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Korean grammar - Verb nominalization: past tense

Verb nominalization: past tense

Korean verbs can be nominalized to nouns in the past tense.

Simply take the past base and add 기

-- for example: 하다 (to do) ⇒ 했기

The past tense normalised verb can then be used in patterns like Verb + 기 때문에 as a clause in the past tense.

Other uses of past tense verb nominalization will be encountered in later topics.

Examples:
저는 시험을 못 봤기 때문에 대학교에 못 갈 거예요.
Because I did badly on the test, (I) won’t be able to go to university.

보다 ⇒ 봤

핸드폰이 없었기 때문에 연락하지 못했어요.
Because (I) didn’t have my mobile phone, I couldn’t get in contact.

없다 ⇒ 없었

아직 점심을 먹지 않았기 때문에 지금 배가 고파요.
Because (I) didn't eat yet, (I) am hungry.

않다 ⇒ 않았

여전히 means 'still' or 'just as before'

제가 밥을 벌써 먹었기 때문에 지금 먹고 싶지 않아요.
Because I already ate, (I) don’t want to eat now.

먹다 ⇒ 먹었

손님이 없었기 때문에 가게 문을 닫았어요.
The store (door) was closed because there were no customers.

없다 ⇒ 없었

손님 means 'customer'

금을 많이 샀기 때문에 돈이 없어요.
(I) don't have money because (I) bought a lot of gold.

사다 ⇒ 샀

금 means 'gold'

핸드폰이 없었기 때문에 연락 못했어요.
Because (I) didn’t have (my) phone, (I) couldn’t contact (you).

없다 ⇒ 없었

휴대폰 배터리가 방전됐기 때문에 전화를 걸 수 없었어요.
(I) couldn't call because (my) phone's battery became flat.

되다 ⇒ 됐

방전 means 'flat (battery)'

학생이었기 때문에 할인을 받았어요.
(I) got a discount because (I) was a student.

이다 ⇒ 이었

할인 means 'discount'

이었 is the past base of 이다

오늘 아침은 날씨가 좋았기 때문에 걸어서 출근했어요.
(I) walked to walk this morning because the weather was nice.

좋다 ⇒ 좋았

출근하다 mean 'to go to walk'

스페인에 갔기 때문에 스페인어를 배우기 시작했어요.
(I) started learning Spanish because (I) went to Spain.

가다 ⇒ 갔

너무 비쌌기 때문에 새 노트북을 살 수가 없었어요.
(I) couldn't afford to buy a new laptop because (it) was too expensive.

비싸다 ⇒ 비쌌

허리가 아팠기 때문에 걷고 싶지 않았어요.
(I) didn't want to walk because (my) back hurt.

아팠기 ⇒ 아팠

너무 멀었기 때문에 일찍 떠나야 했어요.
(We) had to leave early because (it) was too far away.

멀다 ⇒ 멀었