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Easy Korean - Level 3, Unit 9: I think... / It seems like... (-것 같다)

In the previous unit, we learned how to use 같다 with Nouns. In this unit, we will learn how to use it with Verbs and Adjectives to say "I think..." or "It seems like..."

To attach a verb or adjective to 같다, we have to turn it into a noun phrase first. We do this by adding 것 (geot), which means "thing" or "fact."

Structure Overview

The structure depends on whether it's an adjective or a verb, and what tense you want to use.

1. Adjectives (Present Tense)

Stem + -(으)ㄴ 것 같다

  • 예쁘다 (pretty) -> 예쁜 것 같아요. (I think it is pretty. / It seems pretty.)
  • 작다 (small) -> 작은 것 같아요. (I think it is small.)
  • 비싸다 (expensive) -> 비싼 것 같아요. (I think it's expensive.)

2. Verbs (Present Tense)

Stem + -는 것 같다

  • 비가 오다 (rain comes) -> 비가 오는 것 같아요. (I think it is raining. / It seems to be raining.)
  • 자다 (sleep) -> 자는 것 같아요. (I think he is sleeping.)
  • 모르다 (not know) -> 모르는 것 같아요. (I think they don't know.)

3. Verbs (Past Tense)

Stem + -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (Note: It looks exactly like the Adjective present tense rule!)

  • 가다 (go) -> 간 것 같아요. (I think he went.)
  • 먹다 (eat) -> 먹은 것 같아요. (I think she ate it.)

4. Verbs & Adjectives (Future Tense)

Stem + -(으)ㄹ 것 같다

  • 내일 비가 오다 -> 내일 비가 올 것 같아요. (I think it will rain tomorrow.)
  • 맛있다 -> 맛있을 것 같아요. (I think it will be delicious.)
  • 바쁘다 -> 바쁠 것 같아요. (I think I will be busy.)

Why use this?

Koreans use -것 같아요 very frequently to sound softer and less assertive. Instead of saying "This is bad" (나빠요), they will often say "I think this is bad" (나쁜 것 같아요) to be more polite.

Example Sentences

  1. 이 식당이 유명한 것 같아요. (I think this restaurant is famous.) - Adjective
  2. 친구가 지금 오는 것 같아요. (I think my friend is coming right now.) - Verb Present
  3. 벌써 도착한 것 같아요. (I think they already arrived.) - Verb Past
  4. 내일 추울 것 같아요. (I think it will be cold tomorrow.) - Adjective Future