Expressing Uncertainty with '것 같다'

01

Present Tense with Adjectives

To say that something "seems" a certain way (descriptive), attach -(으)ㄴ (-(ŭ)n) to the adjective stem, followed by 것 같다 (gŏt gat·dageot gat·dagŏt gat·daket kat·ta).

• If the stem ends in a vowel: add -ㄴ (-n).
• If the stem ends in a consonant: add -은 (-ŭn-eun-ŭn-un).

• 이 옷이 비싼 것 같아요.

  i o·si bi·ssan gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.i o·si bi·ssan geot ga·ta·yo.i o·si bi·ssan gŏt ga·t'a·yo.i o·si pi·ssan ket ka·tha·yo.

  This clothing seems expensive.

• 그 영화는 재미있는 것 같아요.

  gŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jæ·mi·it·nŭn gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.geu yeong·hwa·neun jae·mi·it·neun geot ga·ta·yo.gŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jae·mi·it·nŭn gŏt ga·t'a·yo.ku yeng·hwa·nun cay·mi·it·nun ket ka·tha·yo.

  That movie seems interesting.

02

Present Tense with Verbs

When describing an action that seems to be happening right now, use -는 (-nŭn-neun-nŭn-nun) with the verb stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or consonant.

• 밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요.

  ba·gge bi·ga o·nŭn gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.ba·gge bi·ga o·neun geot ga·ta·yo.ba·kke bi·ga o·nŭn gŏt ga·t'a·yo.pa·kkey pi·ka o·nun ket ka·tha·yo.

  It seems like it is raining outside.

• 아기가 자는 것 같아요.

  a·gi·ga ja·nŭn gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.a·gi·ga ja·neun geot ga·ta·yo.a·gi·ga ja·nŭn gŏt ga·t'a·yo.a·ki·ka ca·nun ket ka·tha·yo.

  It seems like the baby is sleeping.

03

Past Tense (Verbs)

To express that you think something happened in the past, use -(으)ㄴ (-(ŭ)n) with the verb stem. This is the same shape used for present tense adjectives, so context is important, but the meaning here indicates a completed action.

• 수진 씨가 벌써 떠난 것 같아요.

  su·jin ssi·ga bŏl·ssŏ ddŏ·nan gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.su·jin ssi·ga beol·sseo ddeo·nan geot ga·ta·yo.su·jin ssi·ga bŏl·ssŏ ttŏ·nan gŏt ga·t'a·yo.su·cin ssi·ka pel·sse tte·nan ket ka·tha·yo.

  It seems Sujin has already left.

• 지갑을 잃어버린 것 같아요.

  ji·ga·bŭl i·rŏ·bŏ·rin gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.ji·ga·beul i·reo·beo·rin geot ga·ta·yo.ji·ga·bŭl i·rŏ·bŏ·rin gŏt ga·t'a·yo.ci·ka·pul i·le·pe·lin ket ka·tha·yo.

  I think I lost my wallet.

04

Future Tense and Conjecture

To express a guess about the future ("it looks like it will...") or a strong supposition, use -(으)ㄹ (-(ŭ)l) with the stem.

• 내일 눈이 올 것 같아요.

  næ·il nu·ni ol gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.nae·il nu·ni ol geot ga·ta·yo.nae·il nu·ni ol gŏt ga·t'a·yo.nay·il nu·ni ol ket ka·tha·yo.

  It looks like it will snow tomorrow.

• 사람들이 좋아할 것 같아요.

  sa·ram·dŭ·ri jo·a·hal gŏt ga·tʰa·yo.sa·ram·deu·ri jo·a·hal geot ga·ta·yo.sa·ram·dŭ·ri jo·a·hal gŏt ga·t'a·yo.sa·lam·tu·li co·a·hal ket ka·tha·yo.

  I think people will like it.

05

Spoken Forms

In daily conversation, the noun 것 (gŏtgeotgŏtket) is often shortened to 거 (gŏgeogŏke) for ease of pronunciation. This is very common in spoken Korean but should be written as 것 (gŏtgeotgŏtket) in formal writing.

• 비싼 거 같아요.

  bi·ssan gŏ ga·tʰa·yo.bi·ssan geo ga·ta·yo.bi·ssan gŏ ga·t'a·yo.pi·ssan ke ka·tha·yo.

  It seems expensive. (Spoken)

• 할 거 같아요.

  hal gŏ ga·tʰa·yo.hal geo ga·ta·yo.hal gŏ ga·t'a·yo.hal ke ka·tha·yo.

  I think I will do it. (Spoken)