16 Tense and Aspect
Tense situates a state or event in time past, present, or future, while aspect expresses the way it is viewed ongoing, repeated, completed, and so on. Verbal
forms are often given names – such as ‘past tense’ or ‘future tense.’ However, these names are somewhat misleading, since most forms have several functions
beyond the one from which their name is derived. The same is true in English, where the so-called ‘present tense’ can be used to express the future, as in She
arrives tomorrow at 3:00, for example. As you proceed, it is important to bear in mind the distinction between the name typically used to identify a verb’s form
and the various uses to which that form is put.
16.1 Tense and aspect on sentence-final verbs
16.1.1 The basic form
The most basic verb form is used primarily to express present-time states and actions. Except for action verbs in the 한다 style, for which -ㄴ는 is inserted
e.g., 본다, 는다, it involves no special marking.
• With descriptive verbs, the basic form denotes a present state.
내 동생은 키가 작다. My younger brothersister is short.
머리가 너무 짧아요. My hair is too short.
• With action verbs, the basic form is used not only to express present-time
actions but also, depending on the context andor the meaning of the verb, habitual actions, past actions that continue to the present, future actions,
and processes in progress, as the following examples illustrate.
지금 밥 먹는다. I’m eating right now.
매일 아침 해변가를 달린다. I run along the beach every morning.
두 달째 여기 살아요. I’ve been living here for two months now.
다음 주에 출장간다. I’m going on a business trip next week.
국수가 불어요. The noodles are getting soggy.
16.1.2 -어 있다 or -아 있다
Used to express a continuing present state that results from a completed action, this form is found with only a small number of intransitive action verbs that
imply definite end points. 있다 is replaced by 계시다 for an honorific subject.
몸은 교에 와 있지만 마음은 딴 데 가 있다. My body is at school, but my mind is somewhere else.
외국에 나와 있어서 국내사정을 잘 모 니다. Being outside the country, I’m not familiar with the domestic situation.
계속 서 있었더니 다리가 쑤신다. My legs are hurting after standing up for a long time.
문이 열려 있어서 누가 있는 줄 알았어요. I thoughtknew someone was here because the door was open.
See 22.3.2 for the ambiguity of 알다 between ‘know’ and ‘think.’
잠든지 알았더니 아 도 깨어 있었니? I thought you fell asleep, but you’re still awake?
여 간다고 잔 부풀어 있어요. She’s so elated about the trip.
아버지가 일주일째 병원에 입원해 계세요. Father has been hospitalized for a week.
16.1.3 -고 있다
This form, which can combine with any action verb, mainly indicates an action in progress. 있다 is replaced by 계시다 for an honorific subject. It expresses:
• With most action verbs: ongoing or habitual action
일주일째 비가 오고 있다. It’s been raining for a week.
그림을 그리고 있습니다. I’m painting.
아침으로 빵을 드시고 계셔. She’s been eating bread for breakfast.
있다 can be replaced by 앉아 있다 and 자빠졌다, literally ‘be sitting down’ and ‘be lying down,’ to indicate the speaker’s dissatisfaction toward the
person’s action.
종일 티브이만 보고 자빠졌어. He’s doing nothing but watching TV all day.
정말 웃기고 앉아 있어. She’s being ridiculous.
• With verbs of wearing or contact: either ongoing action or present state
resulting from a completed action 빨간 타이를 매고 있어요.
He’s putting on or wearing a red tie. 흰색 구두를 신고 있다. She’s putting on or wearing white shoes.
이름표를 달고 있습니다. He’s putting on or wearing a name tag.
이 가방 좀 잠깐 들고 있을래? Would you hold this bag for a minute?
To unambiguously express an ongoing action, -고 있는 중이다 can be used: 타이를 매고 있는 중이에요.
I’m in the middle of putting a tie on. •
With verbs of cognition: present state resulting from a completed activity 잘못을 깨 고 있다.
She realizes her faults. 뭔가 오해하고 있는 것 같아요.
He seems to misunderstand something.
-어 있다 continuing state vs. -고 있다 continuing action
교에 와 있다. He’s at school.
교에 오고 있다. He’s on his way to school.
할아버지가 아 살아 계시다.
Grandfather is still alive. 할아버지가 한국에 살고 계시다.
Grandfather is living in Korea.
16.1.4 -었 or 았ㅆ
Frequently called the ‘past tense,’ this form denotes a past state for descriptive verbs.
• Past state
나도 왕년엔 멋있었다. I too was cool-looking in the old days.
날씨가 아주 포근했어요. The weather was quite nice and warm
. •
With 멀다: past or non-past states 고등 교 때 집이 아주 멀었어요. My house was very far from my highschool.
도 하려면 아 멀었니? Are we far from being there?
저녁 아 멀었어요? Is dinner far off?
내 요리실력은 너한테 아 멀었다. My cooking is far inferior to yours. For action verbs, -었 is used not only for past actions, but also for completed
actions or processes that result in a present state. The individual verb’s meaning can help determine which interpretation is appropriate. Hence 결혼했다 can
mean ‘got married,’ focusing on the past event, or ‘is married,’ focusing on the present state resulting from the past event. But 공을 찼다 ‘kicked the ball’ can
only denote a past action and 잘 생겼다 ‘is handsome’ can only denote the present state. 생기다 is an action verb, meaning ‘get formed created.’
Here is a summary of the meanings that -었 can be used to express when it appears with an action verb.
• Past action including actions that are just completed or continuing to the
present 친구가 장을 옮겼다.
My friend changed companies. 지금 도 했습니다.
I’ve just arrived. 여기서 지금껏 살았다.
I’ve lived here up till now. •
Completed actionprocess followed by a continuing ‘present’ state: Each sen- tence has both meanings but typically, the present state meaning is prominent.
잠이 완전히 깼어. I got totally awakened.
I am totally awake. 국이 문을 았어요.
The pharmacy closed. The pharmacy is closed.
빨간 가방을 메었어. She put a red purse on her shoulder.
She has a red purse on her shoulder. 오늘 줄무늬 셔츠 입었니? Did you put a striped shirt on today?
Are you wearing a striped shirt today? 감기 걸렸어요.
I caught a cold. I have a cold.
나 너무 살쪘지? I got very fat, right?
I’m very fat, right? 화났니?
Have you gotten angry? Are
you angry?
준비 다 됐어요? Have you gotten all set?
Are you all set? 옷이 다 었다말랐다.
The clothes got all wetdry. The clothes are all wetdry.
고기가 딱 알맞게 익었다. The meat got perfectly cooked. The meat is perfectly cooked.
라면이 좀 불었어요. The ramen got soggy.
The ramen is soggy. 이가 한 개 었어.
One tooth got decayed. One tooth is decayed.
얼굴이 많이 부었어요. My face got puffed up.
My face is puffed up. 장미가 다 시들었다.
The roses got all withered. The roses are all withered.
부인이 꽤 었어요. His wife got quite old.
His wife is quite old.
잘 알았습니다. I got it.
I understand.
귀 먹었어? You became deaf?
Are you
deaf? 눈이 멀었구나삐었구나
She became blind She’s
blind •
Present state only 아이가 엄마를 닮았네요. The child resembles his mother.
정말 잘못 생겼다. He’s really goodbad looking.
When these verbs, except 잘못 생겼다, occur in the basic present tense form, they have a progressive or future meaning.
자꾸 화가 나요. I keep getting angry.
살찐다, 그만 먹어. You’re going to get fat; stop eating.
How then do you refer to a past state such as ‘He was angry?’ There are two possibilities. One is to use the -었더라 ending see 16.1.6 if you just want to
say ‘He was angry when I saw him’ without committing yourself to what the current situation is.
화가 많이 났더라. He was really angry when I saw him.
얼굴이 부었더라구요. Her face was puffed up when I saw her.
On the other hand, if you want to indicate a past state that is over, a second -었 is required, creating the suffix -었었 see 16.1.5.
화가 많이 났었어요. He was really angry but no longer is.
얼굴이 부었었어요. Her face was puffed up but no longer is.
-었다 vs. -어 있다 for certain verbs
-어 있다 focuses more on how things are now rather than on what was done, but both forms express more or less the same thing
– a present state resulting from a completed action.
눈이 많이 부었다. Your eyes are very puffed up.
눈이 많이 부어 있다. 열쇠가 주머니에 들었어.
The key is in the pocket. 열쇠가 주머니에 들어 있어.
-었다 vs. 고 있다 for verbs of wearingcontact
-고 있다 focuses more on how things are now rather than on what was done, but both forms express more or less the same thing
– a present state resulting from a completed action.
겨울옷을 입었어요. She’s wearing winter clothes.
겨울옷을 입고 있어요. 등산화를 신었어요.
She’s wearing hiking boots. 등산화를 신고 있어요.
큰 가방을 들었다. He’s holding a big satchel.
큰 가방을 들고 있다. •
Completed action or state in the future 혼자 가면 갔지 같이는 안 갈래.
I would go if I can go by myself, but I don’t want to go with him.
친구들이 많이 왔으면 좋겠다. It would be nice if many friends came.
너 이제 아빠한테 혼났다. Now you’re going to get scolded by Dad.
나는 이제 었구나. Oh no, I’ll be dead meat.
커피를 다섯잔이나 마셨으니 I won’t be able to sleep tonight now that
오늘 잠은 다 잤다. I’ve drunk five cups of coffee.
16.1.5 -었었
With descriptive verbs, there is generally only a subtle difference between -었 and -었었, with both denoting ‘past state,’ but the latter creates a more distant
feeling. 옛날엔 날씬했었어요.
I used to be slender. 올겨울도 추웠지만 작년 겨울은
It was cold this winter, but last winter 더
추웠었어. was even colder.
어렸을 때도 똑똑했었는데 She was smart when she was little, and
지금도 아주 똑똑해. she still is very smart.
With action verbs, the difference can be sharper. There, -었었 expresses: •
A more remote past than what is indicated by a single -었, thereby implying an experience prior to a past reference time.
전에 잠깐 만났었어요. I had met him briefly before.
전화했을 때 이미 떠났었어. I had already left when you called.
