Overview
The expression (으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 is used to convey that a situation, while not literally or strictly true, is practically or effectively equivalent to a certain state, action, or outcome. It implies a conclusion drawn from a calculation, estimation, or logical deduction based on the given circumstances.
Usage
This grammatical pattern is employed when you want to express that something amounts to, is as good as, or can be considered a particular result or condition. It's often used in situations where:
- You are summarizing the net effect or outcome of a series of events.
- You are making an estimation or a judgment based on available information.
- You want to emphasize that a situation, for all practical purposes, is the same as another.
For example, if you've done almost all the work, you might say you've "finished" it for all intents and purposes. It captures the essence of "when you look at it this way, it's like..."
Conjugation Rules
The form of (으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 changes depending on whether it attaches to a verb, adjective, or noun, and the tense.
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Verbs (V)
- Past/Completed Action: V + -(으)ㄴ 셈이다
- If the verb stem ends in a consonant: V + -은 셈이다
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹은 셈이다 (It's like having eaten)
- If the verb stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: V + -ㄴ 셈이다
- 가다 (to go) → 간 셈이다 (It's like having gone)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만든 셈이다 (It's like having made)
- Present/Ongoing Action: V + -는 셈이다
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹는 셈이다 (It's like eating/in the process of eating)
- 가다 (to go) → 가는 셈이다 (It's like going/in the process of going)
-
Adjectives (A)
- Present State: A + -(으)ㄴ 셈이다
- If the adjective stem ends in a consonant: A + -은 셈이다
- 작다 (to be small) → 작은 셈이다 (It's like being small)
- If the adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: A + -ㄴ 셈이다
- 크다 (to be big) → 큰 셈이다 (It's like being big)
- 길다 (to be long) → 긴 셈이다 (It's like being long)
-
Nouns (N)
- N + -인 셈이다
- 학생 (student) → 학생인 셈이다 (It's like being a student)
- 실패 (failure) → 실패인 셈이다 (It's like a failure)
Knowledge Plus
- (으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 often implies a subjective judgment or interpretation rather than an objective fact. It's about how one perceives or calculates the situation.
- It is frequently used with adverbs like 거의 (almost), 사실상 (virtually/practically), or 결국 (in the end/after all) to reinforce the idea of approximation or final conclusion.
- While similar to -는 것과 같다 (it's the same as...) or -는 편이다 (it tends to be...), (으)ㄴ/는 셈이다 specifically highlights the idea of equivalence through calculation or deduction, suggesting that "when you weigh everything, this is the outcome." It's a stronger statement of practical equivalence than -는 편이다, and more about a derived conclusion than a direct comparison like -는 것과 같다.