I think / It seems

This pattern is used to express a guess, opinion, or impression. It's a softer, more indirect way of stating something compared to a direct assertion. The core idea is "it seems like..." or "I think that...".

Formation

The ending attached to the verb or adjective stem changes based on its type and tense.

Action Verbs (Present Tense): Verb stem + -는 것 같다

오다 (to come) → 오는 것 같다

Action Verbs (Past Tense): Verb stem + -(으)ㄴ 것 같다

Vowel stem: 걸리다 (to catch) → 걸린 것 같다

Consonant stem: 먹다 (to eat) → 먹은 것 같다

Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives): Verb stem + -(으)ㄴ 것 같다

Vowel stem: 비싸다 (to be expensive) → 비싼 것 같다

Consonant stem: 좋다 (to be good) → 좋은 것 같다

Note: For adjectives ending in 있다/없다, use -는 것 같다. e.g., 맛있다 → 맛있는 것 같다.

Nouns: Noun + 인 것 같다

오해 (misunderstanding) → 오해인 것 같다

비 오는 것 같아. / 감기 걸린 것 같아. / 비싼 것 같아. / 오해인 것 같아.

Correctly using this pattern depends on identifying the verb type (action vs. descriptive) and the tense (present vs. past). Let's review with examples.

Present State or Action

Action Verbs: Use -는 것 같다 for an action happening now.

누가 오는 것 같아. (I think someone is coming right now.)

Descriptive Verbs: Use -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 for a state that is true now.

피곤한 것 같아. (I think I'm tired right now.)

This is a key difference: -(으)ㄴ on an adjective indicates the present state, not the past.

Past Event or Completed Action

Action Verbs: Use -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 for an action that has already happened.

고장 난 것 같아. (I think it broke / is broken. The breaking happened in the past.)

다 나은 것 같아. (I think I'm all better. The healing is complete.)