(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (seems like, probably)

This pattern is a team effort. You have a noun-modifying form combined with the word 것 (thing/fact) and the adjective 같다 (to be the same/like). Literally, you are saying "It is like the fact that..." It turns a firm statement into a gentle guess. Think of it like a dimmer switch for a light bulb. Instead of a bright, harsh "This is spicy!", you get a warm, soft "I think this might be spicy." It works with verbs, adjectives, and even nouns. You can use it for the past, present, and future. It’s incredibly versatile.

1. 1Present Tense - Verbs: Take the verb stem and add ~는 것 같다.
2. 2먹다 (to eat) → 먹는 것 같다 (It seems they are eating).
3. 3Present Tense - Adjectives: Take the stem. If it ends in a vowel, add ~ㄴ 것 같다. If it ends in a consonant, add ~은 것 같다.
4. 4예쁘다 (to be pretty) → 예쁜 것 같다 (It seems pretty).
5. 5작다 (to be small) → 작은 것 같다 (It seems small).
6. 6Past Tense - Verbs: Take the verb stem. Vowel ending? Add ~ㄴ 것 같다. Consonant? Add ~은 것 같다.
7. 7가다 (to go) → 간 것 같다 (It seems they went).
8. 8먹다 (to eat) → 먹은 것 같다 (It seems they ate).
9. 9Future Tense - Verbs & Adjectives: Take the stem. Vowel? Add ~ㄹ 것 같다. Consonant? Add ~을 것 같다.
10. 10오다 (to come) → 올 것 같다 (It seems it will come/rain).
11. 11바쁘다 (to be busy) → 바쁠 것 같다 (I think they will be busy).
12. 12Nouns: Just add 인 것 같다 to the noun.
13. 13학생 (student) → 학생인 것 같다 (It seems they are a student).

You’ll use this in almost every conversation! First, use it for guessing based on evidence. You see dark clouds? 비가 올 것 같아요 (I think it will rain). Second, use it to express your opinion politely. Instead of saying "This movie is boring," you say 영화가 재미없는 것 같아요. It saves feelings! Third, use it for self-reflection. Even if you *know* you're tired, saying 피곤한 것 같아요 sounds more humble than a flat 피곤해요. It's great for ordering food if you're unsure of the portion size. "I think this will be enough" is much better than "This is enough!"

Don't use this for absolute, undeniable facts. If you are a student, don't say 저는 학생인 것 같아요 unless you have amnesia! It sounds silly. Also, avoid it when you have a very strong, direct sensory experience that requires a different ending. If you just took a bite of something incredibly hot, 맵네요! (It's spicy!) is more natural than a slow guess. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. If the light is green (obvious fact), just go. If it's yellow (uncertainty/politeness), use 것 같다.

The biggest trap is the Adjective vs. Verb present tense. Students often say 예쁘는 것 같다 (Wrong!) instead of 예쁜 것 같다 (Right!). Remember: Adjectives use ㄴ/은, Verbs use 는. Another mistake is over-guessing. If you use it in every single sentence, you might sound like you have zero confidence. It’s a spice, not the whole meal! Also, watch your tenses. Don't say 갈 것 같다 (Future) when someone has already left the room. You need 간 것 같다 (Past).

You might run into ~나 보다. This also means "it seems," but it's used for guesses based on *outside* observations. 것 같다 is more about your internal feeling or general intuition. There's also ~아/어 보이다, which is strictly for things you *see* right now. If someone looks tired, 피곤해 보여요 is great. If you think they are tired because they stayed up late (even if they look okay), 피곤한 것 같아요 is better. It’s the difference between your eyes and your brain.