Lesson 8

Guessing & Possibility

Express guesses, assumptions, and uncertainty using -(으)ㄹ 것 같다, -나 봐요, and -겠-.

-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 — I think / It seems like

Used to express a guess or conjecture. Attach to the verb/adjective stem. Present conjecture: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요. Past conjecture: stem + -(으)ㄴ 것 같아요. Very commonly used in everyday speech.

내일 비가 올 것 같아요.naeil biga ol geot gatayoI think it will rain tomorrow.

그 식당은 이미 문을 닫은 것 같아요.geu sikdangeun imi muneul dadeun geot gatayoI think that restaurant has already closed.

-나 봐요 / -(으)ㄴ가 봐요 — It seems like (inference from observation)

Used when you infer something from what you see, hear, or feel. Slightly different from -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 — this implies a basis of evidence. Action verbs: stem + 나 봐요. Descriptive verbs: stem + (으)ㄴ가 봐요.

불이 꺼져 있네요. 아무도 없나 봐요.buri kkeojyeo inneyo. amudo eomna bwayoThe lights are off. It seems no one is there.

많이 드시네요. 배가 고프신가 봐요.mani deusineyo. baega gopeusin-ga bwayoYou're eating a lot. You must be hungry.

아마amaprobably / maybe

Examples아마 그 사람은 아직 안 왔을 거예요.ama geu sarameun ajik an wasseul geoyeyoThat person probably hasn't come yet.

혹시hoksiby any chance / perhaps

Examples혹시 민준 씨 아세요?hoksi minjun ssi aseyoDo you happen to know Minjun?

확실히hwaksilhicertainly / definitely

Examples확실히 실력이 늘었어요.hwaksilhi sillyeogi neureosseoyoYour skills have definitely improved.

분명히bunmyeonghiclearly / obviously

Examples분명히 어딘가에 있을 거예요.bunmyeonghi eodingae-e isseul geoyeyoIt must be somewhere.

글쎄요geulsseyowell... / I'm not sure

Examples글쎄요, 잘 모르겠어요.geulsseyo, jal moreugeseoyoWell, I'm not really sure.

예상하다yesanghadato expect / to predict

Examples이렇게 빨리 끝날 줄은 예상 못 했어요.ireoke ppalli kkeunnal jureun yesan mot haesseoyoI didn't expect it to finish this quickly.