Why is there a difference between ~ㄴ/은 and ~던 (describing nouns in past tense)?
I have a general idea of the difference, but can someone explain it clearly?

For example:
제가 입은 옷
제가 입던 옷

Both constructions mean "the clothes I wore," but the first is saying that something happened, while the second expresses a memory. Can someone explain why?

Question

Why is there a difference between ~ㄴ/은 and ~던 (describing nouns in past tense)?
I have a general idea of the difference, but can someone explain it clearly?

For example:
제가 입은 옷 
제가 입던 옷

Both constructions mean "the clothes I wore," but the first is saying that something happened, while the second expresses a memory. Can someone explain why?

Answer

It's the same as in English:

1. The clothes I wore (at some point in the past, perhaps just one time)

2. The clothes I used to wear (for a certain period of time in the past)

Answers · 2

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