-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 in Korean: “it looks like it will, I think”
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다
-(eu)l geot gatda
it looks like it will, I think
Beginner · Saying what you think and feel
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다 (-(eu)l geot gatda) means "it looks like it will" or "I think it will". You use it to guess about the future or about something you haven't seen yet. It also shows up in strong feelings, like "I feel like I'm going to die of hunger".
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stem ending in a vowel | + ㄹ 것 같다 | 가다 → 갈 것 같아요 |
| Stem ending in a consonant | + 을 것 같다 | 먹다 → 먹을 것 같아요 |
| Stem ending in ㄹ | no extra ㄹ, just + 것 같다 | 만들다 → 만들 것 같아요 |
| ㅂ-irregular stem | ㅂ becomes 우 + ㄹ 것 같다 | 춥다 → 추울 것 같아요 |
| Guessing about the past | + 았/었을 것 같다 | 도착하다 → 도착했을 것 같아요 |
How to use it
Use it for predictions: the weather, how a movie will be, whether someone will come. It sounds softer than saying something will definitely happen.
It also describes what you feel is about to happen to you: 배고파서 죽을 것 같아요 ("I'm so hungry I could die") or 울 것 같아요 ("I think I'm going to cry").
Like other 것 같다 forms, use 같아요 for polite speech, 같아 with close friends, and 같습니다 in formal situations.
Examples
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Checking the sky
Joking with a friend
Looking at a movie poster
Before a test
Don’t mix it up with
-는 것 같다: -는 것 같다 guesses about what is happening now (비가 오는 것 같아요, "it seems to be raining"); -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 guesses about what will happen (비가 올 것 같아요, "it looks like it will rain").
-(으)ㄹ 거예요: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 sounds more certain ("it will rain"), while -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 adds "I think" and sounds softer.
-겠-: -겠- is a quick reaction to what is in front of you (맛있겠다! "that looks delicious!"). -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 is a more thought-out guess.
Common mistakes
Adding an extra 을 to ㄹ stems: 만들을 것 같아요 is wrong. Say 만들 것 같아요.
Forgetting the ㅂ-irregular change: 춥을 것 같아요 is wrong. Say 추울 것 같아요.
Want the basics first? Read Future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Questions learners ask
What does 죽을 것 같아 mean?
Literally "I think I'm going to die", but it is an everyday exaggeration meaning "I'm dying" or "this is too much", as in 배고파서 죽을 것 같아 ("I'm starving").
Is ㄹ 것 같아요 the same as ㄹ 거예요?
Both talk about the future, but ㄹ 것 같아요 is a softer guess ("I think it will"), and ㄹ 거예요 sounds more sure ("it will").