Lesson 27
The Korean verb for “to think” is 생각하다, but it is not commonly used to say “I think that...” in Korean. This is mainly because many Korean people think that this is too direct to say it in such a way. Instead, it is preferred to say “I think that…” using the following expression:
… 것 + 같다
같다 on its own means “to be the same,” but when it is used with other nouns, it means “it is like …”
Ex)
학생 같아요.
= You are like a student. / You look like a student.
저 사람 한국 사람 같아요.
= He looks like a Korean person. / He is like a Korean.
In order to say, “I think that…”, what you need to do is know how to say that “something seems like” in combination with a “sentence”.
Do you remember how to make noun groups for various tenses?
Past tense: -(으)ㄴ 것
Present tense: -는 것
Future tense: -(으)ㄹ 것
After that, you just add 같다 in order to express “I think that…”
Past tense: -(으)ㄴ 것 같다
Present tense: -는 것 같다
Future tense: -(으)ㄹ 것 같다
Ex)
하다 = to do
Past tense: 한 것 같다
Present tense: 하는 것 같다
Future tense: 할 것 같다
벌써 한 것 같아요.
= I think (someone) already did it.
지금 하는 것 같아요.
= I think (someone) does/is doing it now.
내일 할 것 같아요.
= I think (someone) will do it tomorrow.
Sample Sentences
내일 비 올 것 같아요.
= I think it will rain tomorrow.
이게 더 좋은 것 같아요.
= I think this is better.
이거 뭐인 것 같아요?
= What do you think this is?
누가 한 것 같아요?
= Who do you think did it?
곧 도착할 것 같아요.
= I think I will arrive soon.
While making sentences and hearing other people speak, you may notice that there are other ways to express “I think” in Korean besides - 것 같다. These will be covered in future lessons, but until then, you can practice using - 것 같다!