haru Korean › Grammar › Level 2A › 추측 정리
추측 정리 — guessing review — I think …, that must be …, and do you think …? — probably
Guessing review — I think …, that must be …, and do you think …? — probably. Korean grammar for upper beginner learners — Level 2A, lesson 12: 2A 정리 · 혼자서 해낸 한 학기 (Level 2A round-up — a term I got through on my own).
What it means
Level 2A gave you several ways to guess. -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 (2A-7) is the everyday 'I think …', based on what you know or feel: 구름이 많아요. 비가 올 것 같아요. It also makes an opinion sound softer. Its partner -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같아요 (2A-4) is for what seems true right now or seems to have happened: 밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요 · 어제 비가 온 것 같아요. -겠어요 (2A-8) is your reaction to something you see or hear at this moment, and it is how you show you understand someone's feelings: 와, 맛있겠어요! · 시험이 세 개예요? 많이 힘들겠어요. -(으)ㄹ까요? (2A-5) asks someone else for a guess — here it does not mean 'shall we?' — and -(으)ㄹ 거예요, often with 아마, gives one: 내일 추울까요? — 아마 추울 거예요. For a guess about the past, put -았/었- first: 벌써 도착했을 거예요 · 많이 힘들었겠어요.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 | I think … — from what you know or feel (받침 O 을 · 받침 X · ㄹ ㄹ) | 오다 → 올 것 같아요 |
| -겠어요 | right now — from what you see or hear (받침 O · X 같아요) | 오다 → 오겠어요 |
| -(으)ㄹ까요? → -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | ask for a guess → give a guess (아마) | 오다 → 올까요? — 올 거예요 |
Key points
- Three ways to guess: -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 (I think — from what you know or feel) · -겠어요 (right now, from what you see or hear) · -(으)ㄹ까요? → 아마 -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (ask for a guess → give one)
- A guess about the past puts -았/었- first: 벌써 도착했을 거예요 · 많이 힘들었겠어요 · 시험이 어려웠을 것 같아요
Examples
- 구름이 많아요. → 비가 올 것 같아요.
- (친구의 사진을 보고) 와, 맛있겠어요! (친구의 말을 듣고) 많이 힘들겠어요.
- 내일 추울까요? — 아마 추울 거예요.
- 지금 밖에 비가 오는 것 같아요. 어제 비가 온 것 같아요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 2A, lesson 4; Seoul National University Korean 2A, lesson 5; Seoul National University Korean 2A, lesson 8; Yonsei University Korean 1-2, lesson 18; Yonsei University Korean 2-1, lesson 2; Yonsei University Korean 2-1, lesson 6; Sogang University Korean 2A, lesson 4; Sogang University Korean 2B, lesson 3; Sogang University Korean 2B, lesson 7; Ewha Womans University Korean 1-2, lesson 12; Ewha Womans University Korean 2-1, lesson 7; Hongik University Korean 2A, lesson 5; Hongik University Korean 2B, lesson 11; Hanyang University Korean 1-2, lesson 9.