Unit 29: As If (-(으)ㄴ/는 양)

In Level 5 we learned -는 척하다 (to pretend). A more literary and advanced way to say "as if" or "acting like" in Easy Korean is -(으)ㄴ/는 양.

Structure

• Present Action: Verb Stem + -는 양

• Past Action / Adjectives: Stem + -(으)ㄴ 양

• 알다 -> 아는 양 (As if they know)

• 없다 -> 없는 양 (As if they don't have it)
• 부자이다 -> 부자인 양 (As if they are rich)

Usage

It is usually followed by a verb describing their behavior (행동하다, 말하다). "양" refers to appearance or shape.

Examples

• 그는 모든 것을 다 아는 양 말했어요. (He spoke as if he knew everything.)
• 돈이 많은 양 행동하지 마세요. (Don't act as if you have a lot of money.)
• 자기가 주인인 양 행세했어요. (He behaved as if he were the owner.)