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🟠 Have You Ever…? Using -아/어 본 적 있다 (TOPIK 3–4)

Updated 2025-09-08 • Continuously improved with real learner questions and lesson feedback.

🎯 Learning Goal

• Understand what -아/어 본 적 있다 means in real conversation
• Use it to talk about “have you ever…?” and “I’ve tried…” experiences
• Talk naturally about travel, food, and study experiences at TOPIK 3–4 level

📚 Table of Contents

Open / Close

1. Key Concept
2. Form & Usage
3. Compare with -(으)ㄴ 적 있다
4. Example Sentences
5. Practice Dialogue
6. Mini Drills
7. Teacher’s Tips
8. Cultural Note
9. It’s Your Turn
10. Take a Lesson with Me
11. Stay Connected

💡 Key Concept

Pattern: V-아/어 본 적 있다

Use this when you want to say you have ever tried / experienced something at least once.

• 한국에 가 본 적 있어요.
  I’ve been to Korea (at least once).
• 김치를 만들어 본 적 있어요.
  I’ve made kimchi before.
• 한국 드라마를 본 적 없어요.
  I’ve never watched a Korean drama.

Negative: V-아/어 본 적 없다 → “have never tried / have no experience.”

🧱 Form & Usage

Form: 동사 어간 + -아/어 보다 + (으)ㄴ 적 있다 → usually shortened to -아/어 본 적 있다

• 가다 → 가 보다 → 가 본 적 있다 → have tried going / have been
• 먹다 → 먹어 보다 → 먹어 본 적 있다 → have tried eating
• 타다 → 타 보다 → 타 본 적 있다 → have tried riding

In everyday speech, you’ll mostly hear the short form -아/어 본 적 있어요 / 없어요.

🔁 Compare with -(으)ㄴ 적 있다

Both patterns talk about experience, but the nuance is slightly different:

• 가 본 적 있다 — focuses a bit more on “trying” / “having the experience of doing it.”
• 간 적 있다 — more neutral “have done it before.”

✅ For food, travel, new activities, -아/어 본 적 있다 often feels a little more natural because it carries a “tried it” feeling.

• 서울에 가 본 적 있어요. — I’ve been to Seoul (I’ve tried going there).
• 서울에 간 적 있어요. — I have the experience of going to Seoul.

📝 Example Sentences

1. 제주도에 가 본 적 있어요.
   Jejudo-e ga bon jeok isseoyo.
   I’ve been to Jeju Island.
2. 불고기를 만들어 본 적 있어요.
   Bulgogireul mandeureo bon jeok isseoyo.
   I’ve made bulgogi before.
3. 한강에서 자전거 타 본 적 있어요?
   Hangang-eseo jajeongeo ta bon jeok isseoyo?
   Have you ever ridden a bicycle along the Han River?
4. 그 가수 콘서트에 간 적 없어요.
   Geu gasu konseoteu-e gan jeok eopsseoyo.
   I’ve never been to that singer’s concert.
5. 한국어로 발표해 본 적 있어요.
   Hangugeo-ro balpyohae bon jeok isseoyo.
   I’ve given a presentation in Korean.

💬 Practice Dialogue

A: 한국 음식 직접 만들어 본 적 있어요?
Hanguk eumsik jikjeop mandeureo bon jeok isseoyo?
Have you ever cooked Korean food yourself?

B: 네, 김치전 만들어 본 적 있어요. 생각보다 쉽더라고요.
Ne, gimchijeon mandeureo bon jeok isseoyo. Saeng-gakboda swipdeoragoyo.
Yes, I’ve made kimchi pancakes before. It was easier than I thought.

A: 한국 축제에 간 적은요?
Hanguk chukje-e gan jeogeunyo?
What about going to a Korean festival?

B: 아직은 없어요. 이번 가을에 가 볼 생각이에요.
Ajigeun eopsseoyo. Ibeon gaeure ga bol saeng-gag-ieyo.
Not yet. I’m thinking of going this fall.

📝 Mini Drills (1-minute practice)

Tiny habit: After you finish this lesson, say one new sentence about your own experience.

1. Change this into an “experience” sentence:
   저는 한국 드라마를 봤어요.
   I watched a Korean drama.
2. Make a negative experience:
   “I’ve never tried bibimbap.”
3. Make a question:
   “Have you ever been to Busan?”

Show sample answers

1) 저는 한국 드라마를 본 적 있어요.
2) 비빔밥을 먹어 본 적 없어요.
3) 부산에 가 본 적 있어요?

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Tips

Students often only memorize one or two lines like 한국에 가 본 적 있어요 and stop there. Instead, think in patterns you can reuse:

• 저는 __(을/를) __ 해 본 적 있어요.
  I’ve tried / I’ve had the experience of ___.
• 혹시 __(으)로 여행해 본 적 있어요?
  Have you ever travelled by / to ___?
• 아직 __(을/를) 해 본 적은 없어요, 하지만 __.
  I haven’t tried ___ yet, but ___.

Write 2–3 real sentences about your own life. Personal sentences are much easier to remember than textbook ones.

🌏 Cultural Note

In Korean small talk, questions like “한국에 가 본 적 있어요?” or “김치전 먹어 본 적 있어요?” are a friendly way to find common interests.

To sound softer and more polite, add 혹시 at the beginning: “혹시 제주도에 가 본 적 있어요?”
It feels curious and kind, not like an interview question.

📝 It’s Your Turn

• Write 3 sentences about something you have tried before using -아/어 본 적 있어요.
• Write 2 sentences about something you have never tried using -아/어 본 적 없어요.
• Practice asking one “Have you ever…?” question to a friend (real or imaginary).

👋 Take a Lesson with Me on italki

Want feedback on your own “have you ever…?” stories in Korean? Bring your sentences to class and we’ll polish them together.

👉 Click here to book a 1:1 lesson and practice real conversation using -아/어 본 적 있다.

💬 Stay connected for new updates:

Bookmark this post, share it with friends who love Korean, and leave a comment with one experience sentence using -아/어 본 적 있다. Your ideas often become the next lesson topic. 🙂

Tags: Korean grammar, past experience in Korean, TOPIK 3-4, Korean conversation practice, -아/어 본 적 있다, 경험 표현, aprender coreano intermedio, experiencias en coreano

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