Korean Grammar Patterns

-던데(요)

Meaning

recollected background / soft contrast

How to use it

Combines retrospective -더- with -ㄴ데 to give recalled background information, often softly contrasting with the listener's view or inviting a response. Based on what the speaker personally witnessed.

Polite form -던데요 often signals gentle disagreement: '...but (I saw otherwise).',Implies firsthand observation, unlike plain -ㄴ데.

Examples

Korean	English
아까 보니까 사장님은 사무실에 계시던데요. akka bonikka sajangnimeun samusire gyesideondeyo.	When I looked earlier, the boss was in the office, though.
그 가게 음식 꽤 괜찮던데, 왜 안 가? geu gage eumsik kkwae gwaenchantdeonde, wae an ga?	That place's food was pretty good (I found) — why not go?

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