Let's learn how to use the  -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다 Korean Grammar with some simple and easy-to-understand example sentences.

FORMS & CONJUGATION:

① -나 보다 → with Action Verbs (क्रिया)

• Used when guessing about an action someone does.

Rule:
Verb stem + -나 보다

Examples:

• 가다 → 가나 보다 (It seems (they) are going. / लगता है कि वे जा रहे हैं।)
• 먹다 → 먹나 보다 (It seems (they) are eating. / लगता है कि वे खा रहे हैं।)

② -(으)ㄴ가 보다 → with Adjectives (विशेषण) or Past Tense

• Used when guessing about a state, quality, or past event.

Rule:

• Adjective/Descriptive verb stem + -(으)ㄴ가 보다
• Past tense verb/adjective + 았/었나 보다

Examples:

• 예쁘다 → 예쁜가 보다 (She must be pretty / लगता है वह सुंदर है।)
• 작다 → 작은가 보다 (It seems small / लगता है छोटा है।)
• 갔다 → 갔나 보다 (It seems (they) went / लगता है कि वह गया था।)

③ With 있다 / 없다

Even though 있다/없다 are descriptive verbs, we use -나 보다 (not -(으)ㄴ가 보다).

• 사람이 많나 보다. (It seems there are many people. / लगता है कि बहुत लोग हैं।)
• 시간이 없나 보다. (It seems there’s no time. / लगता है कि समय नहीं है।)

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

With Action Verbs (-나 보다)

1. 비가 오나 봐요.
   (It seems it’s raining. / लगता है कि बारिश हो रही है।)

2. 학생들이 열심히 공부하나 봐요.
   (It seems the students are studying hard. / लगता है छात्र मेहनत से पढ़ रहे हैं।)

3. 그는 한국어를 잘 하나 봐요.
   (I guess he speaks Korean well. / लगता है वह कोरियन अच्छा बोलता है।)

With Adjectives / Past Tense (-(으)ㄴ가 보다)

4. 날씨가 추운가 봐요.
   (It seems the weather is cold. / लगता है मौसम ठंडा है।)

5. 그 영화가 재미있는가 봐요.
   (I guess that movie is interesting. / लगता है वह फिल्म रोचक है।)

6. 어제 집에 안 갔나 봐요.
   (It seems he didn’t go home yesterday. / लगता है वह कल घर नहीं गया।)

With 있다 / 없다 (special case)

7. 친구가 많나 봐요.
   (It seems he has many friends. / लगता है उसके बहुत दोस्त हैं।)

8. 돈이 없나 봐요.
   (It seems he doesn’t have money. / लगता है उसके पास पैसे नहीं हैं।)