Lesson 74 · Careful Guesses: -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같아요
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 74 · Grammar
Careful Guesses: -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같아요
Learn Careful Guesses: -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
것 같아요 expresses a guess or a cautious impression. Choose the modifier before 것 to match the predicate and the situation: a present state, an ongoing action, a completed event, or a future possibility.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Present action: V-는 것 같아요, as in 비가 오는 것 같아요. Present adjective: A-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요, as in 좋은 것 같아요. 있다/없다 use 있는/없는.
- Completed action: V-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요, as in 간 것 같아요. Future/prediction: V/A-(으)ㄹ 것 같아요, as in 올 것 같아요, 추울 것 같아요.
- Nouns: N인 것 같아요, as in 학생인 것 같아요. Leave spaces: 것 같아요. Final ㄹ follows the relevant modifier rule: 사는 / 산 / 살.
Examples
지금 비가 오는 것 같아요.
jigeum biga oneun geot gatayo
I think it is raining now.
내일 비가 올 것 같아요.
naeil biga ol geot gatayo
I think it will rain tomorrow.
이 가방이 좋은 것 같아요.
i gabangi joeun geot gatayo
I think this bag is good.
친구가 집에 간 것 같아요.
chinguga jibe gan geot gatayo
I think my friend has gone home.
저분은 선생님인 것 같아요.
jeobuneun seonsaengnimin geot gatayo
I think that person is a teacher.
오늘은 추울 것 같아요.
oneureun chuul geot gatayo
I think it will be cold today.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 27
-겠-
(사진을 보고) 와, 맛있겠어요!-겠어요 is an immediate guess from what you see right now. -것 같아요 is a softer, more general “I think”.
Review Lesson 27 →LESSON 26
-(으)ㄹ 거예요
내일은 비가 올 거예요.A more confident prediction. -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 sounds less certain and more polite.
Review Lesson 26 →RELATED PATTERN
-나 보다
사람들이 우산을 쓰고 있어요. 비가 오나 봐요.A guess based on evidence, usually about other people or situations — not about yourself.
RELATED PATTERN
A-아/어 보이다
오늘 좀 피곤해 보여요.“Looks …”: a judgment from someone’s appearance.
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 | past action | 먹은 것 같아요 |
| V-는 것 같아요 | present action | 먹는 것 같아요 |
| -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 | future / guess | 먹을 것 같아요 |
| A-(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 | adjective (present) | 바쁜 것 같아요 |
Dialogue: Looking at the Sky
Minsu and Yuna are about to leave the café. They make careful guesses about the weather and about each other. Notice the modifier before 것.
Point: 올 것 같아요 predicts, 부는 것 같아요 describes what seems to be happening now, 온 것 같아요 guesses about something already done, and 작은 / 친절한 것 같아요 use the adjective form.
것 같아요 vs -겠어요 vs -(으)ㄹ 거예요
All three can talk about something you are not completely sure of, but the feeling is different.
| Pattern | Feeling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 | A soft guess or opinion based on what you see, hear, or feel | 비가 올 것 같아요. |
| -겠어요 | An instant reaction to something in front of you | 와, 맛있겠어요! (That looks delicious!) |
| -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | A confident prediction or a plan | 내일은 추울 거예요. |
Common mistakes
Compare 비가 오는 것 같아요 (I think it is raining) with 비가 올 것 같아요 (I think it will rain). A guess should not be presented as verified fact. Use the future form when predicting tomorrow’s weather.
Adjectives take -(으)ㄴ: 바쁜 것 같아요.
It’s happening now → -는.
Tomorrow is the future → -(으)ㄹ.
Words ending in 있다/없다 take -는.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank저 식당은 항상 사람이 많아요. 음식이 ______. (맛있다)
Check answer
음식이 맛있는 것 같아요.
맛있다 → 맛있는 것 같아요.
- Fill in the blank하늘이 많이 흐려요. 곧 비가 ______. (오다)
Check answer
곧 비가 올 것 같아요.
A guess about the future → 올 것 같아요.
- Choose the correct form민수 씨가 오늘 좀 (피곤한 / 피곤하는) 것 같아요.
Check answer
피곤한
피곤하다 is an adjective → -(으)ㄴ.
- Choose the correct form길이 젖어 있어요. 밤에 비가 (온 / 올) 것 같아요.
Check answer
온
It already rained last night → past -(으)ㄴ.
- Find and fix the mistake이 옷은 저한테 좀 작는 것 같아요.
Check answer
이 옷은 저한테 좀 작은 것 같아요.
작다 is an adjective → 작은.
- Say it in KoreanI think I caught a cold.
Check answer
감기에 걸린 것 같아요.
It already happened → 걸린 것 같아요.
Questions Learners Often Ask
Why do Koreans say 것 같아요 even about their own opinions?
It softens what you say. 이게 더 좋은 것 같아요 sounds more modest and polite than 이게 더 좋아요, so you will hear it constantly in everyday conversation, even when the speaker is quite sure.
How do I say “I don’t think …”?
Put the negative before 것: 비가 안 올 것 같아요 or 비가 오지 않을 것 같아요 (“I don’t think it will rain”).
Why do I sometimes see 거 같아요?
In speech, 것 is often pronounced 거, so casual writing such as text messages shows 올 거 같아요. In careful writing, keep 것 같아요 with spaces: 올 것 같아요.
Today’s Key Point
Present V-는, present A-(으)ㄴ, completed V-(으)ㄴ, future -(으)ㄹ, noun 인 + 것 같아요.
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