-(으)려던 참이다

Build it

When to use it

Vowel stems take -려던 참이다, consonant stems -으려던 참이다, and a ㄹ stem adds nothing: 만들려던 참이다. 참 is a noun and takes a space.

The intention must be immediate — you were on the point of doing it, not planning it for next week: 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요.

It is nearly always a response, and 마침 or 그렇지 않아도 usually introduces it. Someone calls, and you say you were about to call them.

The variant -(으)려는 참이다 describes the present moment; -(으)려던 참이다 looks back at one just past. The past form is far more common.

How to attach it

In use

1. 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요.

   I was just about to ring you, as it happens.

2. 그렇지 않아도 물어보려던 참입니다.

   I was on the point of asking you that very thing.

3. 막 나가려던 참에 손님이 오셨다.

   A visitor arrived just as I was about to leave.

4. 점심을 먹으려던 참이라 같이 가시죠.

   I was just going to have lunch — come along.

5. 직접 만들려던 참이었는데 잘됐네요.

   I was about to make it myself, so this works out well.

6. 자리에서 일어나려던 참에 이름이 불렸다.

   My name was called just as I was getting up.

Compared with

• -(으)려고 하다

  -(으)려고 하다 states an intention at any distance; 참이다 pins it to this instant.

  내일 가려고 해요. (I mean to go)  /  지금 가려던 참이에요. (I was on my way out)

• -기가 무섭게

  Both concern near-simultaneity. 기가 무섭게 says the second thing followed instantly; 참이다 says the first had not quite started.

  앉기가 무섭게 전화가 왔다. (right after sitting)  /  앉으려던 참에 전화가 왔다. (just before sitting)

• -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다

  뻔하다 is a near miss you are glad to have avoided; 참이다 is an intention interrupted by good timing.

  넘어질 뻔했어요. (nearly fell)  /  나가려던 참이었어요. (was just leaving)

Watch out

• 다음 달에 여행 가려던 참이에요.

  다음 달에 여행 가려고 해요.

  참 means this very moment. A plan for next month takes -(으)려고 하다.

• 직접 만들으려던 참이었어요.

  직접 만들려던 참이었어요.

  A stem ending in ㄹ takes -려던 directly, without the 으.

• 마침 전화하려던참이었어요.

  마침 전화하려던 참이었어요.

  참 is a noun and takes a space after the modifier.

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