이 있었지

there was / had

→ 이

phrase Uncommon #9,107

there was / had 이 is a subject marker used after a noun ending in a consonant. 있었지 expresses past existence or possession while recalling or confirming something, often like “there was” or “had, right?”

KO: 그때 우리에게 다른 선택이 있었지.

EN: We had another choice back then.

아버지 한테 총이 있었지?

Did your father have a gun?

— 미스틱 리버 (2003)

지난번에 왔을 땐 여기도 마을이 있었지

There was a village here too the last time I came.

— 모노노케 히메 (1997)

그는 사고 보험이 있었지?

Did he have accident insurance?

— 이중 배상 (1944)

그에겐 늘 원칙이 있었지

He always had principles.

— 포풍추영 (2025)

큰 통이 있었지

There was a big container.

— 반지의 제왕: 두 개의 탑 (2002)