-(으)려던 참이다

Says that you were just about to do something at the very moment someone suggested it or something happened.

시제·상Tense & aspect

Han: 참 is a noun, so it needs the modifier form -(으)려던; the connective ending -(으)려고 cannot modify a noun.

Examples

저도 배가 고파서 뭘 좀 먹으려던 참이에요. 같이 먹을래요?I'm hungry too and was just about to eat something. Want to eat together?

마침 전화하려던 참이었는데 먼저 연락해 줘서 고마워요.I was just about to call you, so thanks for getting in touch first.

그렇지 않아도 그 문제에 대해 여쭤보려던 참이었습니다.As a matter of fact, I was just about to ask you about that issue.

A: 커피 한잔할래요? B: 좋아요. 안 그래도 좀 쉬려던 참이었어요.A: Shall we have a coffee? B: Sure. I was just about to take a break anyway.

-(으)려던 참이다vs-는 길이다-는 길이다 means you are already on the way; -(으)려던 참이다 means you have not started yet: 집에 가는 길이에요 vs 집에 가려던 참이에요.

V+(으)려던 참이다 (vowel stem / ㄹ stem: -려던, consonant stem: -으려던)

가다 → 가려던 참이에요; 먹다 → 먹으려던 참이었어요

Attach it to action verbs only; adjectives and 이다 do not take it.
It cannot be used in commands or suggestions; it ends statements and questions.
It usually describes the speaker's own intention; for another person it is mostly used in questions or in narration.
It often comes with 마침, 안 그래도 or 그렇지 않아도 to stress the coincidence; both 참이에요 and 참이었어요 are natural.

Wrong: ~~마침 전화하려고 참이었어요.~~

Right: 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요.

참 is a noun, so it needs the modifier form -(으)려던; the connective ending -(으)려고 cannot modify a noun.

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.