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Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 23: I should have... (-(으)ㄹ걸 그랬어요)

When you feel regret about something you didn't do in the past, or something you did do but shouldn't have, you use the expression -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬어요.

It literally means "I should have done [X] (but I didn't)."

How to Conjugate

Attach this to the verb stem of the action you regret not doing.

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ걸 그랬어요 * 가다 -> 갈걸 그랬어요 (I should have gone) * 사다 -> 살걸 그랬어요 (I should have bought it) * 말하다 -> 말할걸 그랬어요 (I should have spoken/told them)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을걸 그랬어요 * 먹다 -> 먹을걸 그랬어요 (I should have eaten it) * 입다 -> 입을걸 그랬어요 (I should have worn it) * 듣다 (ㄷ irregular) -> 들을걸 그랬어요 (I should have listened)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -걸 그랬어요 * 만들다 -> 만들걸 그랬어요 (I should have made it)

Expressing "I shouldn't have..."

If you regret doing something, you use the negative form -지 말걸 그랬어요 (I should not have...).

  • 먹다 -> 먹지 말걸 그랬어요 (I shouldn't have eaten it)
  • 가다 -> 가지 말걸 그랬어요 (I shouldn't have gone)
  • 말하다 -> 말하지 말걸 그랬어요 (I shouldn't have said it)

Dropping 그랬어요

In casual speech, people often drop "그랬어요" and just end the sentence with -(으)ㄹ걸(요) to show regret.

  • 아, 우산 가져올걸... (Ah, I should have brought my umbrella...)
  • 그냥 집에서 쉴걸... (I should have just rested at home...)

Example Sentences

  1. 어제 조금 더 일찍 잘걸 그랬어요. (I should have slept a little earlier yesterday.)
  2. 이 옷이 너무 작아요. 더 큰 사이즈로 살걸 그랬어요. (These clothes are too small. I should have bought a bigger size.)
  3. 비가 오네요. 우산을 가져올걸 그랬어요. (It's raining. I should have brought an umbrella.)
  4. 밤에 커피를 마시지 말걸 그랬어요. (I shouldn't have drunk coffee at night.)