Learn Korean: Verb + 때가 있다

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Verb + 때가 있다. We use this to express that there are moments when we do, feel, or experience something. It is something that we reveal because people have no idea about it.

 

For example, I am a comedian and people expect me to be jolly and happy all the time. In an interview, I revealed that there are times when I feel depressed (you probably don’t know, but I have those moments). The main verb is 우울하다 (to be depressed). We take the verb stem and attach ㄹ if it ends in a vowel and 을 if it ends in a consonant. Then, we add 때가 있다. The actual sentence is 우울할 때가 있어(요).

Here’s another example. My friends had never seen me fight with my boyfriend so they envied our relationship. The truth is we argue a lot, but we are discreet about it. I told them Of course, there are times when we fight. The main verb is 싸우다 (to fight). The actual sentence is 싸울 때가 있어 or 싸울 때가 있지.

우리 싸울 때가 있지만 바로 화해.

There are times when we fight, but we make up right away.

슬플 때가 있죠.

Of course, I feel sad sometimes.

그 사람 그리울 때가 있어.

I do miss him (ex-boyfriend) sometimes. There are times when I feel that way.