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Key Expressions 1

Key expressions 1
6.4
Do you know Tteok-bokki? This is Tteok-bokki. You may have often seen this food from Korean dramas. But have you had it before? Not just seeing it or hearing about it before, have you actually had it? Then, you could say, “I’ve had Tteok-bokki before.” And if you’ve seen or heard about Tteok-bokki but have never actually had it before, you could say “I’ve never had Tteok-bokki before.”
38.1
Likewise, you can say what you have done or what you actually did using the following expressions: “-ㅓ/-ㅏ/-해 + 본 적이 있다/없다”. This expression is used with a verb. When this expression is used with a verb that contains the vowel sounds - “ㅏ” or “ㅗ,” just like “가다 (= to go)” or “오다 (= to come)” then you can say “ㅏ + 본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before).” In instances when the verb doesn’t have “ㅏ” or “ㅗ”, such as “먹다 (= to eat)” or “마시다 (= to drink)”, you can say “-ㅓ +본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before).”
67.7
And then, if you’re using verbs like “-하다,” such as “요리하다 (= to cook),” you can say “-해 + 본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before)”. Okay, then. Let’s take a look at different images of Korean food and let’s say whether you’ve had it or haven’t had it before. Here’s the first image. What is the name of this food?
86.5
Rachel: It’s Galbi-tang. Prof.
86.5
Bae: That’s right. 갈비탕 먹어 본 적 있어요 (= have you ever had Galbi-tang)? Prof.
95
Bae: This is Makgeolli. Rachel, would you like to try asking the question?
100.8
Rachel: 막걸리 마셔 본 적이 있어요 (= have you ever had Makgeolli)?

The expression we will learn today is: “Have you ever had Tteok-bokki?” you could say, “I’ve had Tteok-bokki before.” or “I haven’t had Tteok-bokki yet.”

-ㅓ/-ㅏ/-해 + 본 적이 있다/없다

In Korean, you can say what you have done or what you actually did using the following expressions: “-ㅓ/-ㅏ/-해 + 본 적이 있다/없다”. This expression is used with a verb.

1) – “ㅏ” or “ㅗ,”

When this expression is used with a verb that contains the vowel sounds – “ㅏ” or “ㅗ,” just like “가다 (= to go)” or “오다 (= to come)” then you can say “ㅏ + 본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before).”

2) except “ㅏ” or “ㅗ,” .

In instances when the verb doesn’t have “ㅏ” or “ㅗ”, such as “먹다 (= to eat)” or “마시다 (= to drink)”, you can say “-ㅓ +본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before).”

And then, if you’re using verbs like “-하다,” such as “요리하다 (= to cook),” you can say “-해 + 본 적이 있어요 (= have done/have not done before)”.

Let’s say whether you’ve had it or haven’t had it before.

  • 떡볶이 먹어 본 적 있어요?
  • 갈비탕 먹어 본 적 있어요?
  • 막걸리 마셔 본 적이 있어요?

Let’s Practice Korean together.

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Intermediate Korean: Exploring the Language and Culture of Korea

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