-(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같다
Used to express the speaker's subjective thought, guess, or evaluation about a situation. It is a very common, soft way to give an opinion without sounding too assertive.
Summary
Equivalent
Seems like / Looks like / I think
Also: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (Probably - stronger guess) · -겠어요 (Must be - instant guess)
Example
It looks like it's raining. (Right now)
비가 오는 것 같아요.
Grammar rules
- It attaches differently depending on the part of speech and tense.
- Verbs present: -는 것 같다.
- Verbs past/Adjectives present: -(으)ㄴ 것 같다.
- Future/Guess: -(으)ㄹ 것 같다.
- It is often used to be polite and indirect. Instead of saying 'It is expensive' (비싸요), Koreans often say 'It seems expensive' (비싼 것 같아요) to soften the statement.
이 옷이 조금 작은 것 같아요. (I think these clothes are a little small.)
Patterns
Verbs (Present)
Present Continuous · Verb Stem + 는 것 같다
Verbs (Past) / Adjectives (Present)
Past / Present State · Stem + (으)ㄴ 것 같다
Verbs (Future) / Adjectives (Future)
Future / Guess · Stem + (으)ㄹ 것 같다
Example sentences
It looks like it's raining. (Right now)
비가 오는 것 같아요.
It seems like it rained yesterday. (Past)
어제 비가 온 것 같아요.
I think it will rain tomorrow. (Future)
내일 비가 올 것 같아요.
Conversation
A: How is this movie? Is it fun?
이 영화 어때요? 재미있어요?
B: Seeing that many people are watching it, I think it's fun.
사람들이 많이 보는 걸 보니까 재미있는 것 같아요.
Practice
Fill in the blank
Select the correct guessing pattern (-것 같다).
Adjective (Present).
Verb (Present continuous).