1. The
Pattern '-(으)ㄴ/는/ -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 : It seems that ...
This pattern is used to indicate
a speaker's presumption or conjecture.
1.1
The pattern '-(으)ㄴ 것 같다' is used in the present tense
with adjectives or '이다' to express the speaker's thought or opinion.
However the pattern -(으) ㄹ 것 같다 is used in the future tense to indicate
the speaker's stronger conjecture or presumption.
비싼
것 같아요.
It
seems to be expensive.
그분이
미국사람인 것 같아요.
He
seems to be an American.
The difference between the above two examples is as follows: The
sentence "비싼 것 같아요." is used when the speaker knows
the price, or is seeing the price first hand and is conparing
with his/her expectation. However the sentence "비쌀 것 같아요"
is used when the speaker is guessing the price without prior knowledge
of the price.
비쌀것 같아요.
I
think it will be expensive.
그분이
미국사람일것 같아요.
I
think he will be an American.
1.2
With general verbs, the pattern '-는 것 같다' is used in
the present tense, '(으)ㄴin the past tense, and (으)ㄹ in the future
tense.
비가
오는 것 같아요.
It
seems that it is raining.
비가
올 것 같아요.
It
seems that it will rain.
비가
온 것 같아요.
It
seems that it rained.
1.3
Negation is expressed either in the final verb '같다'
or in the main verb preceding this pattern. There is slight difference
in meaning between the two.
안
비싼 것 같았어요. ( '안' negation)
It
seems that it is not expensive.
비싸지
않은 것 같았어요.
It
seemed that it was not expensive.
비싼
것 같지 않았어요. ('-지 않다' negation)
It
doesn't seem to be expensive.
1.4
Tense is expressed in the final verb '같다'.
비가
오는 것 같아요/같았어요.
It
seems that it is raining./ It seemed that -
비가
온 것 같아요/같았어요.
It
seems that it was raining. / It seemed that -
비가
올 것 같아요/같았어요.
It
seems that it will rain./ It seemed that -
2. The
pattern 'Verb + -(으)ㄴ 지 + time word + 되다' : since
This pattern 'Verb + -(으)ㄴ 지 + time word + 되다' is used to express an interval
of time which extends from a definite past to the present. The case marker
'-가` or '-는' can be attached optionally after ‘지'
한국에
온 지(가) 얼마나 되었어요 ?
How long have
you been in Korea ?
한국에
온 지(는) 3년 되었어요.
It's been
three years since I came to Korea.
그분은
만난 지(가) 10년쯤 되었어요.
It's been
around ten years since I met him.
-은 지 is used after verb stems ending in a consonant.
This pattern is used to indicate
a speaker's presumption or conjecture.
