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Unit 4: I Guess, I Assume (-나 보다)

When you want to make an assumption based on something you saw or heard, you use -나 보다 (for verbs) or -(으)ㄴ가 보다 (for adjectives) in Easy Korean. It translates to "I guess..." or "It seems like..."

1. Action Verbs: -나 보다

Attach -나 보다 to the verb stem. - 가다 -> 가나 보다 -> 가나 봐요 (I guess they are going) - 먹다 -> 먹나 보다 -> 먹나 봐요 (I guess they are eating) (For past tense, attach it to the past stem: 갔나 봐요 - I guess they went)

2. Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): -(으)ㄴ가 보다

Attach -(으)ㄴ가 보다. - 크다 -> 큰가 보다 -> 큰가 봐요 (I guess it's big) - 바쁘다 -> 바쁜가 보다 -> 바쁜가 봐요 (I guess they are busy) - 작다 -> 작은가 보다 -> 작은가 봐요 (I guess it's small)

(Exception: Adjectives ending with 있다/없다 use -나 보다: 재미있나 봐요!)

Examples

  • 비가 오나 봐요. (I guess it's raining. - seeing wet umbrellas)
  • 음식이 매운가 봐요. (I guess the food is spicy. - seeing someone sweat)