Let's learn how to use the -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다 Korean Grammar with some simple and easy-to-understand example sentences.
-나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다 Korean Grammar
USE:
This pattern expresses a guess / supposition / assumption based on what the speaker sees, hears, or feels.
Think of it as “It seems that…” / “I guess…” / “लगता है कि…” / “शायद…”
-나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가/ (으)ㄹ 건가 보다 is different from ㄴ/는 것 같아요 in the sense that -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가/ (으)ㄹ 건가 보다 is used for an assumption based on some clue or evidence, while ㄴ/는 것 같아요 is a general grammar pattern used more broadly.
Since -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가/ (으)ㄹ 건가 보다 is used based on some clue, it is very commonly used with -는 걸 보니까.
Ex: 다들 우산을 들고 있는 걸 보니까 오늘 비가 올 건가 봐요.
Seeing that everyone is carrying umbrellas, it seems it will rain today.
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)
비가 오나 봐요.
(It seems it’s raining. / लगता है कि बारिश हो रही है।)학생들이 열심히 공부하나 봐요.
(It seems the students are studying hard. / लगता है छात्र मेहनत से पढ़ रहे हैं।)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)
날씨가 추운가 봐요.
(It seems the weather is cold. / लगता है मौसम ठंडा है।)그 영화가 재미있는가 봐요.
(I guess that movie is interesting. / लगता है वह फिल्म रोचक है।)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)
친구가 많나 봐요.
(It seems he has many friends. / लगता है उसके बहुत दोस्त हैं।)돈이 없나 봐요.
(It seems he doesn’t have money. / लगता है उसके पास पैसे नहीं हैं।)
