Part 18 - Expressing Experience

Part 18.1 - ~(으)ㄴ 적이 있어요 / 없어요 — Have Done / Haven’t Done Something Before (Experience)

Basic Information

The pattern ~(으)ㄴ 적이 있어요 is used to say that you have **done something before** or that you have **had the experience** of doing something.
~(으)ㄴ 적이 없어요 is used to say that you have **never done** something or that you have **no experience** of it.
This is very useful for talking about your **past experiences** in Korean.

In conversation, Koreans often use this pattern to ask or share experiences about **travel, hobbies, foods, and life experiences**.

Grammar Rule

Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 있어요 → have done something before
Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 없어요 → have never done something before

• Verb stem ending in consonant → 은 적이 있어요
• Verb stem ending in vowel → ㄴ 적이 있어요

Example Sentences

Korean	English
한국에 가 본 적이 있어요.	I have been to Korea before.
불고기를 먹은 적이 있어요.	I have eaten bulgogi before.
한복을 입은 적이 없어요.	I have never worn hanbok.
스키를 타 본 적이 있어요.	I have tried skiing before.
김치를 만든 적이 없어요.	I have never made kimchi.

Important Notes

• You can also combine with 보다 → 본 적이 있어요 to mean **“tried doing something”**.
• This pattern talks about **life experience**, not about when exactly it happened.
• Adding 한 번도 emphasizes **never**: 한 번도 먹은 적이 없어요 → I have never eaten (even once).

Summary

Use Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 있어요 to say you have done something before.
Use Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 없어요 to say you have never done something.
This pattern helps you talk about your **experiences** in a polite and natural way.

Common TOPIK I Patterns

• 저는 Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 있어요. → I have done (Verb) before.
• 저는 Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 없어요. → I have never done (Verb) before.
• 한 번도 Verb stem + (으)ㄴ 적이 없어요. → I have never done (Verb), not even once.

End of Lesson

Now you know how to use **(으)ㄴ 적이 있어요 / 없어요** to express your experiences in Korean.
This is a great way to have conversations about **travel, food, hobbies, and life**.
Try talking about your own experiences using this pattern! 🌟

Happy studying! 화이팅! ✨

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