In Korean, expressing speculation or assumptions about the present or past can be tricky. Two common grammar patterns, ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ and ‘-았/었던 것 같다‘, both convey similar meanings, but they are used in different contexts. In this post, we’ll compare these two structures to help you understand when and how to use each one correctly.
Contents
1. Definition
- ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘: This pattern is used when the speaker is speculating about something that has happened or has been completed in the past. The speculation is often based on current evidence or a recent observation. It’s similar to saying “I think…” or “It seems like…” in English when you’re guessing about a past event.
- ‘-았/었던 것 같다‘: This structure is used when the speaker is speculating about something that happened in the more distant past, that is no longer true, or is recalling a past experience or state. The speculation is often based on past experiences or evidence and implies a sense of distance or completion. It’s close to saying “I think I used to…” or “It seems that it had…” in English, when recalling a past state or event.
2. Form (Structure)
| Grammar Pattern | Structure | Usage |
| -은/ㄴ 것 같다 | Verb stem + -은/ㄴ + 것 같다 | Used for past speculation (I think it ~ed / It seems ~ed) |
| -았/었던 것 같다 | Verb stem + -았/었던 + 것 같다 | Used for completed/distant past speculation or recollection |
3. Meaning & Usage
‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ (Speculation based on completed past events)
- 친구가 숙제를 다 한 것 같다. (It seems my friend has finished the homework.)
- 회의가 이미 시작된 것 같다. (It seems the meeting has already started.)
- 아기가 잠든 것 같다. (It seems the baby has fallen asleep.)
- 손님이 벌써 도착한 것 같다. (It seems the guests have already arrived.)
- 오늘 시험을 잘 본 것 같다. (It seems that I did well on the test today.)
‘-았/었던 것 같다‘ (Speculation based on more distant past events or experiences)
- 어제 날씨가 좋았던 것 같다. (It seems that the weather was good yesterday.)
- 그 영화는 정말 재미있었던 것 같다. (It seems that the movie was really interesting.)
- 그는 예전에 이 일을 자주 했던 것 같다. (It seems he did this work often in the past.)
- 그 사람은 어렸을 때 서울에 살았던 것 같다. (It seems that person lived in Seoul when they were young.)
- 그 음식은 진짜 맛있었던 것 같다. (It seems the food was really delicious.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘: Use for speculating about completed past events based on recent evidence.
- ‘-았/었던 것 같다‘: Use for speculating about distant past events or recalling past experiences.
- Remember: Both express speculation, not facts.
5. Practice Exercises
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
- 가스레인지를 (끈 것 같아요 / 껐던 것 같아요).
(I think I turned off the stove.) - 친구가 벌써 (도착한 것 같아요 / 도착했던 것 같아요).
(It seems like my friend has already arrived.) - 그 영화를 예전에 (본 것 같아요 / 봤던 것 같아요).
(I think I saw that movie a long time ago.) - 어제 비가 (온 것 같아요 / 왔던 것 같아요).
(It seems like it rained yesterday.) - 지갑을 집에 (둔 것 같아요 / 뒀던 것 같아요).
(I think I left my wallet at home.) - 어릴 때 피아노를 (쳤던 것 같아요 / 친 것 같아요).
(I think I played the piano when I was young.) - 저 마을에 예전에 (산 것 같아요 / 살았던 것 같아요).
(I think I used to live in that town.) - 누가 내 샌드위치를 (먹은 것 같아요 / 먹었던 것 같아요).
(It seems like someone ate my sandwich.) - 전에 그녀를 (만난 것 같아요 / 만났던 것 같아요).
(I think I met her before.) - 오늘 시험을 잘 (본 것 같아요 / 봤던 것 같아요).
(It seems like I did well on the test today.)
6. Answers
- 끈 것 같아요.
- 도착한 것 같아요.
- 봤던 것 같아요.
- 온 것 같아요.
- 둔 것 같아요.
- 쳤던 것 같아요.
- 살았던 것 같아요.
- 먹은 것 같아요.
- 만났던 것 같아요.
- 본 것 같아요.
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다’ to express past events without completion
Incorrect: 어제 숙제를 다 하는 것 같아요. ❌ (It seems I’m finishing all my homework yesterday.)
Correct: 어제 숙제를 다 한 것 같아요. ✅ (It seems I finished all my homework yesterday.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ when you want to say something or an event is completed in the past.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Using ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다’ when it should be ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ for a distant past
Incorrect: 어렸을 때 그 책을 읽은 것 같아요. ❌ (It seems I read that book when I was young.)
Correct: 어렸을 때 그 책을 읽었던 것 같아요. ✅ (It seems I had read that book when I was young.)
💡 Tip: For a distant past, or when recalling a past experience, use ‘-았/었던 것 같다.’
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using ‘-았/었던 것 같다’ to describe a current situation
Incorrect: 지금 날씨가 좋았던 것 같아요. ❌ (It seems the weather was good now.)
Correct: 지금 날씨가 좋은 것 같아요. ✅ (It seems the weather is good now.)
💡 Tip: To describe a current situation, use ‘-는 것 같다‘
By understanding the distinctions between ‘-은/ㄴ 것 같다‘ and ‘-았/었던 것 같다‘, learners can more accurately express their thoughts about present, past, and future situations in Korean. Make sure to pay attention to the time frame of the situation you’re referring to when choosing which pattern to use.