In this post, we’ll explore the Korean grammar pattern ‘-았/었던 것 같다,’ which is used to express speculation or assumptions about past events. Whether you’re guessing about something that happened or reflecting on past experiences, this structure helps you convey uncertainty in a natural way. Let’s break down how it works with clear examples and practical tips.
Contents
1. Definition
The pattern ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ combines the past tense endings ‘-았/었던’ with ‘것 같다’ (which means “it seems” or “I think”) to express a speculation or a past assumption.
- English equivalent: “It seems that…” or “I think (it happened)…“
📌 Note: The grammar patterns ‘-았/었던 것 같다‘ and ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ both express speculation or assumption, but they differ in their tense and context.
To help learners understand these two patterns better, here’s a helpful guide:
Curious about how these two patterns differ?
This link will take you to a detailed comparison, helping you master both forms in the right context!
2. Form (Structure)
Verb + -았/었던 것 같다 is used to express speculation or assumption about a past event.
The choice between -았던 and -었던 is not based on whether the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant, but rather follows vowel harmony or is often interchangeable in casual usage. Both forms are used with past tense verbs.
- Use -았던 after verb stems typically conjugated with -았-
- Use -었던 after verb stems typically conjugated with -었-
In many real-life cases, native speakers use them interchangeably, and both mean “I think (something) happened” or “It seems like (something) happened.”
Let’s look at how some basic Korean verbs are conjugated using ‘-았/었던 것 같다’.
| Verb | Past Tense (Verb + -았/었) | -았/었던 것 같다 |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹었다 (ate) | 먹었던 것 같다 (I think I ate.) |
| 가다 (to go) | 갔다 (went) | 갔었던 것 같다 (I think I went.) |
| 보다 (to see) | 봤다 (saw) | 봤었던 것 같다 (I think I saw.) |
| 만나다 (to meet) | 만났다 (met) | 만났었던 것 같다 (I think I met.) |
| 읽다 (to read) | 읽었다 (read) | 읽었던 것 같다 (I think I read.) |
3. Meaning & Usage
1. To express a vague memory of something that happened in the past
This usage often implies that the speaker is unsure or only partially remembers the event.
- 이 영화를 예전에 봤던 것 같아요. (I think I saw this movie before.)
- 저 사람을 어디선가 만났던 것 같아. (I think I met that person somewhere.)
- 그 식당에서 먹었던 음식이 정말 맛있었어요. (The food I had at that restaurant was really good.)
- 고등학교 때 이 노래를 자주 들었던 것 같아요. (I think I used to listen to this song often in high school.)
- 이 배우를 본 적이 있었던 것 같아요. (I think I saw this actor before.)
2. To express speculation or assumption about a past event
This usage is helpful when the speaker didn’t directly experience the event or is making a logical guess based on what they know.
- 회의가 벌써 끝났던 것 같아요. (I think the meeting already ended.)
- 친구가 어제 많이 피곤했던 것 같아. (I think my friend was very tired yesterday.)
- 어제 본 뉴스에 그 이야기가 나왔던 것 같아요. (I think that story came out on the news yesterday.)
- 비가 아침에 왔던 것 같아. (I think it rained in the morning.)
- 선생님이 그때 화가 나셨던 것 같아요. (I think the teacher was angry at that time.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ is used to express uncertainty or assumption about a past event.
- It often implies that the speaker is not completely sure, due to a vague memory or indirect experience.
- Use this pattern with verbs, not with adjectives.
- It can sometimes sound more reflective or emotional than simply using the past tense.
- ‘-았던’ and ‘-었던’ are used interchangeably depending on the verb stem ending in a vowel or consonant.
5. Practice Exercises
Complete the sentence using ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ based on the context.
(Choose the correct verb form and complete the sentence.)
- 어제 점심에 뭘 _____________. (먹다)
( I think I ate something for lunch yesterday.) - 아까 저 사람이 여기 _____________. (오다)
(I think that person came here earlier.) - 이 영화를 예전에 _____________. (보다)
(I think I watched this movie before.) - 어릴 때 그 장난감을 자주 _____________. (가지고 놀다)
(I think I used to play with that toy a lot when I was little.) - 친구가 시험을 잘 _____________. (보다)
(I think my friend did well on the test.) - 어제 비가 _____________. (오다)
(I think it rained yesterday.) - 아버지가 어릴 때 자주 이 길로 _____________. (다니다)
(I think my dad used to go down this street often.) - 그 사람이 내 말을 _____________. (듣다)
(I think that person heard me.) - 전에 이 문제를 어디선가 _____________. (풀다)
(I think I solved this problem somewhere before.) - 어제 일찍 _____________. (자다)
(I think I went to bed early yesterday.)
6. Answers
- 먹었던 것 같아요.
- 왔던 것 같아요.
- 봤던 것 같아요.
- 가지고 놀았던 것 같아요.
- 봤던 것 같아요.
- 왔던 것 같아요.
- 다녔던 것 같아요.
- 들었던 것 같아요.
- 풀었던 것 같아요.
- 잤던 것 같아요.
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ with adjectives
Incorrect: 날씨가 추웠던 것 같아요. ❌ (The weather seems cold.)
Correct: 날씨가 추운 것 같아요. ✅ (It seems cold.)
💡 Tip: ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ is normally used with verbs, not adjectives. Use ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ with adjectives.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Mixing up ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ and ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다’ in past tense
Incorrect: 그 사람이 어제 도서관에 가는 것 같아요. ❌ (I think he went to the library yesterday.)
Correct: 그 사람이 어제 도서관에 갔던 것 같아요. ✅ (I think he went to the library yesterday.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ when talking about actions completed in the past.
⚠️ Mistake 3: Overusing ‘-았던’ when simple past ‘-았던’ is enough
Incorrect: 옛날에 갔었던 식당 기억나요. ❌ (I remember the restaurant I had gone to long ago.)
Correct: 옛날에 갔던 식당 기억나요. ✅ (I remember the restaurant I went to long ago.)
💡 Tip: If the memory is clear and there’s no speculation, you can often just use ‘-았던‘ or even simple past without ‘것 같다‘.
The Korean grammar pattern ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ is useful for expressing uncertainty or speculation about past events. Whether you’re trying to recall a vague memory or make a careful guess about something that happened, this pattern helps you speak more naturally and reflectively. Understanding how it differs from similar patterns like ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ will help you use it correctly in real-life conversations.