이 있었는데

there was …

→ 이

phrase Rare #21,335

there was … 이 marks the preceding noun as the subject. 있었는데 introduces background or context and often leads into a contrasting or explanatory statement.

KO: 그 방에 큰 창문이 있었는데, 지금은 없어졌어요.

EN: There was a big window in that room, but it’s gone now.

그런 마술이 있었는데 누구 트릭 이었지, 아는 사람?

There was a magic trick like that—does anyone know whose trick it was?

— 나우 유 씨 미 3 (2025)