Let's learn how to use the V+(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 Korean Grammar with some simple and easy-to-understand example sentences.
V+(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 - “Almost did something / nearly happened but didn’t.”
USE:
“Almost did something / nearly happened but didn’t.”
Used when something almost occurred, usually a negative or dangerous situation, but fortunately did not happen.
Think of it as:
“I almost…”
“It was close…”
CONJUGATION RULE
Attach to verb stems only:
Ending with a vowel → -ㄹ 뻔하다
떨어지다 → 떨어질 뻔하다 (almost fell)
Ending with a consonant → -을 뻔하다
죽다 → 죽을 뻔하다 (almost died)
EXAMPLE SENTENCES:
1. 차에 치일 뻔했어요.
→ I almost got hit by a car.
2. 늦어서 버스를 놓칠 뻔했어요.
→ I almost missed the bus because I was late.
3. 너무 놀라서 울 뻔했어요.
→ I was so shocked that I almost cried.
4. 돈을 집에 두고 올 뻔했어요.
→ I almost left my money at home.
5. 길을 잘못 들어서 헤맬 뻔했어요.
→ I almost got lost because I took the wrong road.
6. 빗길에 미끄러질 뻔했어요.
→ I almost slipped on the wet road.
Additional Notes
Usually used in past tense with 했어요 / 했다 because the situation almost happened but didn’t.
죽을 뻔했어요 ✔
죽을 뻔해요 ❌ (rarely used; unnatural unless storytelling)
Often expresses relief after a dangerous or unexpected moment.
Can be used dramatically in conversation:
와… 진짜 큰일 날 뻔했네!
→ “Wow… That almost became a big problem!”
