Obligation, ability, and possibility

• -댄다, -다더라구요, - 니다 기름값이 또 올랐댄다. They say that the price of gas went up again. 요새 부동산 경기가 안 좋대요. I hear that the real estate market is slow these days. 부인이 많이 아프다더라. I heard that his wife is very sick. 위암이라더라구요. They say it’s stomach cancer . 항암치료를 받고 있 니다. I heard that she’s receiving chemotherapy. 17.5.2 Seems like; feels like; I think… The following forms can express a guess or opinion in a less assertive way. • -거 같다 성격이 괴 해서 친구들하고 잘 못 어울리는 거 같아요. It seems like he’s so picky that he doesn’t get along with his friends. 아무래도 핸드폰을 잃어버린 거 같다. I think I lost my cell phone. 말은 안 해도 많이 힘들었던 거 같아요. It seems like she had a tough time even though she doesn’t talk about it. 경기가 무승부로 끝날 거 같은데요. I bet that the game will end in a tie. • -듯 하다싶다 less commonly used than -거 같다; often employed in written language 눈이 충혈되고 눈꼽이 낀 걸 보니 결 염에 걸린 듯 합니다. Looking at your red and runny eyes, it seems like you might have conjunctivitis. 자꾸 멀미가 날 듯 해서 더이상 운전 못하겠다. I don’t think I can drive any more because I feel like I’m getting car-sick. 절대 인 의미의 남녀평등이란 불가능할 듯 싶다. I think that equality between men and women in the absolute sense may be impossible. • -지 싶다, -을까 싶다 좀 늦어도 괜찮지 싶어. I think it might be okay to be a little bit late. 벌써 도 했지 싶은데 모르겠다. I think they already arrived, although I’m not sure. 어제 소개팅한 남자한테서 전화가 오지 않을까 싶은데. I feel like I may be getting a phone call from the guy who I met on a blind date yesterday. 17.5.3 Looks like; appears; I get the impression that… The following forms are somewhat more assertive than the preceding ones because their use presupposes some type of observable evidence. • - 나 보다, - 은가 보다 엄마 설겆이 하시나 봐. Looks like Mom is doing the dishes. 결혼할 사람인가 보다. Looks like he’s her fiancé. 사는 게 좀 어려운가 봐요. It looks like she’s not doing well financially. 어디 외출했나 보다. Looks like they went out somewhere . 시험문제가 어려웠나 봅니다. It looks like the exam questions were tough. NOTE: In the present tense, action verbs usually occur with -나 보다 자나 보다 and descriptive verbs with -은가 보다 작은가 보다; in the past tense, both types of verbs occur with -나 보다 잤나 보다, 작았나 보다. • -어 보인다 based on immediate sensory experience 빵이 맛있어 보인다. The bread looks delicious. 나이에 비해 젊어 보여요. He looks young for his age. 좀 외로워 보 어요. She looked a little lonely. NOTE: This is used only with descriptive verbs. • -게 생겼다 based on subjective judgments 천상 처음부터 일을 다시 하게 생겼다. Looks like we’ll have to start all over again. 일이 이렇게 많으니 밤새우게 생겼네요. With this much work, it looks like we’ll have to stay all night. 입장 곤란하게 생겼어. Looks like I’ll be put in a difficult position. 마음씨 좋게 생겼다. He appears to have a kind heart. • -모양이다 based on indirect evidence, including appearance or second-hand information 상대가 마음에 안 드는 모양이야. Looks like he doesn’t like her date. 지금 끝난 모양이에요. It looks like it’s just finished. 아예 안 올 모양이다. Looks like he’s not coming at all. 피곤한 모양이에요. It looks like he’s tired. 무 바빴던 모양입니다. It looks like she was very busy. • -겠다 see 16.1.8 이 사과는 색깔 보니까 정말 맛있겠어요. I bet this apple is delicious, looking at its color. 어제 늦게까지 일하느라 피곤했겠다. You must have been tired working till late last night. 17.5.4 I am almost certain…; probably… The following forms imply a fairly reliable source or a general belief that one concurs with. For this reason, they are relatively assertive. • -을 거다 see 16.1.8 아무리 설 해 봐도 소용없을 거다. It’ll probably be useless to try to persuade her. 성수기에는 비 기표 구하기가 힘들 거예요. I’m pretty sure that it’ll be hard to find a plane ticket during peak travel season. • -을텐데 교통이 잡할텐데 지하철 타고 가세요. I’m sure the traffic is heavy, so take the subway. 결혼 준비하느라 바쁠텐데 이번 프로 트에 너무 신경쓰지 마세요. You must be busy with your wedding preparations, so don’t worry about this project. • -을 걸 with a rising intonation 출퇴근시간이라 교통이 잡할 걸. I’m sure the traffic will be bad because it’s rush hour. 택시보다 지하철이 더 빠를 걸요. I’m pretty sure that the subway will be faster than a taxi. 17.5.5 Summary of evidential patterns The following table offers a summary of the evidential patterns discussed above. With an action verb …it will rain With a descriptive verb …it hurts ‘I hear…’ 비 온댄다 아프댄다 비 올 거 같다 아픈 거 같다 비가 올 듯 하다 아픈 듯 하다 ‘It seems like…’ 비 올까 싶다 아프지 싶다 비 오려나 보다 아픈가 보다 non-applicable 아파 보인다 비 오게 생겼다 아프게 생겼다 비가 올 모양이다 아픈 모양이다 ‘It looks like…’ 비 오겠다 아프겠다 비 올 거야 아플 거야 비 올 텐데 아플 텐데 ‘I am almost certain…’ 비 올 걸 아플 걸

17.6 Special verb-endings expressing the speaker’s attitude

The following verb-endings are frequently used in colloquial speech. 17.6.1 Explanatoryemphatic • -는은 거다 is extremely common; it creates the following effects. a Inviting the listener to be engaged in the conversation. Use of -는은 거다 implies an unstated reason for asking the question, and invites something more than a simple to-the-point response: 정말 괜찮은 거예요? Are you really alright? If not, I can do something for you… 그 사람하고 결혼까지 생 하고 있는 거니? Are you thinking about even marrying him? You got to be kidding 혹시 마음에 두고 있는 사람이 있는 거야? Do you by any chance have someone in mind? Why are you avoiding this guy? b Presenting the story in a dramatic way in the present tense, invoking the listener’s attention to what is to follow: 아침을 해 놓았다고 좀 먹고 가라고 하시는 거예요. 늦었는데… You know, she was telling me to eat before leaving, saying that she fixed breakfast for me. I was late… 나보고 그 사람하고 결혼을 하라는 거다. 그게 말이나 되니? They were telling me to marry him, you know. Does that even make any sense? 수 시간에 끄 끄 졸고 있는데 선생님이 딱 보고 계시는 거야. I was dozing off during class and guess what – the teacher was looking at me. -는은 거 있지 is also commonly used for a similar effect. 모두 내 얼굴만 쳐다보는 거 있죠. You know what? Everyone was staring at me 전자렌지에 커피를 데워 놓고 까 게 잊어버린거 있지. You know what? I totally forgot I had coffee warmed up in the microwave. 정신없이 바쁘다 보니 여권 만료일이 지난 거 있지. Having been so incredibly busy, I didn’t even realize that my passport expired. c Making the sentence more tangible and clear. The situation being described can be verified while the sentence is being uttered: 파인애플은 이렇게 자르는 거야. You are to cut pineapples like this. 여기서 뭐 하는 거야? What are you doing here? 빨래하는 거야. I’m washing clothes as you can see.