Pattern: -(으)ㄴ 것 같아요
-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 (-(eu)ㄴgeosgat-a-yo, (eu)ㄴgeosgatayo)
-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 is used to express guesses or opinions softly in Korean. It helps convey your thoughts naturally depending on the situation.
When and how native speakers actually use it.
Used to express a guess or opinion about a past or present state or fact.
When to use
Making guesses, Softly giving opinions, When not certain
The nuance
Attach '-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요' to the past tense form of verbs or adjective stems. Use '-은 것 같아요' if the stem ends with a consonant, '-ㄴ 것 같아요' if it ends with a vowel. It expresses a guess or opinion politely and softly.
그 사람은 어제 집에 있었던 것 같아요.
geu sa-ram-eun eo-je jip-e iss-eoss-deon geos gat-a-yo., geu sa ram eun eo je jip e iss eoss deon geos gat a yo.
The past form of '있다' should be '있었던 것 같아요' but '있던 것 같아요' is also acceptable. The meaning is clearly conveyed.
오늘 날씨가 좋은 것 같아요.
o-neul nal-ssi-ga joh-eun geos gat-a-yo., o neul nal ssi ga joh eun geos gat a yo.
Adjective stem ends with a vowel, so '-ㄴ 것 같아요' is correctly attached to express a guess.
그 영화 재미있은 것 같아요.
geu yeong-hwa jae-mi-iss-eun geos gat-a-yo., geu yeong hwa jae mi iss eun geos gat a yo.
The adjective stem ends without a final consonant, so '-ㄴ 것 같아요' is correct.
나는 배고픈 것 같아요.
na-neun bae-go-peun geos gat-a-yo., na neun bae go peun geos gat a yo.
The adjective stem ends without a consonant, so '-ㄴ 것 같아요' is correctly used.
그 사람은 학생인 것 같아요.
geu sa-ram-eun hak-saeng-in geos gat-a-yo., geu sa ram eun hak saeng in geos gat a yo.
The noun '학생' is followed by the copula '인' before '-것 같아요', correctly expressing a guess.
저는 그 일을 끝낸 것 같아요.
jeo-neun geu il-eul kkeut-naen geos gat-a-yo., jeo neun geu il eul kkeut naen geos gat a yo.
Past form of the verb '끝내다' is '끝낸', correctly attached with '-것 같아요' to express a past guess.
그는 지금 집에 없는 것 같아요.
geu-neun ji-geum jip-e eop-neun geos gat-a-yo., geu neun ji geum jip e eop neun geos gat a yo.
The present form '없는 것 같아요' correctly expresses a present guess.
나는 그 사람을 모르는 것 같아요.
na-neun geu sa-ram-eul mo-reu-neun geos gat-a-yo., na neun geu sa ram eul mo reu neun geos gat a yo.
The present form '모르는 것 같아요' is correctly used to express a guess.
Which sentence is correct?
What's wrong in this sentence? '그 사람은 학생은 것 같아요.'
What is the correct form when attaching '-ㄴ 것 같아요'?
