V + ㄹ/을걸 그랬다

1. Title: Expressing Regret Using V + ㄹ/을걸 그랬다

2. Grammar Explanation

: The expression V + ㄹ/을걸 그랬다 is used in Korean to express regret or lament about an action that the speaker should have done but did not, or something they did but, in hindsight, should not have done. This pattern reflects the speaker's reflection on past actions with a sense of wishing they had made a different choice.

• Formation:

  • For actions that should have been done: Verb + ㄹ/을걸 그랬다

    • When the verb ends in a consonant (except ㄹ), -을걸 그랬다.

    • When the verb ends in a vowel, -ㄹ걸 그랬다.

    • When the verb ends with ㄹ, -걸 그랬다.

  • For actions that should not have been done: Verb stem + 지 말걸 그랬다 or 안 Verb + ㄹ/을걸 그랬다

• Examples:

  • 비트코인 살걸 그랬어요. (I should have bought Bitcoin.)

  • 가지 말걸 그랬어요. (I shouldn’t have gone.)

Shortened Form: In informal speech, -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬다 can be shortened to -(으)ㄹ걸. This form is typically used when the speaker is talking to themselves or to someone they are very close to.

• 이럴 줄 알았으면 돈을 아껴 쓸걸. (If I had known this would happen, I would have saved my money.)

3. Example Sentences:

• 어제 친구 생일 파티에 안 갔는데, 정말 재미있었다고 해요. 파티에 갈걸 그랬어요. (I didn’t go to my friend’s birthday party yesterday, but I heard it was really fun. I should have gone to the party.)

• 비가 올 줄 알았으면 우산을 가져올걸 그랬어요. (If I had known it would rain, I should have brought an umbrella.)

• 너무 많이 먹어서 배가 아파요. 적당히 먹을걸 그랬어요. (I ate too much, so my stomach hurts. I should have eaten moderately.)

• 일찍 출발할걸 그랬어요. 길이 많이 막혔어요. (I should have left early. The traffic was terrible.)

• 그렇게 말하지 말걸 그랬어요. 여자친구가 많이 상처받았어요. (I shouldn’t have said that. My girlfriend was really hurt.)

4. Sample Dialogues:

• A: 그 여자랑 만나지 말걸 그랬어요. (I shouldn’t have dated that girl.)

  B: 내가 말했잖아. 걔 이상하다고. (I told you she is weird.)

• A girl : 광호 씨, 제가 살게요. 내지 마세요.

  광호 : 그래요? 감사합니다! (아.. 더 비싼 거 시킬 걸..)

  [Oh really? Thank you! (shit, I should have ordered a more expensive one..)]

5. Make Korean Sentences from English:

• I should have bought the tickets in advance.

• I shouldn’t have eaten so much cake.

• I should have called my mom earlier.

• I shouldn’t have gone to bed so late.

• I should have brought a jacket.

• I shouldn’t have spent so much money.

• I should have asked for help.

• I shouldn’t have trusted him so easily.

• I should have read the instructions carefully.

• I shouldn’t have gone out in the rain.