어요? is a perfectly good sentence — but it asks whether you have ever in your life lost a key.
How to spot it
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 있다
- -(으)ㄴ 적이 없다
- 한 번도
- -아/어 본 적
Example sentences
제주도에 가 본 적이 있어요?Have you ever been to Jeju Island?
저는 유명한 사람을 직접 본 적이 없어요.I have never seen a famous person in real life.
어릴 때 강아지를 키운 적이 있어요.I had a puppy when I was little.
그 이야기는 전에 들은 적이 있어요.I have heard that story before.
한국 노래를 불러 본 적 있어요?Have you ever sung a Korean song?
혼자 해외여행을 한 적이 한 번도 없어요.I have never once travelled abroad on my own.
8 more example sentences
저는 한복을 입어 본 적이 있어요.I have worn a hanbok.
이런 맛은 먹어 본 적이 없어요.I've never tasted anything like this.
비행기를 놓친 적이 있어요?Have you ever missed a flight?
저는 그분을 만난 적이 없어요.I have never met that person.
예전에 이 회사에서 일한 적이 있어요.I worked at this company once before.
혹시 길에서 지갑을 주운 적이 있어요?Have you ever found a wallet in the street?
이 노래를 들어 본 적 없으세요?Haven't you ever heard this song?
학교 다닐 때 반장을 한 적이 있어요.I was class president once, at school.
Worth knowing (1)
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이, 은 or 도 on 적
In speech the particle on 적 often drops: 가 본 적 있어요?. It can also be 은 for contrast or 도 for emphasis: 본 적은 있어요, "I have seen it (but …)"; 본 적도 없어요, "I have never even seen it".
그 사람 이름은 들은 적은 있어요.I've heard that person's name, at least.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English says "I have eaten" about this morning; Korean uses the plain past. -은 적이 있다 is for an experience somewhere in your life, never for what happened a few hours ago.
Eun jeogi itda: there has been an occasion — for experiences, not for this morning.
Your turn
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