haru Korean › Grammar › Level 6A › A/V-(으)ㄹ 법하다
A/V-(으)ㄹ 법하다 — likely · it makes sense — a guess that common sense supports, a reaction that is only natural
Likely · it makes sense — a guess that common sense supports, a reaction that is only natural. Korean grammar for high advanced learners — Level 6A, lesson 1: 서울 돌아보기 (Touring Seoul — city landmarks, a magazine article, news and speeches).
What it means
A/V-(으)ㄹ 법하다 means 'it is likely · it makes sense': a guess that common sense supports — 예쁜 골목이라서 주말에 사람이 많을 법해요. After a 받침 use -을 법하다 (많을 법하다), after a vowel or ㄹ use -ㄹ 법하다 (그럴 법하다, 살 법하다 — the ㄹ merges). With 도, -(으)ㄹ 법도 하다 says a feeling or reaction is only natural: 서운할 법도 해요. With -ㄴ데, -(으)ㄹ 법한데 says you would expect something that has not happened: 연락이 올 법한데 아직 안 와요. For the past put -았/었- inside: 들었을 법해요. It is different from -(으)ㄹ 만하다 'worth doing'.
Forms
| Pattern | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -을 법하다 | 받침 O | 많다 → 많을 법하다 |
| -ㄹ 법하다 | 받침 X · ㄹ 받침 (ㄹ은 하나만) | 그렇다 → 그럴 법하다 |
Key points
- A/V-(으)ㄹ 법하다 = likely, it makes sense — a common-sense guess. 받침 O -을 법하다 (많을 법하다) · 받침 X · ㄹ -ㄹ 법하다 (그럴 법하다 · 살 법하다). Past: -았/었을 법하다.
- -(으)ㄹ 법도 하다 = it is only natural (서운할 법도 해요) · -(으)ㄹ 법한데 = you'd expect …, but (올 법한데 안 와요). Not -(으)ㄹ 만하다 (worth doing, Lessons 3B-7 · 5A-10).
Examples
- 보통 그렇게 생각할 수 있는 일을 짐작할 때 써요: 예쁜 골목이라서 주말에 사람이 많을 법해요.
- 받침 O → -을 법하다: 많을 법하다 · 받침 X · ㄹ 받침 → -ㄹ 법하다: 그럴 법하다 · 살 법하다
- -(으)ㄹ 법도 하다는 「그런 마음이 드는 게 당연하다」예요: 서운할 법도 해요.
- -(으)ㄹ 법한데는 「그럴 것 같은데 아니다」예요: 연락이 올 법한데 아직 안 와요.
Where university textbooks teach it
This point also appears in: Seoul National University Korean 5B, lesson 10; Hongik University Korean 5B, lesson 9.
Also in this lesson
- A/V-다고 해도 과언이 아니다 — it is no exaggeration to say — a strong claim you can stand behind
- V-(으)려나 보다 — looks as if … is about to — guessing what is going to happen from what you see
- V-(으)ㄹ 겸 V-(으)ㄹ 겸 (해서) — partly to … and partly to … — two purposes in one trip