Verb + -(으)ㄹ 뻔했어요
It means ‘almost happened’; we use this expression for an event that you don’t wish to happen. The infinitive form is ‘-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다‘, however we always use this 뻔했어요 which is the past tense; 뻔해요(X), 뻔할 거예요(X). We often use this with ‘하마터면(adverb)‘ which means ‘almost’.
For example,
| 넘어지다 (fall down) | 길이 너무 미끄러워서 넘어질 뻔했어요. Because the road was too slippery, I almost fell down. 스케이트를 타다가 넘어질 뻔했어요. While I was skating, I almost fell. |
| 실수하다 (make mistake) | 요즘 정신이 없어서 큰 실수할 뻔했어요. Because I was too busy lately, I almost made a big mistake. |
| 큰일 나다 (become serious) | 큰일 날 뻔했어요. almost became serious |
| 다치다 (hurt) | 하마터면 크게 다칠 뻔했어요. almost hurt badly. |
| 잊어버리다 (forget) | 요즘 너무 바빠서 하마터면 중요한 약속을 잊어버릴 뻔했어요. I have been too busy recently, so I almost forgot an important appointment. |
| 죽다 (die) | 차 사고가 나서 죽을 뻔했어요. Because of that car accident, I almost died. 물에 빠져서 죽을 뻔했어요. Because I fell into water, I almost died.* We sometimes say ‘죽을 뻔했어요’ to emphasize an event. 너무 추워서 죽을 뻔했어. It was too cold, I almost died! 목이 말라서 죽을 뻔했어요. I was too thirsty, I almost died! 무서워서 죽을 뻔했어요. I was too scared, I almost died! |
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