If you’re learning Korean, you might have encountered the phrases ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’ and ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’ and wondered what the difference is. Both can be translated as ‘You said you were using it,’ but they express different nuances. In this article, we’ll break down these expressions and explain how to use them properly in different contexts.
Understanding the Difference: ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’ vs. ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’
The phrases in question both describe actions related to using something, but the nuance changes based on the tense and aspect of the verbs.
1. ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’ (You said you were going to use it)
‘쓴다고 했었잖아’ uses the verb ‘쓰다’ (to use) in the future tense. The form ‘쓴다고’ indicates that the person was talking about an intention or a planned action in the past, something they said they would do. So, it refers to a past statement or plan about using something. In English, this can be translated as ‘You said you were going to use it.’
2. ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’ (You said you are using it)
‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’ uses the verb ‘쓰다’ in the progressive form, ‘쓰고 있다,’ which refers to an ongoing action in the present. When you add ‘했었잖아’ to the end, it indicates that the person mentioned this ongoing action in the past. In English, this can be translated as ‘You said you are using it.’
Key Differences in Usage
To summarize the differences:
- ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’: Refers to something the person said they were going to do in the future (a plan or intention in the past).
- ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’: Refers to something the person said they were currently doing at the time (an ongoing action in the past).
Examples
Let’s look at some examples to clarify the usage:
- ‘쓸 거라고 했었잖아’ (You said you were going to use it) – This could be used when referring to something someone planned to use in the future, but you were unsure whether they actually did.
- ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’ (You said you are using it) – This is used when the person mentioned that they were already in the process of using something at a certain time.
Conclusion: When to Use Each Expression
Both ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’ and ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’ are common expressions in spoken Korean, but understanding the difference in tense and aspect will help you use them correctly. If you’re referring to a plan or intention from the past, use ‘쓴다고 했었잖아’. If you’re talking about an ongoing action that was happening in the past, use ‘쓰고 있다고 했었잖아’. Understanding these nuances will make your Korean sound more natural and accurate.
コメント