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Unit 11: I Was Just About To (-(으)려던 참이다)

In Easy Korean, when someone tells you to do something or asks you about something, and you were literally just about to do it, you use -(으)려던 참이다.

Structure

Verb Stem + -(으)려던 참이다

  • 가다 -> 가려던 참이었어요 (I was just about to go)
  • 먹다 -> 먹으려던 참이었어요 (I was just about to eat)
  • 전화하다 -> 전화하려던 참이었어요 (I was just about to call)

Nuance

It shows a coincidence between your intention and the current situation. "참" refers to a point in time or an occasion.

Examples

A: 지민 씨, 청소 좀 하세요. (Jimin, please do some cleaning.) B: 네, 지금 청소하려던 참이었어요. (Yes, I was just about to clean right now.)

  • 마침 밥을 먹으려던 참이었는데 같이 먹을래요? (I was just about to eat, want to eat together?)
  • 안 그래도 나가려던 참이었어. (I was just about to head out anyway.)