How to use 은/ㄴ 것 같다 in Korean

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  비가 온 것 같아요.

  bi-ga on geos gat-a-yo., bi ga on geos gat a yo.

  '오다' ends with a vowel, so '-ㄴ 것 같다' is used for past guess.

• ⭕

  그 사람은 친절한 것 같아.

  geu sa-ram-eun chin-jeol-han geos gat-a., geu sa ram eun chin jeol han geos gat a.

  Adjective '친절하다' takes '-ㄴ 것 같다' to express a guess about a state.

• ⭕

  나는 어제 집에 간 것 같아.

  na-neun eo-je jip-e gan geos gat-a., na neun eo je jip e gan geos gat a.

  '가다' ends with vowel, so '-ㄴ 것 같다' is used for past guess.

• ⭕

  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.

  For present state, adjectives take '-은 것 같다' or '-ㄴ 것 같다'; both can be correct, but '-은 것 같다' fits here.

• ⭕

  그는 학생인 것 같아.

  geu-neun hak-saeng-in geos gat-a., geu neun hak saeng in geos gat a.

  Attach '-것 같다' after '인' (past form of '이다') to express guess.

• ❌

  내일 비가 오는 것 같아요.

  nae-il bi-ga o-neun geos gat-a-yo., nae il bi ga o neun geos gat a yo.

  For future guesses, use '-는 것 같다', not '-ㄴ 것 같다'.

• ⭕

  나는 밥을 먹은 것 같다.

  na-neun bap-eul meok-eun geos gat-da., na neun bap eul meok eun geos gat da.

  '먹다' ends with consonant, so '-은 것 같다' is correct for past guess.

• ⭕

  그녀는 피곤한 것 같다.

  geu-nyeo-neun pi-gon-han geos gat-da., geu nyeo neun pi gon han geos gat da.

  Adjective '피곤하다' takes '-ㄴ 것 같다' to express guess about state.

1. Which sentence correctly uses -(으)ㄴ 것 같다?

   다음 중 -(으)ㄴ 것 같다를 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung-(eu)ㄴgeosgat-da-reulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung(eu)ㄴgeosgatdareulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
   • 나는 어제 영화를 본 것 같다.(na-neuneo-jeyeong-hwa-reulbongeosgat-da., naneuneojeyeonghwareulbongeosgatda.)
   • 내일은 비가 온 것 같다.(nae-il-eunbi-gaongeosgat-da., naeileunbigaongeosgatda.)
   • 그는 지금 집에 간 것 같다.(geu-neunji-geumjip-egangeosgat-da., geuneunjigeumjipegangeosgatda.)
   • 나는 지금 배고픈 것 같다.(na-neunji-geumbae-go-peungeosgat-da., naneunjigeumbaegopeungeosgatda.)

2. What does '-ㄴ 것 같다' mean in "그녀는 친절한 것 같다"?

   "그녀는 친절한 것 같다"에서 '-ㄴ 것 같다'는 어떤 의미인가요?("geu-nyeo-neunchin-jeol-hangeosgat-da"e-seo'-ㄴgeosgat-da'neuneo-tteonui-mi-in-ga-yo?, "geunyeoneunchinjeolhangeosgatda"eseo'ㄴgeosgatda'neuneotteonuimiingayo?)
   • 확신을 나타낸다(hwak-sin-eulna-ta-naen-da, hwaksineulnatanaenda)
   • 추측을 부드럽게 표현한다(chu-cheuk-eulbu-deu-reop-gepyo-hyeon-han-da, chucheukeulbudeureopgepyohyeonhanda)
   • 명령을 나타낸다(myeong-ryeong-eulna-ta-naen-da, myeongryeongeulnatanaenda)
   • 과거 사실을 단정한다(gwa-geosa-sil-euldan-jeong-han-da, gwageosasileuldanjeonghanda)

3. What is the correct form attached to '먹다' in "나는 밥을 먹은 것 같다"?

   "나는 밥을 먹은 것 같다"에서 동사 '먹다'에 붙는 올바른 형태는?("na-neunbap-eulmeok-eungeosgat-da"e-seodong-sa'meok-da'ebut-neunol-ba-reunhyeong-tae-neun?, "naneunbapeulmeokeungeosgatda"eseodongsa'meokda'ebutneunolbareunhyeongtaeneun?)
   • -ㄴ 것 같다(-ㄴgeosgat-da, ㄴgeosgatda)
   • -은 것 같다(-eungeosgat-da, eungeosgatda)
   • -는 것 같다(-neungeosgat-da, neungeosgatda)
   • -ㄹ 것 같다(-ㄹgeosgat-da, ㄹgeosgatda)