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Korean grammar - Past hypotheticals - 았/었다면

Past hypotheticals - 았/었다면

Pattern: Verb stem + /었다면

The present tense hypothetical 'if' pattern 다면 can be rendered into the past using Verb stem + /었다면.

This is the same regardless of whether it is an action, descriptive or 'to be' verb.

Note however that in Korean if we want to say 'If X hadthen X would have' we use the future tense for the second clause.

Examples:
제 마음을 고백했다면 제 남자친구가 됐을 거예요.
If my heart had confessed, (he) would have become my boyfriend.

고백하다 means 'to confess'

마음을 고백하다 means 'to pour out my heart' or 'to express or confess one's true feelings'

그가 가난했다면 여자친구가 없었을 거예요.
If he had been poor, (he) wouldn't have had a girlfriend.

가난하다 means 'to be poor (not wealthy)'

우리가 친구가 아니었다면 외로웠을 거예요.
If we were friends, (we) would be lonely.
고추를 안 넣었다면 맵지 않았을 거예요.
It wouldn't be spicy if (I) hadn't added chilli.
돈을 다 쓰지 않았다면 그것을 샀을 거예요.
If (I) hadn't spent (used) all (my) money, (I) would have bought it.
제가 사과를 다 안 먹었다면 한 개를 줬을 거예요.
If I hadn't eaten all the apples, (I) would have given (you) one.
햇살이 그렇게 강하지 않았다면 밖에 나갔을 거예요.
If the sun hadn't been that strong, (I) would have gone outside.
음식이 충분했다면 사람들에게 균등하게 줬을 거예요.
If there was enough food, it would have been given equally to the people.

충분하다 means 'to be enough' or 'to be sufficient'

그 남자가 그렇게 수상하게 행동하지 않았다면 그를 믿었을 거예요.
If the man hadn't been acting that suspiciously, (we) would have believed him.

수상하다 means 'to be suspicious' or 'to be strange'

열심히 공부했다면 시험에 합격했을 것이다.
If (I) had studied hard, (I) would have passed the exam.
제가 밥을 먹었다면 배고프지 않았을 것이다.
(I) wouldn't be hungry if I had eaten
친구를 만났다면 즐거운 시간을 보냈을 거예요.
(I) would have had a great time if (I) had met (my) friend.
꿈이 없었다면 좌절했을 거예요.
If (I) had not had a dream, (I) would not have given up.

좌절하다 means 'to give up' or 'to collapse' or 'to waver'

돈을 열심히 모았다면 지금쯤 여행을 갈 수 있었을 거예요.
Had (I) worked hard to save money, (I) would have been able to travel by now.
그녀가 조금 일찍 출발했다면 차가 막히지 않았을 거예요.
(She) wouldn't have been stuck if she had left a little earlier.
선생님의 도움이 없었다면 지금처럼 성공하지 못했을 거예요.
Without the help of the teachers, (I) would not have been as successful as (I) am now.
친구가 도와주지 않았다면 고생했을 거예요.
(I) would have struggled if (my) friend hadn't helped (me).
그분을 만나지 않았다면 행복하지 않았을 거예요.
(She) wouldn't be happy if (she) hadn't met that man.
최선을 다했다면 목표를 이뤘을 거예요.
Had (I) done my best, (I) would have achieved (my) goal.

최선 means 'the best'

목표 means 'goal' or 'objective'

이루다 means 'to attain' or 'to achieve'