Formal Evaluation: -ㄴ/은/는 것으로 평가된다 (Is Evaluated As)

Think of this grammar like a LEGO set. It has four main pieces. First, you have a verb or adjective. Second, you attach -ㄴ/은/는. This turns the action into a description. Third, you add 것으로. The 것 means "thing" or "fact," and 으로 means "as." Finally, you end with 평가된다. This is the passive form of "to evaluate." So, literally, you are saying "It is being evaluated as the fact that..." It sounds a bit clunky in English, but in Korean, it flows perfectly for formal reports. It is the grammar version of wearing a crisp, ironed suit. It tells everyone you are serious and objective.

1. 1To build this, you need to look at the verb or adjective stem. Here is the breakdown for different situations:
2. 2For Adjectives:
3. 3If the stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ 것으로 평가된다. Example: 크다 (to be big) becomes 큰 것으로 평가된다.
4. 4If the stem ends in a consonant, add -은 것으로 평가된다. Example: 작다 (to be small) becomes 작은 것으로 평가된다.
5. 5For Verbs (Present Tense):
6. 6Always add -는 것으로 평가된다 regardless of the ending. Example: 성공하다 (to do/succeed) becomes 성공하는 것으로 평가된다.
7. 7For Verbs (Past Tense):
8. 8Use -ㄴ/은 것으로 평가된다. Example: 성장하다 (to grow) becomes 성장한 것으로 평가된다 (is evaluated as having grown).
9. 9For Nouns:
10. 10Use 인 것으로 평가된다. Example: 성공 (success) becomes 성공인 것으로 평가된다.

Use this when you want to sound like an expert. It is perfect for professional settings.

• Job Interviews: Use it to describe your past performance. "My project was evaluated as successful."
• Business Reports: Use it to talk about market trends. "The sales are evaluated as stable."
• Sports News: It is used for players. "He is evaluated as the best player this season."
• Movie or Book Reviews: Use it to give a high-level critique. "The film is evaluated as a masterpiece."

Basically, if you are giving a grade or a formal judgment, this is your go-to pattern. It adds a layer of authority to your words that simple endings just cannot match.

Do not use this for personal, subjective feelings in casual settings. If you tell your mom her soup 맛있는 것으로 평가된다, she might look at you like you have turned into a robot. It is way too stiff for family dinners! Also, avoid it when you are just guessing. This grammar implies there has been some kind of official look or consensus. If you are just making a wild guess, stick to -ㄴ 것 같다 (it seems like). Also, don't use it for things that aren't really "evaluatable." You wouldn't say the weather is "evaluated as rainy" unless you are a very intense meteorologist writing a year-end report.

One big mistake is mixing up -는 and -은. Remember, for adjectives (describing words), we use -ㄴ/은. For verbs (action words) in the present, we use -는. If you say 성공한 것으로 평가된다 when you mean it is happening *now*, you are actually saying it already happened in the past. Another common trip-up is using the active voice 평가하다 (to evaluate) when you mean the passive 평가된다. Unless *you* are the one doing the official grading, stick to the passive form. It makes you sound much more balanced and less bossy. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are in a hurry!

Let’s compare this with -ㄴ 것 같다.

• -ㄴ 것 같다: "I think..." or "It seems..." This is soft and personal.
• -ㄴ 것으로 평가된다: "It is evaluated as..." This is hard, official, and objective.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. -ㄴ 것 같다 is the yellow light (soft, cautious), while -ㄴ 것으로 평가된다 is the solid green light of a formal report.

Another one is -라고 여겨진다 (it is considered). This is very similar, but 평가된다 specifically implies a *value* or a *grade* is being given. It’s more about performance and results than just general thoughts.