Contrary to expectation: -ㄹ/을 법하다

This pattern functions as an auxiliary adjective. It attaches to verb or adjective stems. It expresses that a certain state or action is likely. It often implies that even if something seems surprising, there is a reason for it. You are saying, "Given the facts, this is a natural outcome." It is very common in spoken Korean when discussing possibilities. It can also be used in the past tense as -(으)ㄹ 법했다. This describes something that *almost* happened or was very likely to happen back then. It’s like a grammar traffic light. It tells you that the path to a certain conclusion is green and clear. Use it when you want to sound more analytical and thoughtful.

1. 1Setting this up is quite simple. Just follow these steps:
2. 2Find the verb or adjective stem.
3. 3Check for a bottom consonant (받침).
4. 4If there is no bottom consonant (or if it ends in ㄹ), add -ㄹ 법하다.
5. 5가다 (to go) → 갈 법하다 (likely to go)
6. 6살다 (to live) → 살 법하다 (likely to live)
7. 7If there is a bottom consonant, add -을 법하다.
8. 8먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 법하다 (likely to eat)
9. 9읽다 (to read) → 읽을 법하다 (likely to read)
10. 10For the past tense, use -(으)ㄹ 법했다.
11. 11그가 화를 낼 법했다 (It was likely he would get angry).

You should use this when logic is on your side. Use it when you are observing a situation and predicting a natural result. Imagine you are at a restaurant. The food is incredibly cheap and delicious. You might say, "It’s likely people will line up here." That is a perfect spot for -ㄹ/을 법하다. Use it when discussing someone’s reaction. If your friend lost their phone, it’s reasonable they are crying. You can say they are "likely to be sad." It works great in professional settings too. You can use it to predict market trends or project outcomes. It sounds more grounded than just saying "maybe." It shows you have considered the evidence. It’s the grammar of a person who pays attention to details.

Don't use this for 100% certain facts. You wouldn't say "The sun is likely to rise tomorrow" using this. That’s just a fact. Also, avoid it for purely subjective feelings without any basis. If you just have a random "hunch" with no evidence, stick to -ㄹ 것 같다. This pattern needs a "reason" to exist. Don't use it for things that are physically impossible. It’s about probability, not fantasy. Also, be careful in very formal speeches. While it’s not rude, there are more formal ways to express probability in a legal or academic paper. It’s a bit too conversational for a PhD thesis on nuclear physics. Unless, of course, the atoms are acting in a "reasonable" way.

One big mistake is confusing it with -ㄹ 만하다. While they look similar, they mean different things. -ㄹ 만하다 means something is "worth doing." -ㄹ/을 법하다 means something is "likely to happen." If you say a movie is 볼 법하다, you mean it’s likely someone will watch it. If you say it’s 볼 만하다, you mean it’s a good movie worth your time. Another mistake is forgetting the space. It is 법 하다? No, it's 법하다 (though some people space it, the standard is together). Also, don't use it with the future tense marker -겠-. That would be grammar overkill. Keep it simple. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired or have had too much caffeine.

Let’s look at the siblings of this grammar.

• -ㄹ 것 같다: This is the "all-purpose" guess. It’s softer and more common.
• -ㄹ지도 모르다: This is for low probability. "It might happen, who knows?"
• -ㄹ/을 법하다: This is the "logical" guess. "It makes sense that it would happen."
• -ㄹ 리가 없다: This is the opposite. "There is no way this would happen."

Think of -ㄹ/을 법하다 as the middle ground between a wild guess and a certain fact. It’s the sweet spot of logical deduction.