Academic Hedging: -ㄴ/은/는 경향이 있다 (Tends To)

The core word here is 경향. This translates to "tendency" or "trend." When you add 있다 (to exist), you are saying "a tendency exists." You are essentially describing a recurring pattern of behavior. It is not something that happens once. It is something that happens often enough to be a habit. Think of it like a weather forecast. You aren't saying it is raining right now. You are saying this area tends to get rainy in July. It shifts the focus from a single event to a general habit. Use it when you want to describe yourself or others objectively. It is the secret weapon for sounding humble yet precise.

1. 1Applying this grammar is like following a simple recipe. You just need to know if you are using a verb or an adjective.
2. 2For Verbs (Action): Always use -는 경향이 있다. It does not matter if the stem ends in a vowel or consonant. For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹는 경향이 있다.
3. 3For Adjectives (Descriptive): You look at the final letter of the stem.
4. 4If the stem ends in a vowel, use -ㄴ 경향이 있다. For example, 크다 (to be big) becomes 큰 경향이 있다.
5. 5If the stem ends in a consonant, use -은 경향이 있다. For example, 작다 (to be small) becomes 작은 경향이 있다.
6. 6For Past Tense: Use -ㄴ/은 경향이 있었다. This describes a past habit that might have changed.
7. 7For Negative: You can say -지 않는 경향이 있다 (tends not to) or 경향이 없다 (does not have a tendency).

Use this in professional settings first. In a job interview, you might say, "I tend to be a perfectionist." It sounds much better than saying "I am a perfectionist." It shows self-awareness. You should also use it when discussing social trends. For example, "People tend to use smartphones more often these days." It is perfect for making general observations about the world. Another great scenario is when you want to give feedback gently. If your friend is always late, saying "You have a tendency to be late" is softer than "You are late." Use it for health discussions too. "I tend to get headaches when I am stressed." It acts as a polite buffer in almost any conversation.

Do not use this for absolute, undeniable facts. You wouldn't say "The sun tends to rise in the east." That sounds like the sun might change its mind tomorrow! Avoid it for immediate, one-time actions. If you are drinking water right now, do not say "I tend to drink water." Use the simple present tense instead. Also, avoid using it for things you have total control over in the moment. If a waiter asks what you want, don't say "I tend to order lattes." Just say "I'll have a latte." It can make you sound indecisive if used in the wrong context. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Use it for "yellow light" situations where things aren't 100% black and white.

Many people forget the 이 after 경향. While you might hear people skip it in fast speech, keep it in for accuracy. Another mistake is mixing up -는 and -은 for adjectives. Remember, adjectives describe a state, so they need the modifier form. Some people also try to use this with the future tense. You cannot really have a "future tendency" because a tendency is based on past data. Avoid saying 할 경향이 있을 거예요. Yes, even native speakers might slip up with complex modifiers, but you don't have to! Keep your tenses focused on the present or the past. Finally, don't overstay your welcome with this grammar. Using it in every sentence makes you sound like a robot. Mix it up with other patterns like -는 편이다.

How is this different from -는 편이다? That is the most common question. Both mean "tends to" or "is on the side of." However, -는 편이다 is much more casual. You use it with friends when talking about your personality. -ㄴ/은/는 경향이 있다 is the "suit and tie" version. It is more formal and sounds more like an analysis. Think of -는 편이다 as a casual chat and 경향이 있다 as a news report. What about 자주 (often)? 자주 is a simple adverb. It just tells us how many times something happens. 경향이 있다 tells us about the nature of the person or thing. It’s the difference between saying "It rains often" and "This climate has a tendency for rain."