V/A+ 었던/았던/였던 것 같다

중요한 전화를 기다리는데 핸드폰이 안 돼요. 충전도 했는데요.
I am waiting for an important phone call but my cell phone isn’t working. I’ve already even charged it.
화면이 전혀 안 나와요?
The screen does not show at all?
네, 그냥 까만색이에요. 껐다가 켜도 아무 변화가 없네요.
Yes, it’s just all black. Even though I turned it on and off, there is no change.
해결 방법이 있나 검색해 볼게요. 잠깐만요.
I will search for solutions. Hold on.
전화가 안 되니까 정말 답답한데 도와줘서 고마워요.
I am so frustrated because my phone is not working, thank you for helping me.
전에 핸드폰 화면이 안 나올 때 어떻게 하는지 읽었던 것 같아요. 조금만 기다려 보세요.
I think, last time, I read about what to do when my phone screen does not show up. Please wait a moment.

V/A+ 었던/았던/였던 것 같다
It is used with an action verb or descriptive verb stem. It is used when the speaker is not sure about the decision or information of the past.

‘ -았던 것 같다’ is used if the last ending syllable of the action verb or descriptive verb stem is ‘ ㅏ,ㅗ’ . ‘ -었던 것 같다’ is used if the other vowel is ‘ㅓ,ㅜ,ㅡ,ㅣ’. ‘- 였던 (했던) 것 같다.’ is used if ‘하-’ is used.

이 책은 전에 한 번 읽었던 것 같아요.
I read this book last time.

회사에 다녀보니까 학생때가 더 좋았던 것 같아요.
It seems that I would like to be a student rather than a salaryman.

어렸을 때는 친구들하고 운동을 자주 했던 것 같아요.
When I was young, I used to exercise with my friends frequently.

See also  V/A+ 어서/아서/여서 V+ 을/ㄹ 만하다

Related words
충전 charge
변화 changes
해결 solution
답답하다 to feel heavy and worried

Source: Yonsei University. Korean Language Institute

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