ADJ+(으)ㄴ 것 같다 [Korean Grammar] 

 March 12, 2024

By  Uruba Kashish

Let's learn how to use "Adj+ (으)ㄴ 것 같다 [Korean grammar]and make some example sentences.

ADJ+(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (Korean Grammar)

USE:

Adj+ (으)ㄴ 것 같다 Korean grammar pattern is used to express the speaker's guess or prediction. 

It is equal to "It seems/looks/appears", "I think" in English.

CONJUGATION RULE:

Adj+ (으)ㄴ 것 같다 grammar is used with adjective. The first step of ‘Adj+ (으)ㄴ 것 같다’ conjugation is to remove ‘다’ from the base form of the adjective.


  • If the adj. stem is ending with a final consonant (받침), we use 'Adj+ 은 것 같다'.
  • If the adj. stem is ending with any vowel( without patchim) then 'Adj+ㄴ 것 같다' is used. 

So let's take an adjective 바쁘다(to be busy). If you remove 다 from 바쁘다, 바쁘 (stem) is left. So in the 바쁘, is ending without final consonant i.e. Patchim.

According to the conjugation rule, if the stem ends without Patchim, we add-ㄴ 것 같다.

So it becomes 바쁜 것 같다.

So, if you want to say- "He looks busy/It seems like he is busy." 

Then, you'll say- "바쁜 것 같아요."

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

  • 이 책이 비싼 것 같아요.
    (This books seems expensive.)
  • 날씨가 너무 추운 것 같아요.
    (The weather seems really cold.) 
  • 물을 진짜 따뜻한 것 같아요.
    (The water seems really warm.)
  • 미나 씨가 피곤한 것 같아요.
    (Mina seems like tired.)
  • 앤디 씨 머리가 아픈 것 같아요.
    (It looks like Andy is having headache.)

"Adj+ (으)ㄴ 것 같다" can be used in the present, past and the future:

Let's take a common example to understand it better.

" 바쁘다- To be busy" 

Now let's make the same sentences in present, past and future tenses.

-은/ㄴ 것 같다- PRESENT TENSE:
Example:
  • 앤디 씨가 바쁜 것 같아요. (It seems like Andy is busy.)
-았던/었던 것 같다- PAST TENSE:
Example:
  • 앤디 씨가 바빴던 것 같아요. (It seems like Andy was busy.)
-ㄹ/을 것 같다- FUTURE TENSE:
Example:
  • 앤디 씨가 바쁠 것 같아요. (It seems like Andy will be busy.)

Also check this related article :

V+는 것 같다

Uruba Kashish


Uruba Kashish completed her schooling in Commerce, bachelor's in English literature& Education. Currently doing her Masters in Translation studies (MATS). She is working as a Educational content writer with reputed websites like LKI, Annyeong India & TOPIK Guide. She is a Korean language and culture enthusiast and has been working across multiple disciplines which broadly addresses narratives of similarities between Korean and Indian culture. Apart from being a content writer at LKI, she is a Korean language Instructor at LKI. She has had her pieces published in TOPIK GUIDE and Annyeong India websites as well. In her other life, she is a rising entrepreneur, life enthusiast and a learner and is involved with multiple Korean-Indian projects.

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